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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria
ClearMicrobial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria
Researchers used pangenomic and transcriptomic analysis of a five-bacterium PET-degrading consortium to identify over 200 plastic and plasticizer degradation-related genes, including a novel PETase enzyme EstB. The diverse carbon utilization capacity and active transcription of PET monomer metabolism genes suggest the consortium has potential for degrading mixed plastic waste.
A multi-OMIC characterisation of biodegradation and microbial community succession within the PET plastisphere
Researchers performed a multi-omic analysis of bacterial communities colonizing PET plastic in marine environments, identifying microorganisms capable of degrading PET and characterizing the enzymatic pathways involved, advancing understanding of natural plastic biodegradation in ocean systems.
Shotgun metagenomic dataset of a synthetic microbial consortium for mixed PP/PE/PVC microplastic transformation
Researchers assembled a synthetic microbial consortium using a stepwise enrichment-selection-reconstruction strategy to transform mixed PP, PE, and PVC microplastics, and generated shotgun metagenomic data revealing functional genes tied to hydrocarbon oxidation, β-oxidation, and intermediate metabolism coordinating multi-polymer degradation.
Shotgun metagenomic dataset of a synthetic microbial consortium for mixed PP/PE/PVC microplastic transformation
Researchers assembled a synthetic microbial consortium using a stepwise enrichment-selection-reconstruction strategy to transform mixed PP, PE, and PVC microplastics, and generated shotgun metagenomic data revealing functional genes tied to hydrocarbon oxidation, β-oxidation, and intermediate metabolism coordinating multi-polymer degradation.
Assembly strategies for polyethylene-degrading microbial consortia based on the combination of omics tools and the "Plastisphere".
This review examines the microorganisms and enzymes capable of degrading polyethylene and discusses how combining genomic tools with studies of plastic-associated microbial communities could lead to more effective biodegradation strategies. The findings suggest that engineered microbial consortia guided by omics data hold promise for breaking down one of the world's most persistent plastics.
Synergistic functional activity of a landfill microbial consortium in a microplastic-enriched environment
Scientists studied soil bacteria from a decades-old landfill to understand how microbes adapt to high concentrations of polyethylene and PET microplastics. They found that multiple bacterial species work together to break down these plastics, with different roles for bacteria floating freely versus those attached to plastic surfaces. While biodegradation of microplastics is possible, it is slow, and understanding these natural processes could eventually help with cleanup efforts.
Engineering the mangrove soil microbiome for selection of polyethylene terephthalate-transforming bacterial consortia.
Researchers engineered enrichment cultures from mangrove soil to select bacterial consortia capable of transforming polyethylene terephthalate (PET), finding via metagenome-assembled genomes that PET catabolism was distributed across multiple taxa harbouring putative novel PET-active hydrolases. They also described a novel species, Mangrovimarina plasticivorans, as a key consortium member containing genes for PET monomer metabolism.
Construction and degradation characteristics of high-efficiency polyethylene degrading composite microbial community
Researchers engineered a high-efficiency polyethylene-degrading microbial consortium and characterized its degradation pathways and kinetics, finding substantial mass loss and chemical modification of polyethylene under optimized conditions. The consortium outperformed previously described single-species degraders, advancing the development of biological solutions for hard-to-recycle plastic waste.
Comparative Genomics of Marine Bacteria from a Historically Defined Plastic Biodegradation Consortium with the Capacity to Biodegrade Polyhydroxyalkanoates
Researchers conducted comparative genomics of marine bacteria from a plastic biodegradation consortium, finding that multiple strains had the genomic capacity to biodegrade polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics, with implications for understanding microbial degradation of biodegradable plastic alternatives.
Plastic-Degrading Microbial Consortia from a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers isolated bacteria from a wastewater treatment plant that can break down common plastics including polyethylene and polystyrene, some of the hardest plastics to recycle. The microbial communities worked together to degrade the plastics more effectively than individual bacterial strains. While biological plastic degradation is still slow compared to the scale of pollution, identifying these bacteria is a step toward developing biotechnology solutions for plastic waste cleanup.
Polyethylene Terephthalate Hydrolases in Human Gut Microbiota and Their Implications for Human Health
Researchers searched the genomes of healthy human gut bacteria and discovered enzymes capable of breaking down PET, one of the most common plastics found in food and drink packaging. They identified multiple bacterial species in the human gut that produce these PET-degrading enzymes. This discovery suggests that gut microbes may play a role in processing the microplastics people swallow, though it also raises questions about whether the breakdown products could affect human health.
Finding needles in haystacks: identification of novel conserved PETase enzymes in Streptomyces
Researchers identified a family of PET-degrading enzymes (LipA variants) naturally present in soil-dwelling Streptomyces bacteria, and showed that one variant could physically roughen and degrade amorphous PET film. The finding suggests that common soil bacteria may play a larger role than appreciated in breaking down plastic waste in the environment, and could be candidates for biotechnological recycling applications.
