Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Identification and Screening of Enzymatic Activity of Degrading Fungi Microplastics in Three Final Processing Sites (TPA) in the Province Lampung

Researchers screened fungi from three landfill sites in Lampung Province, Indonesia for microplastic-degrading enzymatic activity, identifying several fungal strains capable of degrading plastic polymers as candidates for bioremediation applications.

2025 Biology Medicine & Natural Product Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Isolation and Identification of Plastic Degrading Fungi from Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Researchers isolated 12 fungal species from plastic dump yards and waste sites in Bangalore, India, identifying Penicillium, Aspergillus niger, and Trichoderma as the most dominant plastic-degrading candidates. The study used serial dilution, spread plating, and microscopy techniques to characterize these fungi, which demonstrated potential for eco-friendly biodegradation of plastic waste in landfills.

2025 Kavaka
Article Tier 2

Low-Density Polyethylene Film Biodegradation Potential by Fungal Species from Thailand

Thirty fungal species from Thailand were screened for low-density polyethylene biodegradation ability, with several showing measurable weight loss and surface modification of PE films over a 90-day incubation period, and Aspergillus and Trichoderma species among the most effective degraders, supporting further development of fungal-based plastic bioremediation.

2021 Journal of Fungi 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Screening of Fungal Isolates for Biodegradation Potentials of Low-Density Polyethylene from Selected Dumpsites

Researchers screened fungi isolated from soil at Nigerian waste dump sites for their ability to degrade low-density polyethylene plastic, identifying candidate species for potential use in bioremediation. Fungal biodegradation of common plastics like LDPE could help address plastic waste in environments with poor waste management infrastructure.

2023 Sahel Journal of Life Sciences FUDMA 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of metabolic markers in plastic biodegradation by native Fusarium species

Researchers investigated the biodegradation potential of two native Fusarium fungal strains on low-density polyethylene plastic, identifying metabolic markers and enzymatic pathways involved in LDPE degradation to better understand the mechanisms underlying fungal plastic biodegradation.

2025 Universidad Industrial de Santander
Article Tier 2

Potential of fungi isolated from the dumping sites mangrove rhizosphere soil to degrade polythene

Researchers screened 109 fungal isolates from mangrove rhizosphere soils in India and identified two Aspergillus species — A. terreus and A. sydowii — capable of significantly degrading polyethylene plastic, with one strain reducing tensile strength by over 94%. The findings expand the toolkit of plastic-degrading microorganisms and support the use of mangrove fungi in bioremediation of polyethylene waste.

2019 Scientific Reports 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of polyethylene by indigenous fungi from waste recycling site, South West, Nigeria

Researchers isolated fungi from a Nigerian plastic dumpsite and found that Aspergillus nidulans, Eurotium repens, and Penicillium chrysogenum can break down polyethylene plastic, causing measurable weight loss and chemical changes in the plastic. These naturally occurring fungi could offer a cheap, eco-friendly method for managing plastic waste in developing countries.

2022 Bulletin of the National Research Centre/Bulletin of the National Research Center 12 citations
Article Tier 2

An overview on role of fungi in systematic plastic degradation

This review examines the role of fungi in plastic degradation, surveying fungal species and enzymes capable of breaking down common polymers and discussing their potential for sustainable bioremediation of plastic pollution in the environment.

2022 Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimizing Eco-Friendly Degradation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plastic Using Environmental Strains of Malassezia Species and Aspergillus fumigatus

Researchers isolated fungi from landfill soils and identified strains of Aspergillus and Malassezia species capable of degrading polyvinyl chloride plastic. They optimized conditions for the fungi's depolymerase activity and found that temperature, pH, and metal ion supplements significantly influenced degradation efficiency. The study suggests that these environmental fungi could contribute to eco-friendly approaches for reducing PVC plastic pollution.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Myco-remediation of plastic pollution: current knowledge and future prospects

Researchers reviewed the growing body of evidence showing that fungi can break down common plastics — including polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene — by secreting specialized enzymes that attack and mineralize plastic polymers, with many effective species coming from the Aspergillus and Penicillium families. The review calls for metagenomic approaches to discover more plastic-degrading fungi and develop them into practical bioremediation tools.

2023 Biodegradation 39 citations
Article Tier 2

A study on the ability of some fungi isolated from oil soil contaminated to biodegradation plastic and paper waste in Kirkuk city

Researchers evaluated the capacity of fungi isolated from oil-contaminated soil in Kirkuk City, Iraq to biodegrade plastic and paper waste under laboratory conditions, testing fungal isolates on different substrate types over defined incubation periods. The study identified several fungal species with measurable plastic-degrading activity, contributing to knowledge of soil microbial biodegradation potential in petroleum-contaminated environments.

2024 Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews
Article Tier 2

Determination of Biodegradation Potential of Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Acremonium sclerotigenum on Polyethylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate, and Polystyrene Microplastics

Researchers tested the ability of three fungal species to biodegrade polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene microplastics over 30 days. Aspergillus niger showed the strongest degradation of polyethylene with 16% weight loss, while other fungi performed better on different plastic types. The study demonstrates that fungal biodegradation is a promising approach for breaking down common microplastics, as confirmed by visible surface changes and chemical alterations in the treated plastics.

