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… to degrade plastics when compared with other bacteria. … soil area and screening of the potential polyethylene degrading … the high potential microorganism that degrade the plastics. …

As an ecological niche close to the polymer, microorganisms in the plastisphere possess the advantage of degrading plastics. This study aims to investigate the bacterial community succession and obtain degrading bacteria in the plastisphere, as well as identify the most efficient degradation combination by co-culture of multiple strains. The findings demonstrate the alpha-diversity indices of the plastisphere bacterial community are significantly lower, and the community structure is regularly and significantly altered. With the time of culture, the plastisphere community composition alters regularly, and the hydrocarbon-degrading genera become the core members. Functional prediction of community reveals the potential for Xenobiotics Biodegradation and Metabolism of plastisphere, and the apparent variations detections of polyethylene mulching film (PMF) indicating the PMF degrading ability of plastisphere. Besides, three PMF-degrading bacterial strains, Rhodopseudomonas sp. P1 (P), Rhodanobacter sp. Rs (R) and Microbacterium sp. M1 (M), are screened for co-culture with PMF degrading strain Bacillus aryabhattai 5-3 (B). By considering bacterial growth, biofilm adhesion, and apparent degradation of different samples, RB (R. sp. Rs + B. aryabhattai 5-3) is ultimately selected as the best PMF degradation combination. This study provides a new possibility for plastisphere-related research from the perspective of mitigating plastic pollution on agricultural land.

… bacteria screened in this study were isolated from biofilms developed on submerged plastic … highly efficient hydrocarbon-degrading strains, considering that most plastic polymers are …

Under the natural condition degradable or non-degradable organic materials are considered as the major environmental problem, e.g. plastics. The accumulation of these plastic wastes created serious threat to environment and wildlife. The environmental concerns include air, water and soil pollution. The dispersal of urban and industrial wastes contaminates the soil. The soil contaminations are mainly occurring by human activities. Environmental pollution is caused by synthetic polymers, such as wastes of plastic and water soluble synthetic polymers in wastewater (Shrestha et al., 2019). The proliferation rate of plastic materials is very fast, and the environment is affected by such wastes throughout the world. Plastic waste in the form of litter enters running water in different ways according to nature and ultimately contaminates the environment. Plastic waste causes eight intricate problems in the environment: (1) plastic trash pollutes, (2) plastic entangles marine life, (3) ingestion of plastic items, (4) biodegradation of petroleum-based plastic polymers is timeconsuming, (5) broken plastic and its pellets disturb the Food web, (6) interference with sediment inhabitants, (7) litter destroying the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 7 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

… The three strains were independently tested for plastic degradation, and the … bacteria screened from Bangalore urban and rural areas of plastic pollution showed high ability to degrade …

Plastic pollution causes a potential environmental challenge due to its perseverance and detrimental effects on ecological system. The problem statement addresses the urgent need for biological solutions to mitigate plastic waste degradation for effective PWM as traditional methods like recycling and incineration are insufficient. In this study, bacterial strains have been reported for their capability of degrading plastic collected from soil samples from garbage. An opaque method was used for screening plastic-degrading bacteria. The SEM analysis of the plastic surface was conducted to evaluate the penetration efficacy of bacterial isolates. The SEM results revealed significant damage (e.g., notable holes and cracks) caused by bacteria on the surface of the test plastic strip under experimental conditions. The results demonstrated that the Isolate B-8 (Bacillus sp.) exhibited notable plastic degradation capabilities, as evidenced by a 37.5% reduction of LPDE in weight (from an initial weight of 0.08 g to a post-degradation weight of 0.05 g). SEM provided critical qualitative evidence linking bacterial colonization to the biodegradation of the LDPE films. In contrast to the smooth, homogenous surface of the untreated control, the treated samples exhibited extensive morphological damage, including cracks, fissures, and surface erosion. This confirms that the physical breakdown of the plastic was directly driven by Isolate B-8 (Bacillus sp.) infiltrating material to metabolize it, rather than just surface-level abrasion. Further visual evidence of structural damage validates the gravimetric data where weight was reduced. This indicates that Isolate B-8 (Bacillus sp.) utilized the plastic as a metabolized carbon source. The future prospects involve exploring consortium to synergistically break down different types of plastics. This research underscores the potential of microbial solutions in addressing plastic pollution, paving the way for sustainable environmental management strategies.

… the degradation of RMF in soil has aroused the interest of researchers. In this study, the degradation microorganisms were screened … plastic-degradation microorganisms were screened …

… To determine whether plastic-degrading bacteria exist in the human gut, we … and screened for bacterial species with a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polypropylene (PP)-degrading …

… screening for useful piezophilic bacteria. In addition, it can be assumed that plastic degrading bacteria … In our previous study, we isolated PCL-degrading bacteria from deep seawaters …

The growing amount of plastic waste requires new ways of disposal or recycling. Research into the biodegradation of recalcitrant plastic polymers is gathering pace. Despite some progress, these efforts have not yet led to technologically and economically viable applications. In this study, we show that respirometric screening of environmental fungal isolates in combination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify new strains with the potential for the degradation of plastic polymers. We screened 146 fungal strains, 71 isolated from car repair shops, an environment rich in long-chain hydrocarbons, and 75 isolated from hypersaline water capable of growing at high concentrations of NaCl. When grown in a minimal medium with no carbon source, some strains produced significantly more CO2 when a pure plastic polymer was added to the medium, some only at high salinity. A selection of these strains was shown by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to alter the properties of plastic polymers: Cladosporium sp. EXF-13502 on polyamide, Rhodotorula dairenensis EXF-13500 on polypropylene, Rhodotorula sp. EXF-10630 on low-density polyethylene and Wickerhamomyces anomalus EXF-6848 on polyethylene terephthalate. Respirometry in combination with specific spectroscopic methods is an efficient method for screening microorganisms capable of at least partial plastic degradation and can be used to expand the repertoire of potential plastic degraders. This is of particular importance as our results also show that individual strains are only active against certain polymers and under certain conditions. Therefore, efficient biodegradation of plastics is likely to depend on a collection of specialized microorganisms rather than a single universal plastic degrader.

… Bacterial strains facilitated the degradation of PP MPs through the secretion of hydrolase-… marine bacteria may possess distinctive characteristics that facilitate the degradation of plastic …

Plastic, a polymer synthesized from petrochemicals, is used worldwide. However, natural degradation of plastic is difficult, causing environmental pollution, with microplastics posing a serious threat to human health. In this study, we aimed to use a new screening method based on the oxidation-reduction indicator, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, to isolate a polyethylene-degrading bacterium, Acinetobacter guillouiae, from insect larvae. Plastic-degrading strains are identified by the color change in the redox indicator from blue to colorless as plastic metabolism occurs. Polyethylene biodegradation by A. guillouiae was verified through weight loss, surface erosion, physiological evidence, and chemical changes on the plastic surface. In addition, we analyzed the characteristics of hydrocarbon metabolism in polyethylene-degrading bacteria. Results suggested that alkane hydroxylation and alcohol dehydrogenation were key steps in polyethylene degradation. This novel screening method will pave the way for high-throughput screening of polyethylene-degrading microorganisms and extending its application to other types of plastics may potentially address plastic pollution.

… Degradation of plastics by microorganisms, ie biodegradation, … of plastic-degrading microorganisms by isolating from waste … Indigenously isolated bacterial strains can be effectively …

Microorganisms degrade microplastics, but their potential is still not fully exploited, e.g., due to inadequate selection of microorganisms. We developed an effective selection method of microorganisms capable of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) degradation and assessed the scale of polymer degradation by microbial populations. We isolated seven bacterial strains (three Priestia megaterium strains, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Enterobacter ludwigii, Chryseobacterium sp.) and seven fungal strains (four Fusarium spp., two Lecanicillium spp. and Trichoderma sp.) with PE degradation potential, as well as seven bacterial strains (five Serratia marcescens and two Enterobacter spp.) and six fungal strains (four Aspergillus spp., Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium granulatum) with PP degradation ability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the presence of a biofilm and revealed surface changes in both PE and PP pellets, but the greatest changes (microcracks and corrugations) were observed for PP incubated with bacteria. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the structural changes on the studied polymer surfaces. In conclusion, the isolation of plastic-degrading bacteria and fungi from waste landfills represents an effective strategy for the collection of microorganisms with high potential for PE and PP degradation. The bacteria and fungi revealed better potential for PP degradation and PE degradation, respectively.

