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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Diversity and functional genes of bacterial communities enriched from an estuarine sediment for degradation of polylactic acid microplastics
ClearNew insights into microbial degradation of polyethylene microplastic and potential polyethylene-degrading bacteria in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, South China
Researchers investigated the biodegradation potential of polyethylene microplastics by microbial communities in sediments from the Pearl River Estuary in southern China. They found that specific bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas and Bacillus species, were selectively enriched on microplastic surfaces and actively degraded the plastic, with Bacillus achieving 6.5% weight loss in 40 days. The study provides new insights into the natural capacity of estuarine sediment microbes to break down polyethylene microplastics.
Laboratory tidal microcosm deciphers responses of sediment archaeal and bacterial communities to microplastic exposure
Researchers used a laboratory tidal simulation to study how different types of microplastics affect microbial communities in intertidal sediments over 30 days. They found that biodegradable plastics like polylactic acid significantly shifted both archaeal and bacterial community structures, particularly at higher concentrations. The study suggests that even so-called biodegradable plastics can substantially alter the microbial ecosystems in coastal sediment environments.
Microbial colonization and succession on polylactic acid microplastics (PLA MPs) in mangrove forests - the role of environmental conditions and plastic properties
Researchers incubated two types of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics in mangrove ecosystems across four environmental settings for 90 days to study microbial colonization patterns. They found that microbial colonization progressed more rapidly in sediment than in water, and the type of plastic influenced which microbial communities developed. The study suggests that environmental conditions and plastic properties together shape how microorganisms interact with biodegradable plastics in natural settings.
Microplastics selectively enrich potential plastic-degrading bacteria in estuaries
Microplastic particles in soil were found to selectively enrich bacteria with known or suspected plastic-degrading capabilities in the surrounding microbial community. This suggests that microplastics actively shape local soil microbial ecology, potentially building communities better suited to breaking down plastics over time.
Dynamic succession and biodegradation potential of microplastic prokaryotic microbial communities in the Pearl River estuary
Researchers conducted a 35-day field experiment in the Pearl River Estuary to study how microbial communities colonize and change over time on different types of microplastic surfaces. They found that the bacterial communities on microplastics underwent distinct succession phases and differed significantly from those in surrounding water and sediment. The study identified several microorganisms with potential plastic-degrading capabilities, suggesting that microplastic surfaces in estuarine environments may harbor unique biodegradation-relevant microbial communities.
Microplastics under siege: Biofilm-forming marine bacteria from the microplastisphere and their role in plastic degradation
Researchers isolated and screened bacteria from microplastics collected along coastal beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to assess their ability to degrade plastic. One bacterial strain achieved over 10% degradation of low-density polyethylene, with surface analysis confirming physical breakdown of the plastic. The study suggests that naturally occurring marine bacteria colonizing microplastics may play a role in plastic biodegradation in ocean environments.
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.
Distribution characteristics and microbial synergistic degradation potential of polyethylene and polypropylene in freshwater estuarine sediments
Researchers examined the distribution and microbial degradation potential of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in freshwater estuarine sediments. The study found that downstream sediments with slower flow rates accumulated more small-size microplastics along with higher concentrations of plastic-degrading genes and enzymes, identifying these zones as potential hotspots for natural microbial plastic degradation.
Toward sustainable plastic bioremediation using bacterial consortia from aquatic environments.
This study explored the biotechnological potential of native bacteria from diverse aquatic environments to biodegrade synthetic plastics and microplastics. Bacterial consortia isolated from contaminated sites showed promising plastic-degrading capabilities, pointing toward bioremediation strategies for plastic pollution.
A community of marine bacteria with potential to biodegrade petroleum-based and biobased microplastics
Researchers showed that a consortium of marine bacteria could partially biodegrade both conventional low-density polyethylene and biobased polyethylene terephthalate microplastic films over 45 days, with spectroscopic and chemical evidence confirming surface changes and early-stage degradation.
Enhanced microbial degradation of PET and PS microplastics under natural conditions in mangrove environment
Researchers isolated bacteria from microplastic-contaminated mangrove soil and tested their ability to break down PET and polystyrene microplastics under natural conditions. Over 90 days, the microbial consortium achieved an 18% weight loss in the treated microplastics and visibly altered their surface structure. The study suggests that naturally occurring bacteria in polluted environments hold potential for bioremediation of microplastic-contaminated soils.
Isolation and Characterization of Polyethylene and Polyethylene Terephthalate-degrading Bacteria from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
Researchers isolated bacteria from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, that showed the ability to degrade polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in laboratory conditions. They identified the most effective bacterial strains and confirmed plastic degradation through weight loss measurements and surface analysis. The study supports the potential of using naturally occurring marine bacteria for bioremediation of plastic-polluted coastal environments.