2024 International Journal of Microbiology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring Fungi-mediated Biodegradation Pathway of Polymers in Environmental Systems(Dump Sites)

This study explored how fungi found at waste dump sites can break down plastic polymers including nylon bags. Species such as Aspergillus niger were identified and showed some capacity for polymer degradation, suggesting potential use in plastic bioremediation.

2023 Microbiology Research Journal International
Article Tier 2

In Vitro and Ex Situ Biodegradation of Low-Density Polyethylene by a Rhizopus sp. Strain Isolated from a Local Dumpsite in North-East Algeria

A Rhizopus sp. fungal strain isolated from an Algerian landfill was tested for its ability to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bags in laboratory conditions. The fungus reduced the weight and altered the surface structure of LDPE samples over time, indicating partial biodegradation. Landfill environments may harbor fungi with potential for plastic bioremediation applications.

2022 Environment and Natural Resources Journal 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Screening and Isolation of Polypropylene Degrading Fungi from Waste Dumping Site, Kolhapur, India

Researchers screened soil samples from a solid waste dump site in Kolhapur, India to isolate fungi capable of degrading polypropylene, identifying a promising strain through 18S rRNA analysis as Cladosporium halotolerans. Over eight months of incubation in aqueous medium without UV pretreatment, the fungal strain demonstrated measurable polypropylene biodegradation, suggesting it as a candidate organism for plastic waste bioremediation.

2023 Nature Environment and Pollution Technology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and Characterization of Microplastic Degrading Bacteria in Three Landfills of Lampung Province

Researchers isolated and characterized microplastic-degrading bacteria from three landfills in Lampung Province, Indonesia, identifying species capable of using plastic as a carbon source with potential utility for bioremediation of plastic-contaminated sites.

2025 Jurnal Bioteknologi & Biosains Indonesia (JBBI)
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene by the Fungus Cladosporium sp. Recovered from a Landfill Site

Researchers demonstrated that the fungus Cladosporium sp., isolated from a landfill site, can biodegrade low-density polyethylene, showing measurable weight loss and surface structural changes in treated plastic films over the incubation period.

2023 Journal of Fungi 50 citations
Review Tier 2

The Role of Marine Fungi in Degradation of Microplastic and Plastics – a Review

This review examines the role of marine fungi in the biodegradation of microplastics and bulk plastics, synthesising literature on over 400 known plastic-degrading microorganism species and highlighting the most significant fungal groups capable of decomposing plastic materials in marine environments.

2024
Article Tier 2

Effect of Fungi Isolated from Different Plastic Polluted Sites on Low Density Polyethylene Material Degradation with Reference to SEM Analysis

Fungi isolated from plastic-polluted environments were tested for their ability to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a common packaging plastic, under laboratory conditions. Microscopic analysis confirmed surface degradation, suggesting that naturally occurring fungi from contaminated sites may have enhanced plastic-degrading ability.

2020 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Potency of Indigenous Microbes of Piyungan Landfill Yogyakarta for Microplastic Biodegradation

Indigenous bacteria and fungi isolated from a landfill in Yogyakarta, Indonesia showed potential for biodegrading microplastics, offering a nature-based approach to plastic waste remediation.

2023
Article Tier 2

Distinct Bacterial and Fungal Communities Colonizing Waste Plastic Films Buried for More Than 20 Years in Four Landfill Sites in Korea

Researchers analyzed bacterial and fungal microbial communities colonizing waste plastic films buried for over 20 years at four landfill sites in Korea, finding distinct community compositions across sites and identifying microorganisms with potential for long-term plastic biodegradation.

2022 Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Wood decay fungi show enhanced biodeterioration of low-density polyethylene in the absence of wood in culture media

Wood decay fungi normally digest cellulose and lignin, but this study found that when wood is absent, these fungi dramatically increase their degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic — one fungal species achieved nearly 24% weight loss in just 45 days. This shows that fungi can adapt to use plastic as a carbon source, offering a potential biological tool for breaking down plastic waste and reducing microplastic formation in the environment.

2023 PLoS ONE 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of synthetic plastics by the extracellular lipase of Aspergillus niger

Researchers produced a lipase enzyme from the common fungus Aspergillus niger using agricultural waste and tested its ability to break down three types of plastic. The enzyme caused measurable weight loss in polyethylene, PET, and polystyrene samples, and microscopy confirmed physical degradation of the plastic surfaces. The study suggests that fungal enzymes could serve as an environmentally friendly tool for breaking down plastic waste.

2024 Environmental Advances 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Plastics by Fungi

This review examines how fungi — including naturally occurring species found in soil and marine environments — can break down common plastic polymers including polyethylene under low-nutrient conditions. Laboratory evidence suggests some fungal species can degrade plastic pellets, reducing their mass and size, offering a potentially cheaper and more ecologically compatible alternative to industrial plastic disposal methods. Scaling up fungal biodegradation remains a challenge, but the findings suggest microbes could play a significant role in reducing environmental microplastic accumulation over time.

2024 2 citations