… bacteria in the biofilm and the extent of polyethylene degradation. Some of the polyethylene degrading bacteria isolated in this work were able to degrade the LDPE films by as much as …

… by the alkB gene, is a key enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the alkane degradation reaction, so this same type of enzyme could also be involved in the polyethylene degradation. …

The current study focused on an environment friendly method for degradation of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) using bacteria. A total of 36 bacterial strains were isolated from waste disposal sites in which six strains showed potential biodegradation activities. In this study, we reported 2 new strains i.e. Bacillus siamensis and Bacillus wiedmannii for LDPE degradation. The percent weight loss of LDPE films for isolates was; B. siamensis (8.46 ± 0.3%), B. cereus (6.33 ± 0.2%), B. wiedmannii (5.39 ± 0.3%), B. subtilis (3.75 ± 0.1%), P. aeruginosa (1.15 ± 0.1%) and A. iwoffii (0.76 ± 0.1%) after 90 d of incubation. The LDPE films showed slight surface disruption as observed in Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed formation of typical carbonyl peaks which were markedly reduced after incubation as measured by carbonyl index. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis presented an increase in percent crystallinity and there was no apparent change in total carbon percentage. Different genes responsible for degradation of LDPE like Laccase (167 bp), Alk1 (330 bp) and Alk2 (185 bp) were identified in bacterial isolates and further sequenced. The low degradation values in this study indicate that LDPE degradation is a slow, continuous and time dependent process.

… to degrade LMWPEs, was isolated from compost. LMWPEs were prepared by thermal degradation … with LMWPEs, after inoculation with the isolated strain. Changes in molecular weight …

Plastic is resistant to natural breakdown because of its intricate structure, which features long and repeated molecular chains. As a result, a variety of plastic waste, mostly made of polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), accumulates in Jakarta Bay. The use of microorganisms to degrade plastic trash has emerged as a highly promising bioremediation strategy. The goal of this research is to find microorganisms capable of digesting plastic in the samples of seawater and sediment obtained from Muara Angke Jakarta Bay. The bacteria were grown on Zobell Marine Agar (ZMA) that had been treated with 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG). The bacteria were then selected based on their capacity to degrade PE and PET microplastics in a liquid medium. The ability to degrade was determined by measuring the optical density (OD) at 600 nm and the decrease in plastic dry weight after a 14-day incubation period. Seven bacterial isolates capable of decomposing PE and PET were found during the isolation and screening methods. The WJ1 outperformed other isolates in the degradation of PE and PET, with degradation rates of 4.5% and 6.5%, respectively. According to 16S rRNA analysis, five bacterial species have been identified as playing a part in the process of plastic degradation: Vibrio alginolyticus, Pseudoalteromonas caenipelagi, Microbulbifer pacificus, Pseudomonas marincola, and Bacillus subtilis. The ability of these bacteria to biodegrade plastics represents an opportunity to effectively remove persistent pollutants from the environment.

Plastics are of great significance in today’s world due to their extensive use such as packaging food and carrying other goods, which have improved the quality of human life. However, plastics have low biodegradability and are persistent in the environment, becoming a major source of pollution. With regard to the current methods used in the management of plastic wastes, the degradation of plastics using beneficial soil microorganisms has recently gained attention due to their ability to degrade different types of plastics including polyethylene (PE) polymers. The study herein was conducted to isolate and identify microorganisms from agricultural soils capable of degrading plastics. Soil samples were inoculated into nutrient, potato dextrose, and starch-casein agar for the isolation of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, respectively. During isolation, fungi and bacterial plates were incubated for 5 days and for 14 days, respectively. The population of bacteria ranged from 1 × 105 to 1.215 × 105 and that of fungi from 1.604 × 104 to 8.6 × 104 whereby actinomycetes ranged from 1.045 × 105 to 2.995 × 105 CFU/g of soil. However, the tested microorganisms showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in the ability to degrade PE bags and bottles as depicted by the diameters of clear zones around the colonies. The diameters of clear zones ranged from 19.3 to 47.5 mm and 25.9 to 32.2 mm after 17 days for bacteria and actinomycetes, respectively, and those of fungi ranged from 30.0 to 66.3 mm after 13 days. Among the bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi, unsequenced bacterial and actinomycete isolates B1 and A3 as well as Aspergillus sp. (F7) were the most efficient degraders of PE plastic bags. This retrospective study sheds light on our understanding and the need for the bioprospecting of agricultural soils, water bodies, and landfills containing plastic wastes that could lead to the identification of more efficient microbial species with the ability to degrade plastics.

… degradation of polyethylene using microorganisms isolated … polyethylene-degrading microorganisms were isolated from dumpsite soil. They studied degradation by inoculating isolated …

ABSTRACT The escalating crisis of global plastic pollution has prompted increasing efforts toward the identification of plastic-degrading microorganisms as environmentally sustainable solutions. Despite marine ecosystems being the most affected, the systematic exploration of culturable plastic-degrading microorganisms remains critically underexplored. Here, we established the largest marine microbial repository for plastic biodegradation, comprising 1,377 bacterial and 202 fungal strains isolated through optimized culture strategies targeting 13 plastic polymers. Methodological benchmarking revealed selective enrichment combined with carbon-supplemented dual-layer plating as the most effective isolation approach. Plastic substrate specificity drove phylogenetic divergence among degraders, with Bacillus altitudinis emerging as the dominant polyurethane (PU)-degrading lineage. Comprehensive functional screening identified five polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-degrading strains (Cerrena sp., Hortaea werneckii, Streptomyces badius, Streptomyces cinereoruber, Cladosporium sp.), five polyethylene (PE) degraders (Qipengyuania citrea, Gordonia mangrovi, Penicillium oxalicum, Penicillium aethiopicum, Streptomyces pluricolorescens), and 130 polyester-based PU-degrading strains spanning Bacillus, Psychrobacter, Priestia, and Cladosporium genera. This work provides both a foundational microbial resource for plastic biodegradation and establishes a methodological framework for the targeted isolation of plastic-degrading pure cultures. IMPORTANCE Marine plastic pollution presents a significant global challenge, with millions of tons entering the oceans each year, threatening marine life and ecosystem integrity. Microbial degradation offers a promising, sustainable solution by leveraging natural biological processes to break down plastics. This study makes a substantial contribution to the field by systematically examining 13 plastic types and establishing the largest known marine microbial resource for plastic degradation. Over 1,500 bacterial and fungal strains were isolated from diverse marine environments through optimized culturing strategies. Key microorganisms capable of degrading commonly used plastics—such as polyethylene terephthalate (bottles), polyurethane (foams), and polyethylene (packaging)—were identified. These findings lay a critical foundation for the development of microbial-based technologies to mitigate plastic pollution, offering scalable and environmentally friendly solutions to protect marine ecosystems. Marine plastic pollution presents a significant global challenge, with millions of tons entering the oceans each year, threatening marine life and ecosystem integrity. Microbial degradation offers a promising, sustainable solution by leveraging natural biological processes to break down plastics. This study makes a substantial contribution to the field by systematically examining 13 plastic types and establishing the largest known marine microbial resource for plastic degradation. Over 1,500 bacterial and fungal strains were isolated from diverse marine environments through optimized culturing strategies. Key microorganisms capable of degrading commonly used plastics—such as polyethylene terephthalate (bottles), polyurethane (foams), and polyethylene (packaging)—were identified. These findings lay a critical foundation for the development of microbial-based technologies to mitigate plastic pollution, offering scalable and environmentally friendly solutions to protect marine ecosystems.

… to identify plastic-degrading microorganisms that can degrade common polymers that … mangroves were screened to isolate bacteria that can degrade the three different polymers in the …

… microbial strains degrading plastic constituting polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were isolated using enrichment … to metabolize plastic constituting polymers, samples were collected …

The increase in the production of highly recalcitrant plastic materials, and their accumulation in ecosystems, generates the need to investigate new sustainable strategies to reduce this type of pollution. Based on recent works, the use of microbial consortia could contribute to improving plastic biodegradation performance. This work deals with the selection and characterization of plastic-degrading microbial consortia using a sequential and induced enrichment technique from artificially contaminated microcosms. The microcosm consisted of a soil sample in which LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) was buried. Consortia were obtained from the initial sample by sequential enrichment in a culture medium with LLDPE-type plastic material (in film or powder format) as the sole carbon source. Enrichment cultures were incubated for 105 days with monthly transfer to fresh medium. The abundance and diversity of total bacteria and fungi were monitored. Like LLDPE, lignin is a very complex polymer, so its biodegradation is closely linked to that of some recalcitrant plastics. For this reason, counting of ligninolytic microorganisms from the different enrichments was also performed. Additionally, the consortium members were isolated, molecularly identified and enzymatically characterized. The results revealed a loss of microbial diversity at each culture transfer at the end of the induced selection process. The consortium selected from selective enrichment in cultures with LLDPE in powder form was more effective compared to the consortium selected in cultures with LLDPE in film form, resulting in a reduction of microplastic weight between 2.5 and 5.5%. Some members of the consortia showed a wide range of enzymatic activities related to the degradation of recalcitrant plastic polymers, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa REBP5 or Pseudomonas alloputida REBP7 strains standing out. The strains identified as Castellaniella denitrificans REBF6 and Debaryomyces hansenii RELF8 were also considered relevant members of the consortia although they showed more discrete enzymatic profiles. Other consortium members could collaborate in the prior degradation of additives accompanying the LLDPE polymer, facilitating the subsequent access of other real degraders of the plastic structure. Although preliminary, the microbial consortia selected in this work contribute to the current knowledge of the degradation of recalcitrant plastics of anthropogenic origin accumulated in natural environments.