Plastic-degrading clusters of orthologous groups reveal near-universal biodegradation potential in prokaryotes
Bioinformatic analysis of prokaryotic genomes identified a set of Plastic-Degrading Clusters of Orthologous Groups, revealing that plastic-degrading protein families are distributed across diverse bacterial and archaeal lineages, suggesting near-universal biodegradation potential in microbial communities.
Bioprospecting for polyesterase activity relevant for PET degradation in marine Enterobacterales isolates
Researchers screened marine Enterobacterales isolates for polyesterase activity capable of degrading PET plastic, identifying bacterial strains from marine environments as candidates for bioremediation strategies targeting one of the world's most problematic plastic pollutants.
Marine hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria breakdown poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)
Scientists used microcosm studies to investigate whether marine hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria can break down PET plastic, finding that specific bacterial strains could colonize and degrade PET surfaces, offering insights into natural plastic biodegradation in the ocean.
Cross-feeding drives degradation of phthalate ester plasticizers in a bacterial consortium
Researchers characterized a three-member bacterial consortium capable of fully mineralizing the plasticizer diethyl phthalate as a sole carbon source, revealing through metaproteomic analysis that degradation relies on cross-feeding between Microbacterium and two Pseudomonas species, with each member contributing distinct enzymatic steps in a cooperative pathway.
Genomic insights and metabolic pathways of an enriched bacterial community capable of degrading polyethylene
Researchers enriched bacteria from wastewater treatment sludge that can break down polyethylene plastic, achieving a 3% weight reduction in plastic films over 28 days. Genomic analysis identified specific bacterial strains and 14 plastic-degrading genes, including those for enzymes like laccase and lipase that attack the plastic's molecular structure. The study offers a potential pathway toward using naturally occurring bacteria as a sustainable solution for plastic waste degradation.
Degradation of PET Plastics by Wastewater Bacteria Engineered via Conjugation
Researchers demonstrated a proof-of-concept approach for reducing PET microplastic pollution in wastewater by engineering bacteria in situ via conjugation to express PET-degrading enzymes. The study used a broad-host-range conjugative plasmid to transfer PET hydrolase genes into native wastewater bacterial communities.
Degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics by wastewater bacteria engineered via conjugation
Scientists engineered wastewater bacteria to break down PET plastic, one of the most common microplastic types, by transferring plastic-degrading genes through a natural DNA-sharing process. The modified bacteria could partially degrade a consumer PET product in 5 to 7 days. This proof-of-concept approach could help reduce the amount of microplastics released from wastewater treatment plants into the environment.
A sequence- and structure-based characterization of microbial enzymes identifies P. stutzeri as a plastic-degrading species
Researchers characterized microbial enzymes with potential plastic-degrading capabilities, focusing on PETase and MHETase enzyme systems. The study identified Pseudomonas stutzeri as a species with notable plastic degradation potential, contributing to the growing understanding of biological approaches for addressing plastic pollution through enzymatic bioremediation.
Microbial Allies in Plastic Degradation: Specific bacterial genera as universal plastic-degraders in various environments
Researchers identified specific bacterial genera capable of degrading multiple types of plastic across different environments including landfill soil, sewage sludge, and river water. They found that certain bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus species, consistently appeared as effective plastic degraders regardless of the environment. The study suggests that these universal plastic-degrading bacteria could be valuable candidates for developing bioremediation strategies to address plastic pollution.
Microbial Transformation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics by Wetland-Derived Microbial Communities: Implications for Coastal Sediment Systems
Researchers exposed PET plastic fibers to a wetland sediment microbial consortium for 60 days, finding 13.7% weight loss driven by synergistic interactions among taxa like Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, suggesting coastal wetlands harbor natural PET-degrading communities with potential for nature-based plastic remediation strategies.
Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics by Paenibacillus naphthalenovorans PETKKU2: Response surface optimization and genomic evidence for an alternative degradation mechanism
This study identified a soil bacterium, Paenibacillus naphthalenovorans PETKKU2, isolated from a Thai landfill, as capable of degrading PET microplastics and achieving nearly 10% weight loss over 35 days under optimized conditions — through a degradation pathway distinct from the well-known PETase enzyme route. Surface analysis confirmed progressive erosion and chemical changes in the plastic. Discovering new microbial pathways for PET degradation is important for developing biological recycling and remediation strategies for one of the world's most common plastic pollutants.
Insights into PET-Microplastics effect on pathogenic bacteria
Researchers exposed four common disease-causing bacteria to PET microplastics and found that the bacteria responded differently depending on the species and plastic concentration, with some growing faster in the presence of plastics. Notably, bacteria exposed to higher concentrations of PET microplastics developed increased resistance to multiple antibiotics, raising concerns about how environmental plastic pollution could contribute to the growing antibiotic resistance problem.