Microplastic biofilms as potential hotspots for plastic biodegradation and nitrogen cycling: a metagenomic perspective
Researchers used genetic analysis to study the microbial communities that form biofilms on different types of microplastics in an estuarine environment. They found that these plastic-associated communities contained genes for both plastic degradation and nitrogen cycling, suggesting the biofilms may play dual roles in the ecosystem. The study indicates that microplastic surfaces in waterways create unique microbial habitats that could influence both pollution breakdown and nutrient processing.
Can Microplastic Pollution Change Important Aquatic Bacterial Communities?
Microplastics in coastal sediments can change the composition of important bacterial communities that cycle nutrients and maintain ecosystem health. Microplastic-associated bacteria differ significantly from natural sediment bacteria, with potential consequences for the chemical processes these communities perform.
Bacterial screening in Indian coastal regions for efficient polypropylene microplastics biodegradation
Researchers screened marine bacteria from two coastal regions in India for their ability to break down polypropylene microplastics. They identified several bacterial strains that caused measurable weight loss and structural changes in polypropylene particles over a 60-day period. The study suggests that naturally occurring marine bacteria could potentially be harnessed for biological approaches to reducing microplastic pollution in ocean environments.
Elucidating polyethylene microplastic degradation mechanisms and metabolic pathways via iron-enhanced microbiota dynamics in marine sediments
Researchers found that adding iron to marine sediment significantly boosted the ability of natural bacteria to break down polyethylene microplastics. The iron-enhanced conditions promoted the growth of specific bacterial species that produced enzymes capable of attacking the plastic's chemical bonds. While the degradation process is still slow, this approach offers a promising environmentally friendly strategy for reducing microplastic pollution in marine environments.
Distinct microbial community structures formed on the biofilms of PLA and PP, influenced by physicochemical factors of sediment and polymer types in a 60-day indoor study
This 60-day lab study compared the microbial communities that grow on traditional polypropylene microplastics versus biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics in sediment. Each plastic type attracted distinctly different bacterial communities, influenced by the plastic's properties and surrounding sediment chemistry. The findings suggest that even biodegradable plastic alternatives still alter microbial ecosystems in ways that could affect environmental and human health.
Microplastics Biodegradation by Estuarine and Landfill Microbiomes
Researchers tested whether natural microbes from landfills and estuaries could break down common plastics. While one biodegradable plastic (PCL) was almost completely broken down in weeks, polyethylene and PET — the plastics most commonly found as microplastics — showed no significant degradation. This highlights how persistent everyday plastics are in the environment and why microplastic pollution continues to accumulate.
Analysis of microbial populations in plastic–soil systems after exposure to high poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) load using high-resolution molecular technique
Researchers examined how high concentrations of the biodegradable plastic PBSA affect soil microbial communities, finding that PBSA exposure significantly altered microbial diversity and community composition, with certain bacteria enriched as potential plastic degraders.
Marine biodegradation mechanism of biodegradable plastics revealed by plastisphere analysis
Researchers analyzed the marine biodegradation mechanisms of two biodegradable plastics, PHBV and PBSA, by examining plastisphere functional gene assemblages, finding that differences in microbial community composition on their surfaces help explain why these polyesters degrade at substantially different rates in seawater.
Isolation and Identification of Indigenous Plastic-Degrading Bacteria from Dumai’s Ocean Water of Riau Province
Researchers isolated and identified plastic-degrading bacteria from the coastal waters of Dumai, Indonesia, finding indigenous microbial populations capable of breaking down plastic polymers. Local plastic-degrading bacteria represent a potentially sustainable biological tool for addressing microplastic contamination in affected environments.
Isolation and Identification of Four Strains of Bacteria with Potential to Biodegrade Polyethylene and Polypropylene from Mangrove
Researchers screened mangrove sediment and surface water bacteria for the ability to biodegrade polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics, successfully isolating four candidate strains. The identified bacteria showed measurable plastic degradation activity, highlighting mangrove ecosystems as a source of novel plastic-degrading microorganisms.
Growth kinetics and biodeterioration of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus sp. and Rhodococcus sp. isolated from mangrove sediment
Researchers isolated two bacterial strains from mangrove sediments and tested their ability to break down polypropylene microplastics. Both Bacillus and Rhodococcus bacteria were able to use the plastic as a carbon source for growth, reducing the polymer mass by 4-6% over 40 days. The study provides evidence that naturally occurring soil bacteria have some capacity to biodegrade common microplastics, though the process is slow.
Potensi Mikroorganisme Sebagai Agen Bioremediasi Mikroplastik Di Laut
This Indonesian review examines microorganisms with the potential to biodegrade microplastics in marine environments, including bacteria that can use plastic as a carbon source. Identifying plastic-degrading microbes is a step toward developing biological remediation strategies for marine microplastic pollution.