Plastisphere, characterized by microbial colonization on plastic debris, has attracted concern with its adverse environmental effects. The microbial features have been increasingly investigated; however, there lacks direct evidence for microplastics serving as carbon sources and enriching plastic-degrading microorganisms. Here, we obtained microbial communities from soil microplastics, analyzed the dissimilarity compared with soil, and characterized the plastic-degrading potential of isolates from plastisphere. Results showed the plastisphere communities significantly differed from soil communities and exhibited a higher relative abundance of Nocardia and Rhodococcus. To verify the selective enrichment of plastic-degrading microorganisms in the plastisphere, culture-based strategies were employed to evaluate the polyethylene (PE) degradation potential of two isolates Nocardia asteroides No.11 and Rhodococcus hoagii No.17. They could grow solely on PE and led to significant weight loss. FTIR and SEM analysis revealed the formation of new functional groups and the destruction of structural integrity on PE surfaces. Genes related to PE biodegradation were identified by genome-wide sequencing thus recognizing relevant enzymes and elucidating potential pathways. Overall, this report combined culture-free and culture-based approaches to confirm the plastic degradation potential of selectively enriched microorganisms in soil plastisphere, providing a positive perspective toward promoting microplastic biodegradation in farmland soil by enhancing natural microbial processes.

Plastic waste pollution has become a global crisis, with millions of tons of plastic expected to accumulate in landfills and in natural environments, posing a serious threat to wildlife and human health. As current recycling methods remain inefficient, there is an urgent need for innovative enzymatic solutions to break down plastics and enable a circular economy approach. In this study, we explore the plastic-degrading potential of microorganisms enriched from activated sludge (AS) sourced from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)—a known microplastic-contaminated industrial niche. Five microbial consortia (i.e., microbiomes) were enriched under selective pressure using low-carbon conditions and high concentrations of polyester polymers, including post-consumer PET, post-consumer PLA, and virgin PLA. Enrichment was performed for 100 days at 37 °C and 50 °C, followed by microbiomes isolation and metagenomic analysis to identify plastic-active bacteria and their enzymes. The results revealed that PLA polymers, but not post-consumer PET, were effectively degraded by the microbiomes, as confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), showing significant molecular weight reduction compared to the abiotic controls. Microbial community analysis highlighted a distinct enrichment profile driven by the polymer composition and the temperature. At 50 °C, the Bacillales order became the predominant population, whereas at 37 °C, a more diverse community within the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla were selected. Nonetheless, the enriched microbial communities at both temperatures included phyla with members known for polyester degradation. Moreover, at 50 °C, enrichment of putative PET/PLA hydrolases was also observed. These findings suggest that AS microorganisms are a reservoir of polyester-active enzymes, particularly PLA-depolymerases, and hold promise for advancing biotechnological strategies to mitigate plastic pollution through re- and up-cycling.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a widely used plastic that significantly contributes to environmental pollution, and its biodegradation remains challenging. This study investigates the dynamics of bacterial communities in consortia enriched with LDPE as the sole carbon source. The potential for microbial diversity to adapt to polluted environments underscores its role in bioremediation. Community analysis identified Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria as key contributors to LDPE degradation, with dominant genera including Mycobacterium, Cupriavidus, Gordonia, Ochrobactrum, Nocardia, Agromyces, Amycolatopsis, and Cellulosimicrobium. The biodegradation of untreated and pretreated LDPE films was also examined, revealing that UV pretreatment significantly enhances degradation, with weight losses of 2.22–5.17% after 120 days. In contrast, sunlight and thermal treatments resulted in lower weight losses of 1.67–4.56% and 1.42–3.22%, respectively, while untreated LDPE showed only 1.32–2.80% weight loss. These findings underscore the importance of UV pretreatment in facilitating plastic biodegradation. Furthermore, potential LDPE-degrading Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were isolated, identified as key players in the communities and co-occurrence networks, suggesting promising candidates for developing sustainable plastic waste management solutions. Moreover, this study is the first to reveal the potential LDPE degradation abilities of several genera, including Mesorhizobium, Agromyces, Amycolatopsis, Olivibacter, Aquamicrobium, Pseudaminobacter, and others.

Inertness and the indiscriminate use of synthetic polymers leading to increased land and water pollution are of great concern. Plastic is the most useful synthetic polymer, employed in wide range of applications viz. the packaging industries, agriculture, household practices, etc. Unpredicted use of synthetic polymers is leading towards the accumulation of increased solid waste in the natural environment. This affects the natural system and creates various environmental hazards. Plastics are seen as an environmental threat because they are difficult to degrade. This review describes the occurrence and distribution of microbes that are involved in the degradation of both natural and synthetic polymers. Much interest is generated by the degradation of existing plastics using microorganisms. It seems that biological agents and their metabolic enzymes can be exploited as a potent tool for polymer degradation. Bacterial and fungal species are the most abundant biological agents found in nature and have distinct degradation abilities for natural and synthetic polymers. Among the huge microbial population associated with polymer degradation, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Streptomyces badius, Streptomyces setonii, Rhodococcus ruber, Comamonas acidovorans, Clostridium thermocellum and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens are the dominant bacterial species. Similarly, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium lini, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Mucor rouxii are prevalent fungal species.

… for microbial biodegradation due to their polymeric structure. … We found that enrichment cultures derived from six different … most dominant taxa in the microbial community belonged to the …

Abstract Plastic pollution is an increasing worldwide problem urgently requiring a solution. While recycling rates are increasing globally, only 9% of all plastic waste has been recycled, and with the cost and limited downstream uses of recycled plastic, an alternative is needed. Here, we found that expanded polystyrene (EPS) promoted high levels of bacterial biofilm formation and sought out environmental EPS waste to characterize these native communities. We demonstrated that the EPS attached communities had limited plastic degrading activity. We then performed a long‐term enrichment experiment where we placed a robust selection pressure on these communities by limiting carbon availability such that the waste plastic was the only carbon source. Seven of the resulting enriched bacterial communities had increased plastic degrading activity compared to the starting bacterial communities. Pseudomonas stutzeri was predominantly identified in six of the seven enriched communities as the strongest polyester degrader. Sequencing of one isolate of P. stutzeri revealed two putative polyesterases and one putative MHETase. This indicates that waste plastic‐associated biofilms are a source for bacteria that have plastic‐degrading potential, and that this potential can be unlocked through selective pressure and further in vitro enrichment experiments, resulting in biodegradative communities that are better than nature.

… the polymer degradation … -degrading isolates was carried out and degradation abilities were studied for 140 days. The eight isolates that showed highest percentage degradation were …

Plastic pollution is a vast and increasing problem that has permeated the environment, affecting all aspects of the global food web. Plastics and microplastics have spread to soil, water bodies, and even the atmosphere due to decades of use in a wide range of applications. Plastics include a variety of materials with different properties and chemical characteristics, with polyethylene being a dominant fraction. Polyethylene is also an extremely persistent compound with slow rates of photodegradation or biodegradation. In this study, we developed a method to isolate communities of microbes capable of biodegrading a polyethylene surrogate. This method allows us to study potential polyethylene degradation over much shorter time periods. Using this method, we enriched several communities of microbes that can degrade the polyethylene surrogate within weeks. We also identified specific bacterial strains with a higher propensity to degrade compounds similar to polyethylene. We provide a description of the method, the variability and efficacy of four different communities, and key strains from these communities. This method should serve as a straightforward and adaptable tool for studying polyethylene biodegradation.

… mechanistic analyses of microbial degradation of high-strength polymeric materials within a … a fungal consortium originally enriched from degraded polymers. This consortium consisted …

… in its polymer chain, is a critical environmental goal worldwide. Microbial degradation of PS … efficient PS plastic–degrading bacterial strains and created a microbial consortium (MCs) …

Anaerobic microbial communities are often highly degradative, such as those found in the herbivore rumen and large‐scale anaerobic digesters. Since the microbial communities in these systems degrade recalcitrant organic polymers, we hypothesize that some microbes in anaerobic environments may be involved in man‐made plastic association, deformation, or even breakdown. While efforts have been put toward characterizing microbial communities, many microbes remain unidentified until they can be sufficiently cultivated to generate enough genetic material to assemble high‐quality metagenome assemblies and reference genomes. In this study, microbial consortia from goat fecal pellets and anaerobic digester sludge were cultivated for over 6 weeks to assemble metagenomes from novel anaerobic taxa with potential degradative activity. To select for microbes with potential plastic‐degrading abilities, plastic strips were included in culture, though the presence of plastic did not appear to enrich for particularly degradative consortia, yet it did select for novel species that otherwise may not have been characterized. Whole‐genome shotgun sequencing enabled assembly of 72 prokaryotic metagenome‐assembled genomes (MAGs) with >90% completion, <5% contamination, and an N50 >10,000 bp; 17 of these MAGs are classified as novel species given their lack of similarity to publicly available genomes and MAGs. These 72 MAGs vary in predicted carbohydrate‐degrading abilities, with genes predicted to encode fewer than 10 or up to nearly 400 carbohydrate‐active enzymes. Overall, this enrichment strategy enables characterization of less abundant MAGs in a community, and the MAGs identified here can be further mined to advance understanding of degradative anaerobic microbial consortia.

