We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Systems biology-guided understanding of white-rot fungi for biotechnological applications: A review
ClearGrowing a circular economy with fungal biotechnology: a white paper
Researchers outlined how fungal biotechnology can drive a shift away from petroleum-based products toward a sustainable circular economy, offering solutions ranging from biodegradable plastics to food, fuel, and materials — with the potential to significantly reduce plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
White Rot Fungi as Tools for the Bioremediation of Xenobiotics: A Review
This review examines how white rot fungi use specialized enzymes to break down a wide range of toxic pollutants including synthetic dyes, pesticides, and emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals. While not specifically about microplastics, these same fungal enzymes are being explored as potential tools for biodegrading plastic waste in contaminated environments.
Current trends, limitations and future research in the fungi?
This broad review of modern mycology (the study of fungi) covers emerging fungal diseases, drug discovery from fungi, genomics advances, and how fungi can be used in construction and circular economies. While not directly about microplastics, some fungi show promise for biodegrading plastic waste, making mycology research relevant to addressing microplastic pollution.
Fungal potential for the degradation of petroleum-based polymers: An overview of macro- and microplastics biodegradation
This review examines the potential of fungi to break down petroleum-based plastics, highlighting their unique ability to produce enzymes capable of degrading complex polymers. Researchers found that certain fungal species can use plastic materials as their sole carbon and energy source, offering a promising biological approach to plastic waste remediation. The study calls for further research on novel fungal isolates and molecular techniques to enhance plastic biodegradation processes.
Can wood-feeding termites solve the environmental bottleneck caused by plastics? A critical state-of-the-art review
Researchers reviewed the potential for wood-feeding termites and their gut microbiomes to biodegrade synthetic plastics, arguing that structural and chemical similarities between lignocellulose and plastic polymers make termite gut bacteria a promising but underexplored source of plastic-degrading enzymes.
Novel bacterial taxa in a minimal lignocellulolytic consortium and their potential for lignin and plastics transformation
Researchers explored the polymer-degrading capability of a minimal lignocellulolytic microbial consortium using genome-resolved metagenomics, identifying three dominant bacterial members including a newly described genus Pristimantibacillus lignocellulolyticus alongside Pseudomonas protegens and Ochrobactrum gambicense. The study revealed genomic potential for lignin degradation and plastic transformation in novel bacterial taxa, advancing understanding of microbial systems applicable to plastic biodegradation.
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.
Lessons From Insect Fungiculture: From Microbial Ecology to Plastics Degradation
This review draws parallels between the microbial degradation of lignocellulose in insect fungiculture systems and the challenge of biodegrading synthetic plastics, arguing that fungal and bacterial enzymes evolved for plant polymer breakdown may be promising candidates for plastic degradation. Community-level microbial strategies from insect farming systems are proposed as inspiration for developing biotechnological solutions to plastic waste.
A Review of Cross-Disciplinary Approaches for the Identification of Novel Industrially Relevant Plastic-Degrading Enzymes
This review surveys cross-disciplinary research identifying microbial enzymes capable of degrading synthetic plastics, highlighting promising candidates from bacteria and fungi that could be engineered for industrial-scale plastic biodegradation.
Caracterización del aislado fúngico 2 (C2) capaz de utilizar polímeros celulósicos y plásticos como fuente de carbono
Researchers characterized a fungal isolate (C2) from a consortium capable of growing on cellulosic polymers and plastics including PET, investigating its potential for plastic biodegradation via enzymatic mechanisms. The study advances understanding of how specific fungal strains can utilize synthetic polymers as carbon sources for ecologically sustainable plastic degradation.
Fungal Laccases: Fundamentals, Engineering and Classification Update
This review covers the structure, catalytic mechanisms, and biotechnological applications of fungal laccases, a group of enzymes capable of oxidizing a wide range of aromatic compounds including lignin. Researchers discuss how protein engineering can enhance these enzymes for industrial applications such as bioremediation and the breakdown of persistent organic pollutants.