… under abiotic factors influence subsequent biological degradation. Different … polymers into small fragments by pre-treatment, functional groups enrichment, identifying potent microbial …

Plastics are widely used in the global economy, and each year, at least 350 to 400 million tons are being produced. Due to poor recycling and low circular use, millions of tons accumulate annually in terrestrial or marine environments. Today it has become clear that plastic causes adverse effects in all ecosystems and that microplastics are of particular concern to our health. ABSTRACT Plastics are widely used in the global economy, and each year, at least 350 to 400 million tons are being produced. Due to poor recycling and low circular use, millions of tons accumulate annually in terrestrial or marine environments. Today it has become clear that plastic causes adverse effects in all ecosystems and that microplastics are of particular concern to our health. Therefore, recent microbial research has addressed the question of if and to what extent microorganisms can degrade plastics in the environment. This review summarizes current knowledge on microbial plastic degradation. Enzymes available act mainly on the high-molecular-weight polymers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and ester-based polyurethane (PUR). Unfortunately, the best PUR- and PET-active enzymes and microorganisms known still have moderate turnover rates. While many reports describing microbial communities degrading chemical additives have been published, no enzymes acting on the high-molecular-weight polymers polystyrene, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, ether-based polyurethane, and polyethylene are known. Together, these polymers comprise more than 80% of annual plastic production. Thus, further research is needed to significantly increase the diversity of enzymes and microorganisms acting on these polymers. This can be achieved by tapping into the global metagenomes of noncultivated microorganisms and dark matter proteins. Only then can novel biocatalysts and organisms be delivered that allow rapid degradation, recycling, or value-added use of the vast majority of most human-made polymers.

… -catalysis, and microbial biodegradation, can enhance degradation efficiency while mitigating issues related to microplastic generation and the complexity of degradation processes. …

… Recent data showed that biodegradation of plastic waste with selected microbial strains … The relative high number of reports exhibiting the biodegradability of a wide range of plastics …

The perpetual disposal of plastic waste, combined with ineffective waste management strategies, has resulted in widespread environmental plastic pollution. Microbial plastic biodegradation represents an emerging solution to this problem. However, biodegradation studies tend to overlook the fundamental prerequisite of initial surface colonization via biofilm formation. This study had two independent but connected aims relating to plastic surface colonization by microorganisms: to enhance biofilm formation by known plastic degraders, with translational potential for improved plastic degradation, and to isolate microorganisms from microplastic contaminated environments with the ability to colonize plastic surfaces. Planktonic and biofilm responses to diverse carbon and energy sources were investigated over seven days, using Bacillus subtilis 168, Fusarium solani (Martius) Saccardo, Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6, Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and Rhodococcus ruber C208. This enabled optimal conditions for biofilm formation by each strain to be determined. In parallel, environmental samples containing synthetic or natural polymeric substances (anaerobic digestate, landfill leachate, and microplastic contaminated compost) were incubated with polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate films, to isolate microorganisms capable of colonizing their surfaces. This yielded eight bacterial isolates from three genera: Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, and Proteus. These genera contain species that have been shown to degrade plastics and other recalcitrant synthetic polymers, demonstrating the success of our approach. This study also suggests that discrete plastic types may create different ecological niches which can be exploited by unique bacterial colonizers. Our findings underscore the importance of considering plastic colonization by microbial biofilms in the context of their biodegradation.

… plastics was investigated in pure shake flask culture studies. The degradable plastic used in … Pro-oxidant activity was accelerated by placing a sheet of plastic into a drying oven at 70C …

… microbial consortia in degrading various types of plastics, including low-density polyethylene (… , which are related to plastic biodegradation, were conducted in five microbial strains. Four …

… the strain with a bigger clear-zone had a better biodegradation … in screening the biodegradation of strains. SEM and FTIR … HK1 exhibited a better biodegradation effect in all tests, …

Plastic waste worldwide is becoming a serious pollution problem for the planet. Various physical and chemical methods have been tested in attempts to remove plastic dumps. However, these have usually resulted in secondary pollution issues. Recently, the biodegradation of plastic by fungal and bacterial strains has been spotlighted as a promising solution to remove plastic wastes without generating secondary pollution. We have previously reported that a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain isolated from the gut of a superworm is capable of biodegrading polystyrene (PS) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). Herein, we demonstrate the extraordinary biodegradative power of P. aeruginosa in efficiently depolymerizing four different types of plastics: PS, PPS, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). We further compared biodegradation rates for these four plastic types and found that PE was biodegraded fastest, whereas the biodegradation of PP was the slowest. Moreover, the growth rates of P. aeruginosa were not always proportional to biodegradation rates, suggesting that the rate of bacterial growth could be influenced by the composition and properties of intermediate molecules produced during plastic biodegradation, and these may supply useful cellular precursors and energy. In conclusion, an initial screening system to select the most suitable bacterial strain to biodegrade certain types of plastic is particularly important and may be necessary to solve plastic waste problems both presently and in the future.

… [Citation36] isolated a strain of the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum YK to … pursued: one is to synthesize biodegradable plastics, and the other to isolate selected microorganisms to …

This work sheds light on the physicochemical changes of naturally weathered polymer surfaces along with changes of polymer buoyancy due to biofilm formation and degradation processes. To support the degradation hypothesis, a microcosm experiment was conducted where a mixture of naturally weathered plastic pieces was incubated with an indigenous pelagic community. A series of analyses were employed in order to describe the alteration of the physicochemical characteristics of the polymer (FTIR, SEC and GPC, sinking velocity) as well as the biofilm community (NGS). At the end of phase II, the fraction of double bonds in the surface of microbially treated PE films increased while changes were also observed in the profile of the PS films. The molecular weight of PE pieces increased with incubation time reaching the molecular weight of the virgin pieces (230,000 g mol-1) at month 5 but the buoyancy displayed no difference throughout the experimental period. The number-average molecular weight of PS pieces decreased (33% and 27% in INDG and BIOG treatment respectively), implying chain scission; accelerated (by more than 30%) sinking velocities compared to the initial weathered pieces were also measured for PS films with biofilm on their surface. The orders Rhodobacterales, Oceanospirillales and Burkholderiales dominated the distinct platisphere communities and the genera Bacillus and Pseudonocardia discriminate these assemblages from the planktonic counterpart. The functional analysis predicts overrepresentation of adhesive cells carrying xenobiotic and hydrocarbon degradation genes. Taking these into account, we can suggest that tailored marine consortia have the ability to thrive in the presence of mixtures of plastics and participate in their degradation.

… to degrade various biodegradable polyester-based plastics. The most active strain, designated as strain TB-13, was selected as the best strain for degrading these plastics. From its …

… (21, 22) The biofilm formation processes by the two select strains on the PE film in this study were characterized by cell number counting, morphotypes, and the biofilm’s viability. …

Biodegradation is the most environmentally friendly and, at the same time, economically acceptable approach to removing various pollutants from the environment. However, its efficiency in removing microplastics (MPs) from the environment is generally low. The successful biodegradation of MPs requires microorganisms capable of producing enzymes that degrade MP polymers into compounds that the microorganisms can use as a source of carbon and energy. Therefore, scientists are screening and characterizing microorganisms that can degrade MPs more efficiently. These microorganisms are often isolated from sites contaminated with MPs because the microorganisms living there are adapted to these pollutants and should be able to better degrade MPs. In this study, five bacterial strains and five yeast strains were isolated from various environmental samples including activated sludge, compost, river sediment, and biowaste. Among them, screening was performed for bacteria and yeasts with the highest potential for the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs, and the bacterium Delftia acidovorans and the yeast Candida parapsilosis were identified as the best candidates. Optimization of biodegradation of the selected MPs by each of these two microorganisms was performed, focusing on the influence of cell density, agitation speed and pH of the medium. It was found that within the selected experimental ranges, high values of cell density, low agitation speed, and a slightly basic medium favored the biodegradation of PS and PVC MPs by Delftia acidovorans. In the case of Candida parapsilosis, favorable conditions also included high cell density followed by a slightly higher, but not maximum, agitation speed and a weakly acidic medium. Broad spectroscopic and imaging methods indicated that Delftia acidovorans and Candida parapsilosis better adapt to PVC MPs to use it as a carbon and energy source.

Biodegradable and compostable plastics are getting more attention as the environmental impacts of fossil-fuel-based plastics are revealed. Microbes can consume these plastics and biodegrade them within weeks to months under the proper conditions. The biobased polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer family is an attractive alternative due to its physicochemical properties and biodegradability in soil, aquatic, and composting environments. Standard test methods are available for biodegradation that employ either natural inocula or defined communities, the latter being preferred for standardization and comparability. The original marine biodegradation standard test method ASTM D6691 employed such a defined consortium for testing PHA biodegradation. However, the taxonomic composition and metabolic potential of this consortium have never been confirmed using DNA sequencing technologies. To this end, we revived available members of this consortium and determined their phylogenetic placement, genomic sequence content, and metabolic potential. The revived members belonged to the Bacillaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, and Vibrionaceae families. Using a comparative genomics approach, we found all the necessary enzymes for both PHA production and utilization in most of the members. In a clearing-zone assay, three isolates also showed extracellular depolymerase activity. However, we did not find classical PHA depolymerases, but identified two potentially new extracellular depolymerases that resemble triacylglycerol lipases.

Polyethylene (PE), a widely used recalcitrant synthetic polymer, is a major global pollutant. PE has very low biodegradability due to its rigid C-C backbone and high hydrophobicity. Although microorganisms have been suggested to possess PE-degrading enzymes, our understanding of the PE biodegradation process and its overall applicability is still lacking. In the present study, we used an artificial bacterial consortium for PE biodegradation to compensate for the enzyme availability and metabolic capabilities of individual bacterial strains. Consortium members were selected based on available literature and preliminary screening for PE-degrading enzymes, including laccases, lipases, esterases, and alkane hydroxylases. PE pellets were incubated with the consortium for 200 days. A next-generation sequencing analysis of the consortium community of the culture broth and on the PE pellet identified Rhodococcus as the dominant bacteria. Among the Rhodococcus strains in the consortium, Rhodococcus erythropolis was predominant. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed multilayered biofilms with bacteria embedded on the PE surface. SEM micrographs of PE pellets after biofilm removal showed bacterial pitting and surface deterioration. Multicellular biofilm structures and surface biodeterioration were observed in an incubation of PE pellets with R. erythropolis alone. The present study demonstrated that PE may be biodegraded by an artificially constructed bacterial consortium, in which R. erythropolis has emerged as an important player. The results showing the robust colonization of hydrophobic PE by R. erythropolis and that it naturally possesses and extracellularly expresses several target enzymes suggest its potential as a host for further improved PE biodeterioration by genetic engineering technology using a well-studied host-vector system.

Increasing plastic production and the release of some plastic in to the environment highlight the need for circular plastic economy. Microorganisms have a great potential to enable a more sustainable plastic economy by biodegradation and enzymatic recycling of polymers. Temperature is a crucial parameter affecting biodegradation rates, but so far microbial plastic degradation has mostly been studied at temperatures above 20°C. Here, we isolated 34 cold-adapted microbial strains from the plastisphere using plastics buried in alpine and Arctic soils during laboratory incubations as well as plastics collected directly from Arctic terrestrial environments. We tested their ability to degrade, at 15°C, conventional polyethylene (PE) and the biodegradable plastics polyester-polyurethane (PUR; Impranil®); ecovio® and BI-OPL, two commercial plastic films made of polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA); pure PBAT; and pure PLA. Agar clearing tests indicated that 19 strains had the ability to degrade the dispersed PUR. Weight-loss analysis showed degradation of the polyester plastic films ecovio® and BI-OPL by 12 and 5 strains, respectively, whereas no strain was able to break down PE. NMR analysis revealed significant mass reduction of the PBAT and PLA components in the biodegradable plastic films by 8 and 7 strains, respectively. Co-hydrolysis experiments with a polymer-embedded fluorogenic probe revealed the potential of many strains to depolymerize PBAT. Neodevriesia and Lachnellula strains were able to degrade all the tested biodegradable plastic materials, making these strains especially promising for future applications. Further, the composition of the culturing medium strongly affected the microbial plastic degradation, with different strains having different optimal conditions. In our study we discovered many novel microbial taxa with the ability to break down biodegradable plastic films, dispersed PUR, and PBAT, providing a strong foundation to underline the role of biodegradable polymers in a circular plastic economy.

Increasingly complex synthetic environmental pollutants are prompting further research into bioremediation, which is one of the most economical and safest means of environmental restoration. From the current research, using microbial consortia to degrade complex compounds is more advantageous compared to using isolated bacteria, as the former is more adaptable and stable within the growth environment and can provide a suitable catalytic environment for each enzyme required by the biodegradation pathway. With the development of synthetic biology and gene-editing tools, artificial microbial consortia systems can be designed to be more efficient, stable, and robust, and they can be used to produce high-value-added products with their strong degradation ability. Furthermore, microbial consortia systems are shown to be promising in the degradation of complex compounds. In this review, the strategies for constructing stable and robust microbial consortia are discussed. The current advances in the degradation of complex compounds by microbial consortia are also classified and detailed, including plastics, petroleum, antibiotics, azo dyes, and some pollutants present in sewage. Thus, this paper aims to support some helps to those who focus on the degradation of complex compounds by microbial consortia.

The conventional methods of plastic waste management such as mechanical and chemical recycling, landfill complemented by incineration and pyrosis have limited scope. Thus, microbiological-based approaches by the application of microbial consortia or cocultures are appropriate, cost-effective, and eco-friendly to manage plastic wastes. Screening of novel plastic degrading microorganisms, the formulation of microbial consortia, and utilisation of their enzymes probably play a role in plastic waste management. The by-products of microbial degradation of plastic waste can be used as bio-energy sources, that aids in the development of cost-effective bio-digesters. The recent advancements in computational biology and bioinformatics play a vital role in understanding the molecular basis of enzymatic degradation of plastic polymers by microorganisms. Understanding the three-dimensional structures of plastic degrading enzymes and their metabolic pathways play a vital role in studying the microbial degradation of plastics. The present review highlights the scope of various microorganisms and their enzymes in plastic degradation. The review emphasizes the applications of co-cultures or microbial consortia-based approaches for the enhanced degradation of plastic polymers and the production of value-added end products that can be used as the prototypes of bioenergy sources. The review also provides a comprehensive outlook on the applications of data sciences, computational biology, and bioinformatics resources, and web-based tools towards the study of microbial degradation of plastic polymers.

Abstract The present state of constantly increasing plastic pollution is the major concern of scientific researchers. The conventional techniques applied (i.e., burning and landfilling) to get plastic degraded from the environment are inadequate due to harmful byproducts and limited to its recycling. In this review, we have recapitulated recent biotechnological approaches, including synthetic microbial consortia, systems biology tools, and genetic engineering techniques which can pave the path towards the plastic bioremediation and degradation. Moreover, potential plastic degrader microbes and their degradation pathways are also summarized. Lastly, this review focuses on enhancing the understanding of the degradation ability of microorganisms using contemporary biotechnological tools.

The accumulation of plastic in ecosystems is one of the most critical environmental concerns today. Plastic biodegradation using individual microbial cultures has shown limited success, which can be improved by employing microbial consortia with appropriate enzymatic capabilities. This study aims to assemble and characterize microbial consortia using ligninolytic fungi and bacteria isolated from an agricultural waste composting process, with the goal of enhancing the efficiency of plastic biodegradation. The compost microbiome demonstrated plastic-degrading functionality, particularly during the raw material and cooling phases. Ligninolytic microorganisms from compost were characterized for enzymes related to plastic degradation and their ability to colonize plastic films. The genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Scedosporium, and Pseudallescheria exhibited a wide range of activities associated with plastic biodegradation, making them candidates for consortia assembly. The biodegradation of polyethylene using single and consortium cultures revealed that consortia, particularly those combining Bacillus subtilis RBM2 with Fusarium oxysporum RHM1, enhanced degradation efficiency. Additionally, consortia targeting multiple plastics, including virgin and recycled linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS), showed varying levels of success, with bacterial-bacterial combinations such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa RBM21 and Bacillus subtilis RBM2 demonstrating broad-spectrum plastic degradation. These findings underscore the potential of compost-derived microorganisms for plastic biodegradation and suggest that utilizing microbial consortia offers a promising approach to tackling plastic pollution.