The Potential Role of Marine Fungi in Plastic Degradation – A Review
This review examined the potential role of marine fungi in plastic degradation, highlighting that while terrestrial fungi can metabolize some plastic types, marine fungal-plastic interactions remain largely unexplored despite fungi's known ability to break down recalcitrant compounds.
Functional differentiation of two autochthonous cohabiting strains of Pleurotus ostreatus and Cyclocybe aegerita from Serbia in lignin compound degradation
Researchers compared ligninolytic enzyme activities and degradation capacity of two autochthonous fungal strains (Pleurotus ostreatus Ser1 and Cyclocybe aegerita Ser1) on oak sawdust, isolated cell walls, and synthetic lignin polymer, revealing functional differentiation in wood degradation strategies.
Sustainable Degradation of Plastic and Pharmaceutical Waste using Fungal Strains Based Strategies
This review examines fungal-based bioremediation strategies for degrading synthetic plastics and pharmaceutical waste, focusing on filamentous and ligninolytic fungi and the enzymatic pathways they employ. The authors position fungal biodegradation as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional landfilling, incineration, and chemical recycling for persistent environmental contaminants.
A Recent and Systemic Approach Towards Microbial Biodegradation of Dyes from Textile Industries
This review examines microbial biodegradation of synthetic textile dyes, highlighting the potential of white-rot fungi, anaerobic bacterial consortia, and genetically engineered microorganisms as cost-effective and environmentally safe decolorization approaches.
The fascinating world of marine fungi: Emergence of a new research field
This paper is not about microplastics; it is a popular science feature about the emerging research field of marine fungi, describing deep-sea fungal species found on submerged wood and their role in ocean ecosystems.
Phanerochaete chrysosporium hyphae bio-crack, endocytose and metabolize plastic films
Researchers mapped the complete mineralization pathway of polyethylene plastic film by white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, showing that the fungus first colonizes the film using plastic additives as carbon sources, then secretes enzymes that crack and oxidize the polymer, before sub-microplastic fragments enter fungal cells for final breakdown via beta-oxidation.
Prospection of marine filamentous fungi in the biodegradation of microplastic
This Brazilian study examined whether marine filamentous fungi can biodegrade microplastics, exploring their enzyme systems and degradation mechanisms. Marine fungi represent an underexplored biological resource for breaking down the plastic pollution accumulating in ocean environments.
Insights into the Transcriptomic Response of Two Aspergillus Fungi Growing in the Presence of Microplastics of Polyethylene Terephthalate Residues Unveil the Presence of Fungal Machinery for Possible PET Bioconversion into High-Value Chemicals
Scientists discovered that two types of common fungi can break down plastic particles (specifically PET plastic used in bottles) and potentially turn them into useful chemicals. The fungi produced special enzymes that could eat away small amounts of the plastic over two weeks, suggesting these microorganisms might one day help clean up plastic pollution in our environment. This matters because microplastics are everywhere in our food and water, so finding natural ways to break them down could help reduce our exposure to these tiny plastic particles.
Rethinking plastics through microbial biodegradation and circular economy innovation – A review
Researchers reviewed emerging biotechnological strategies — including bacterial, fungal, and enzymatic breakdown of plastics — as key tools for transitioning from a throwaway plastic economy to a circular one where plastics are biodegraded or recycled rather than discarded. They identify scalability and regulatory gaps as the main barriers to deploying these solutions at the global level needed to address plastic pollution.
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.
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.
Discovering untapped microbial communities through metagenomics for microplastic remediation: recent advances, challenges, and way forward
This review explores how metagenomic approaches are uncovering microbial communities capable of degrading microplastics in various environments. Researchers found that diverse bacteria and fungi in soil, water, and waste systems produce enzymes that can break down plastic polymers, though degradation rates remain slow. The study highlights metagenomics as a powerful tool for discovering new biological solutions to microplastic pollution.
Filamentous Fungi Are Potential Bioremediation Agents of Semi-Synthetic Textile Waste
Not relevant to microplastics — this study tests whether filamentous fungi can biodegrade semi-synthetic textile waste and azo dyes, addressing textile recycling rather than microplastic particle pollution.