The global utilization of single-use, non-biodegradable plastics, such as bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), has contributed to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Fortunately, microbial communities are adapting to assimilate plastic waste. Previously, our work showed a full consortium of five bacteria capable of synergistically degrading PET. Using omics approaches, we identified the key genes implicated in PET degradation within the consortium’s pangenome and transcriptome. This analysis led to the discovery of a novel PETase, EstB, which has been observed to hydrolyze the oligomer BHET and the polymer PET. Besides the genes implicated in PET degradation, many other biodegradation genes were discovered. Over 200 plastic and plasticizer degradation-related genes were discovered through the Plastic Microbial Biodegradation Database (PMBD). Diverse carbon source utilization was observed by a microbial community-based assay, which, paired with an abundant number of plastic- and plasticizer-degrading enzymes, indicates a promising possibility for mixed plastic degradation. Using RNAseq differential analysis, several genes were predicted to be involved in PET degradation, including aldehyde dehydrogenases and several classes of hydrolases. Active transcription of PET monomer metabolism was also observed, including the generation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biopolymers. These results present an exciting opportunity for the bio-recycling of mixed plastic waste with upcycling potential.

Many complex natural and synthetic compounds are degraded by microbial assemblages rather than single strains, due to usually limited metabolic capacities of single organisms. It can therefore be assumed that plastics can be more efficiently degraded by microbial consortia, although this field has not been as widely explored as plastic degradation by individual strains. In this chapter, we present some of the current studies on this topic and methods to enrich and cultivate plastic-degrading microbial consortia from aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including substrate preparation and biodegradation assessment. We focus on both conventional and biodegradable plastics as potential growth substrates. Cultivation methods for both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms are presented.

Growing interest in biological degradation as a sustainable mitigation strategy is a result of the fact that plastic pollution is still one of the most persistent environmental threats. Through cooperative metabolism and complementary enzyme production, microbial consortia—diverse communities of bacteria, fungi, or both—have shown synergistic capacities to break down otherwise resistant plastics, outperforming single isolates. The enzymatic or oxidative activity of one organism in mixed cultures can release substrates for other organisms, speeding up the depolymerization and mineralization of polymers like polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. More thorough degradation pathways are made possible by these consortia’s support of diverse enzymatic repertoires, such as laccases, cutinases, and multicopper oxidases. Although previous research has listed strains and enzymes that break down plastic, this review synthesizes in a novel way how particular metabolic interactions within consortia promote superior plastic biodegradation. We discuss the significance of enzyme complementarity and cross-feeding, highlight recent research that demonstrates co-occurrence and functional cooperation, and pinpoint important design guidelines for scalable, consortium-based bioremediation. Future waste management solutions are informed by these insights into both the ecology of natural plastispheres and engineered microbial systems.

The degradation of synthetic polymers by marine microorganisms is not as well understood as the degradation of plastics in soil and compost. Here, we use metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics to study the biodegradation of an aromatic-aliphatic copolyester blend by a marine microbial enrichment culture. The culture can use the plastic film as the sole carbon source, reaching maximum conversion to CO2 and biomass in around 15 days. The consortium degrades the polymer synergistically, with different degradation steps being performed by different community members. We identify six putative PETase-like enzymes and four putative MHETase-like enzymes, with the potential to degrade aliphatic-aromatic polymers and their degradation products, respectively. Our results show that, although there are multiple genes and organisms with the potential to perform each degradation step, only a few are active during biodegradation. The degradation of plastics by marine microbes is not well understood. Here, Meyer-Cifuentes et al. use a meta-omics approach to study the biodegradation of an aromatic-aliphatic copolyester blend by a marine microbial enrichment culture, showing that different degradation steps are performed by different microorganisms.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) biodegradation is regarded as an environmentally friendly degradation method. In this study, an artificial microbial consortium composed of Rhodococcus jostii, Pseudomonas putida and two metabolically engineered Bacillus subtilis was constructed to degrade PET. First, a two-species microbial consortium was constructed with two engineered B. subtilis that could secrete PET hydrolase (PETase) and monohydroxyethyl terephthalate hydrolase (MHETase), respectively; it could degrade 13.6% (weight loss) of the PET film within 7 days. A three-species microbial consortium was further obtained by adding R. jostii to reduce the inhibition caused by terephthalic acid (TPA), a breakdown product of PET. The weight of PET film was reduced by 31.2% within 3 days, achieving about 17.6% improvement compared with the two-species microbial consortium. Finally, P. putida was introduced to reduce the inhibition caused by ethylene glycol (EG), another breakdown product of PET, obtaining a four-species microbial consortium. With the four-species consortium, the weight loss of PET film reached 23.2% under ambient temperature. This study constructed and evaluated the artificial microbial consortia in PET degradation, which demonstrated the great potential of artificial microbial consortia in the utilization of complex substrates, providing new insights for biodegradation of complex polymers.

… Methanotrophs functioned as the principal decomposer in plastic … plastics were biodegraded in the simulated lysimeters which yielded a good correlation between plastic degradation …

While several research groups are utilizing purified enzymes to break down postconsumer PET to the monomers TPA and ethylene glycol to produce new PET products, here, we present a group of five soil bacteria in culture that are able to partially degrade this polymer. To date, mixed Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. biodegradation of PET has not been described, and this work highlights the possibility of using bacterial consortia to biodegrade or potentially to biorecycle PET plastic waste. ABSTRACT Plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from water bottles, are polluting our oceans, cities, and soils. While a number of Pseudomonas species have been described that degrade aliphatic polyesters, such as polyethylene (PE) and polyurethane (PUR), few from this genus that degrade the semiaromatic polymer PET have been reported. In this study, plastic-degrading bacteria were isolated from petroleum-polluted soils and screened for lipase activity that has been associated with PET degradation. Strains and consortia of bacteria were grown in a liquid carbon-free basal medium (LCFBM) with PET as the sole carbon source. We monitored several key physical and chemical properties, including bacterial growth and modification of the plastic surface, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. We detected by-products of hydrolysis of PET using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) analysis, consistent with the ATR-FTIR data. The full consortium of five strains containing Pseudomonas and Bacillus species grew synergistically in the presence of PET and the cleavage product bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid (BHET) as sole sources of carbon. Secreted enzymes extracted from the full consortium were capable of fully converting BHET to the metabolically usable monomers terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol. Draft genomes provided evidence for mixed enzymatic capabilities between the strains for metabolic degradation of TPA and ethylene glycol, the building blocks of PET polymers, indicating cooperation and ability to cross-feed in a limited nutrient environment with PET as the sole carbon source. The use of bacterial consortia for the biodegradation of PET may provide a partial solution to widespread planetary plastic accumulation. IMPORTANCE While several research groups are utilizing purified enzymes to break down postconsumer PET to the monomers TPA and ethylene glycol to produce new PET products, here, we present a group of five soil bacteria in culture that are able to partially degrade this polymer. To date, mixed Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. biodegradation of PET has not been described, and this work highlights the possibility of using bacterial consortia to biodegrade or potentially to biorecycle PET plastic waste.

… used to unravel the plastic-degrading microbial consortia of a tropical lentic pond sediment, their degradation pathways, and the microbial enzymes involved in the degradation process. …

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) has caused significant pollution in marine environments, with potential EPS-degrading bacteria identified on long-term floating EPS biofilms. However, studies on bacterial interactions and consortium reconstruction based on in-situ bacterial diversity remain limited. Marine EPS wastes of different sizes were collected from subtropical coast of Xiamen island, and subjected to bacterial diversity analyses. Co-occurrence network and bacterial characterization revealed that Rhodobacterales and Rhizobiales play important roles in polystyrene (PS) degradation. Bacterial isolation characterization confirmed that Fulvimarina pelagi, Pseudosulfitobacter pseudonitzschiae, Devosia nitrariae, Cytobacillus kochii, and Cytobacillus oceanisediminis as novel PS-degraders. Based on their abundance in situ and PS degradation activity, a consortium was constructed, constituted of F. pelagi, P. halotolerans. and O. granulosus, showed a high degradation capability with PS weight loss by 18.9% in 45 days. These results contribute to marine plastic pollution remediation and resources recycling.

… degradation efficiency of microbial consortia formulated in the current study was further compared with microbial consortia … The MTCC consortia were formulated by inoculating 1 ml of …

Recent studies in developing processes using ‘single’ plastic waste for microbial conversion have demonstrated great promise in advancing a circular economy. However, chemical complexity and compositional variability of post-consumer ‘mixed’ plastic waste pose huge challenges to using it as a feedstock for biomanufacturing. Here, we present a process leveraging a synthetic microbial consortium, comprising Rhodococcus jostii strain PET and Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1, enabled by engineering the division of labor. The robust consortium synergistically and stably consumes diverse mixtures of oxygenated compounds, derived from the depolymerization of post-consumer, mixed plastic waste, regardless of the fluctuating plastic waste compositions. We evaluate the upcycling potential of the stable consortium by applying rational metabolic engineering to both specialists, enabling the funneling of these oxygenates into lycopene and lipids. This work highlights the potential of stable microbial consortia to valorize untapped, mixed plastic waste for sustainable biomanufacturing, offering a promising solution to global plastic pollution. The chemical complexity of post-consumer ‘mixed’ plastic waste limits its use as a feedstock for biomanufacturing. Here the authors combine transition-metal-free plastic deconstruction with a microbial consortium platform to upcycle real-world mixed plastic waste into value-added chemicals.

… Overall, the observed weight losses in this study were much higher than those in previous studies,3, 33 most likely because of the use of very thin, nonstandard-sized samples with a …

Plastics pollution in global soil systems is becoming a severely global issue and potential threat to terrestrial ecosystem serves and human health. Herein, in order to determine the degradability and ecological effects of polyethylene (PE) films, we measured the weight loss and characterization of PE films and analyzed variation in microbial community. The results of weight loss, SEM and FTIR spectra exhibited that PE films had unique degradation performance under different conditions. Simultaneously, we investigated the effects of PE films on the microbial community, and the microbiota colonizing on plastics. PE films may change the soil microbial community composition in soil, and hold the post of unique matrix for microbial colonization. These results indicate that the degradation of PE films and microbial community composition in soil can be affected by different conditions (soil layer, time and plants). By assessing the alteration of microbial community composition and PE films in soil, this work will contribute to enhance our understanding on the potential risks of plastics on soil ecosystems and provide a scientific basis for understanding the ecological effect of plastics on soil functions.

With the rising plastic pollution in the oceans, research on the plastisphere-the microorganisms interacting with marine plastic debris-has emerged. Microbial communities colonizing plastic have been characterized from several ocean regions and they are distinct from the communities of the surrounding waters, and a few plastic-degrading microorganisms have been isolated from other environments. Therefore, we propose that marine microorganisms have adapted to plastic as a surface for colonization and potentially degradation. When comparing the taxonomic patterns of plastic-associated, marine bacteria, recurring groups and families such as the families Erythrobacteraceae and Rhodobacteraceae (Alphaproteobacteria), Flavobacteriaceae (Bacteriodetes), and the phylum of cyanobacteria (such as the Phormidium genus) can be identified. Thereby, we provide a perspective on which bacterial candidates could play a role in the colonization and possible degradation of plastic in the oceans due to their occurrence on marine plastic debris. We emphasize the need for extended and reproducible collection of data to assess the existence of a core microbiome or core functionalities of the plastisphere and confirm the capability of these bacterial candidates for biodegradation of plastic. Furthermore, we suggest the next steps in research to elucidate the level of natural bioremediation and the exploitation of bacterial degradative mechanisms of plastic.

Plastic is a fundamental polymer used in routine life and disposed of in sewage. It leads to microplastic pollution in aquatic organisms, introducing it into the food chain and affecting human health. In the present study, samples were collected from sewage wastewater to isolate the bacteria that could potentially reduce plastic. The six samples were incubated with plastic pieces in minimal salt media for 120 days. After 120 days, the weight loss experiment showed that samples SH5B and SH6B degraded 25% plastic. After chemical and molecular characterization, these strains were identified as Pseudomonas sp. SH5B and Pseudomonas aeruginosa SH6B. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed peaks shifting, indicating bond stretching, bond bending, and new bond formation. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed various new compounds produced during plastic degradation by these bacterial strains. The plastic biodegradation potential makes these bacteria an impending foundation for green chemistry to eradicate tough pollutants from the environment.

The omnipresent accumulation and non-degradable nature of plastics in the environment are posing an ever-increasing ecological threat. In this study, a total of 97 bacteria were isolated from macroplastic debris collected from the coastal environments of Andaman Island. The isolates were screened for LDPE degradation potential and were identified based on phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular characterization. 16S rDNA-based identification revealed that three-three isolates of each belong to the genus Oceanimonas and Vibrio, two were closely related to the genus Paenibacillus whereas, one-one was associated with the genus Shewanella, Rheinheimera, and Bacillus, respectively. A bacterial consortium was formulated using the top four isolates based on their individual LDPE degradation potentials. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in the mean LDPE degradation (47.07 ± 6.67% weight-loss) and change in thickness was observed after 120 days of incubation. FTIR spectrum, 13C NMR, and TG-DSC analyses demonstrated changes in the LDPE sheets' functional groups, crystallinity, and in thermal properties after 120 days of incubation. The SEM and AFM images confirmed bacterial attachments, an increase in surface roughness and deformities on LDPE sheets. This study reports a bacterial consortium that can efficiently degrade the plastics and can be used in providing eco-friendly mitigation of plastic waste.

Plastic wastes are becoming the most common form of marine debris and present a growing global pollution problem. Here, we used a screening approach on hundreds of plastic waste-associated samples and discovered a marine bacterial community capable of efficiently colonizing and degrading both poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and polyethylene (PE). Using absolute quantitative 16S rRNA sequencing and cultivation methods, we obtained corresponding abundance and purified cultures of three bacterial strains that mediated plastic degradation. We further performed numerous techniques to characterize the efficient degradation of PET and PE by the reconstituted bacterial community containing these three bacteria. Additionally, we used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to further demonstrate the degradation of PET and PE films by the reconstituted bacterial community. We conducted transcriptomic methods to investigate the plastic degradation process and potential degradation mechanisms mediated by our reconstituted bacterial community. Lastly, we overexpressed PE degradation enzymes based on transcriptomic results and verified their significant degradation effects on the PE films. Overall, our study establishes a stable marine bacterial community that efficiently degrades PET and PE and provides insights into plastic degradation pathways and their associated biological and mechanistic processes-paving the way for developing microbial products against plastic wastes.

Background Plastic waste is a global environmental issue that impacts the well-being of humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms. Microplastic contamination has been previously reported at Kung Wiman Beach, located in Chanthaburi province along with the Eastern Gulf of Thailand. Our research aimed to study the microbial population of the sand and plastisphere and isolate microorganisms with potential plastic degradation activity. Methods Plastic and sand samples were collected from Kung Wiman Beach for microbial isolation on agar plates. The plastic samples were identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Plastic degradation properties were evaluated by observing the halo zone on mineral salts medium (MSM) supplemented with emulsified plastics, including polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and bis (2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET). Bacteria and fungi were identified by analyzing nucleotide sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, respectively. 16S and ITS microbiomes analysis was conducted on the total DNA extracted from each sample to assess the microbial communities. Results Of 16 plastic samples, five were identified as polypropylene (PP), four as polystyrene (PS), four as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), two as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and one sample remained unidentified. Only 27 bacterial and 38 fungal isolates were found to have the ability to degrade PLA or BHET on MSM agar. However, none showed degradation capabilities for PS or PVC on MSM agar. Notably, Planococcus sp. PP5 showed the highest hydrolysis capacity of 1.64 ± 0.12. The 16S rRNA analysis revealed 13 bacterial genera, with seven showing plastic degradation abilities: Salipiger, Planococcus, Psychrobacter, Shewanella, Jonesia, Bacillus, and Kocuria. This study reports, for the first time of the BHET-degrading properties of the genera Planococcus and Jonesia. Additionally, The ITS analysis identified nine fungal genera, five of which demonstrated plastic degradation abilities: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Peacilomyces, Absidia, and Cochliobolus. Microbial community composition analysis and linear discriminant analysis effect size revealed certain dominant microbial groups in the plastic and sand samples that were absent under culture-dependent conditions. Furthermore, 16S and ITS amplicon microbiome analysis revealed microbial groups were significantly different in the plastic and sand samples collected. Conclusions We reported on the microbial communities found on the plastisphere at Kung Wiman Beach and isolated and identified microbes with the capacity to degrade PLA and BHET.

… Characteristics of bacteria that are able to degrade plastic waste through polymerase … of bacterial isolates to degrade plastic and identify the types of bacteria that degrade plastic waste. …

Microplastics (MPs) pose potential public health challenges because of their widespread occurrences in all environmental compartments. While most studies have focused on the occurrence fate of microplastics in wastewater treatment systems, the biodegradation of microplastics in wastewater is generally little understood. Therefore, we used two Gram-positive and thermophilic bacteria, called strain ST3 and ST6, which were identified by morphological, biochemical, physiological, and molecular analyses, to assess the growth and biodegradation potential of two different sized (50 and 150 m) polyethylene particles. The degradation was monitored based on structural and surface morphological changes. According to 16S rRNA analyses, ST3 and ST6 were identified as Anoxybacillus flavithermus ST3 and Anoxybacillus sp. ST6, respectively. The occurrence of cracks, holes, and dimensional changes was detected by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, critical characteristic absorption band formation and modifications were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition to these, it was found that Anoxybacillus flavithermus ST3 and Anoxybacillus sp. ST6 produced high level of alpha-Amylase. These results showed that thermophilic bacteria are capable of the biodegradation of microplastics and production of alpha-Amylase.

Plastics in the environment represent new substrates for microbial colonization, and recent methodological advances allow for in-depth characterization of plastic-associated microbial communities (PAMCs). Over the past several decades, discovery of plastic degrading enzymes (PDEs) and plastic degrading microorganisms (PDMs) has been driven by efforts to understand microbially-mediated plastic degradation in the environment and to discover biocatalysts for plastic processing. In this review, we discuss the evolution of methodology in plastic microbiology and highlight major advancements in the field stemming from computational microbiology. Initial research relied largely on culture-based approaches like clear-zone assays to screen for PDMs and microscopy to characterize PAMCs. New computational tools and sequencing technologies are accelerating discoveries in the field through culture-independent and multi-omic approaches, rapidly generating targets for protein engineering and improving the potential for plastic-waste management.

Degradation of Polyethylene is a great challenge due to its resistance to biodegradation. This study was aimed at identifying and characterizing Polyethylene degrading bacterial isolates (PDIs). Microorganisms were isolated from a waste disposal site in Adama, Ethiopia. A carbon-free basal medium supplemented with Polyethylene was used to screen PDIs. The pure bacterial isolates were characterized by Gram staining, biochemical tests, and MALDI-TOF MS analysis. PCR amplification for the alkB gene was carried out. Both 16 s rRNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS were done for bacterial identification. Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter species were identified. Certain enzyme activities were obtained for PDIs. Considerable weight reductions for Polyethylene were detected after these isolates had been treated with UV for one month. The highest weight loss was detected for P. balearica PDI-17 (4.25%), and the lowest weight reduction was detected against B. subtilis PDI-27 (1.14%) without any treatment of Polyethylene. However, after the treatment of Polyethylene with UV treatment, the minimum and maximum weight reductions were recorded for B. subtilis PDI-27 (4.788%) and P. balearica PDI-17 (19.9%). The optimum pH, temperature and Polyethylene concentration were obtained for certain PDIs. SEM was used to observe changes in the surface with cracks on the polyethylene material after incubation with bacterial isolates. Pseudomonas and Bacillus sp. were found to have an excellent capacity for polyethylene degradation. Therefore, they can be used to facilitate the eco-friendly removal of plastic waste from the environment. Further studies can be carried out to improve their enzymatic activity, thereby increasing the degradative ability of the newly found isolates.

Plastic pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues, causing severe environmental damage. It is of vital importance to find an efficient and eco-friendly approach to biodegrading plastics. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize different bacterial isolates from water samples in the Al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia. The ability to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic was evaluated using multiple approaches, including changes in the media pH values, weight loss, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The water samples were collected from plastic-contaminated sites in Al-Ahsa, and bacterial isolates were obtained using a mineral nutrient medium (MNM) enriched with LDPE as the only carbon and energy source. Two bacterial isolates (APCK5 and APCZ14) were obtained and they showed potential LDPE degradation, as evidenced by changes in media pH (from 7.0 ± 0.03 to 6.17 ± 0.05 and 6.22 ± 0.03), LDPE weight reduction (8.1 ± 0.63% and 18.85 ± 0.96%, respectively), and FTIR and GC–MS analyses. Based on 16S rRNA gene similarities, APCZ14 and APCK5 were determined to be most closely related to the genus Brucella. APCZ14 exhibited a 99.48% homology with Brucella cytisi, whereas APCK5 showed a 99.33% similarity level to Brucella tritici. In conclusion, both bacterial strains had high efficiency in plastic biodegradation and could be developed for wide use as an eco-friendly method to remove or reduce plastic pollutants from the environment.

We have collated the most complete database of microorganisms identified as being capable of degrading plastics to date. These data allow us to explore the phylogenetic distribution of these organisms and their enzymes, showing that traits for plastic degradation are predominantly not phylogenetically conserved. ABSTRACT The number of plastic-degrading microorganisms reported is rapidly increasing, making it possible to explore the conservation and distribution of presumed plastic-degrading traits across the diverse microbial tree of life. Putative degraders of conventional high-molecular-weight polymers, including polyamide, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, and polypropylene, are spread widely across bacterial and fungal branches of the tree of life, although evidence for plastic degradation by a majority of these taxa appears limited. In contrast, we found strong degradation evidence for the synthetic polymer polylactic acid (PLA), and the microbial species related to its degradation are phylogenetically conserved among the bacterial family Pseudonocardiaceae. We collated data on genes and enzymes related to the degradation of all types of plastic to identify 16,170 putative plastic degradation orthologs by mining publicly available microbial genomes. The plastic with the largest number of putative orthologs, 10,969, was the natural polymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), followed by the synthetic polymers polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycaprolactone (PCL), with 8,233 and 6,809 orthologs, respectively. These orthologous genes were discovered in the genomes of 6,000 microbial species, and most of them are as yet not identified as plastic degraders. Furthermore, all these species belong to 12 different microbial phyla, of which just 7 phyla have reported degraders to date. We have centralized information on reported plastic-degrading microorganisms within an interactive and updatable phylogenetic tree and database to confirm the global and phylogenetic diversity of putative plastic-degrading taxa and provide new insights into the evolution of microbial plastic-degrading capabilities and avenues for future discovery. IMPORTANCE We have collated the most complete database of microorganisms identified as being capable of degrading plastics to date. These data allow us to explore the phylogenetic distribution of these organisms and their enzymes, showing that traits for plastic degradation are predominantly not phylogenetically conserved. We found 16,170 putative plastic degradation orthologs in the genomes of 12 different phyla, which suggests a vast potential for the exploration of these traits in other taxa. Besides making the database available to the scientific community, we also created an interactive phylogenetic tree that can display all of the collated information, facilitating visualization and exploration of the data. Both the database and the tree are regularly updated to keep up with new scientific reports. We expect that our work will contribute to the field by increasing the understanding of the genetic diversity and evolution of microbial plastic-degrading traits.

Since the last few decades, the promiscuous and uncontrolled use of plastics led to the accumulation of millions of tons of plastic waste in the terrestrial and marine environment. It elevated the risk of environmental pollution and climate change. The concern arises more due to the reckless and unscientific disposal of plastics containing high molecular weight polymers, viz., polystyrene, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyurethane, and polyethylene, etc. which are very difficult to degrade. Thus, the focus is now paid to search for efficient, eco-friendly, low-cost waste management technology. Of them, degradation of non-degradable synthetic polymer using diverse microbial agents, viz., bacteria, fungi, and other extremophiles become an emerging option. So far, very few microbial agents and their secreted enzymes have been identified and characterized for plastic degradation, but with low efficiency. It might be due to the predominance of uncultured microbial species, which consequently remain unexplored from the respective plastic degrading milieu. To overcome this problem, metagenomic analysis of microbial population engaged in the plastic biodegradation is advisable to decipher the microbial community structure and to predict their biodegradation potential in situ. Advancements in sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analysis allow the rapid metagenome screening that helps in the identification of total microbial community and also opens up the scope for mining genes or enzymes (hydrolases, laccase, etc.) engaged in polymer degradation. Further, the extraction of the core microbial population and their adaptation, fitness, and survivability can also be deciphered through comparative metagenomic study. It will help to engineer the microbial community and their metabolic activity to speed up the degradation process.

Plastic pollution has become a major environmental concern globally, and novel and eco-friendly approaches like bioremediation are essential to mitigate the impact. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are three of the most frequently used plastic types. This study examined biodegradation of these using Zophobas atratus larvae, followed by isolation and whole genome sequencing of gut bacteria collected from larvae frass. Over 36 days, 24.04 % LDPE, 20.01 % EPS, and 15.12 % LLDPE were consumed on average by the larvae, with survival rates of 85 %, 90 %, and 87 %, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of fresh plastic types, consumed plastics, and larvae frass showed proof of plastic oxidation in the gut. Frass bacteria were isolated and cultured in minimal salt media supplemented with plastics as the sole carbon source. Two isolates of bacteria were sampled from these cultures, designated PDB-1 and PDB-2. PDB-1 could survive on LDPE and LLDPE as carbon sources, whereas PDB-2 could survive on EPS. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) provided proof of degradation in both cases. Both isolates were identified as strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by sequencing, assembly, and annotation of their genomes. LDPE- and LLDPE-degrading enzymes e.g., P450 monooxygenase, alkane monooxygenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, etc. were identified in PDB-1. Similarly, phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase and other enzymes involved in EPS degradation were identified in PDB-2. Genes of both isolates were compared with genomes of known plastic-degrading P. aeruginosa strains. Virulence factors, antibiotic-resistance genes, and rhamnolipid biosurfactant biosynthesis genes were also identified in both isolates. This study indicated Zophobas atratus larvae as potential LDPE, LLDPE, and EPS biodegradation agent. Additionally, the isolated strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa provide a more direct and eco-friendly solution for plastic degradation. Confirmation and modification of the plastic-degrading pathways in the bacteria may create scope for metabolic engineering in the future.

Plastic is a synthetic polymer that is widely used in almost every field of life. The massive use of this synthetic polymer has led to the accumulation of this polymer in the environment thus polluting the environment. The general techniques in preventing plastic waste as landfill, incineration, recycling are considered less effective as they release some hazardous materials to the environment. Thus, the appropriate technique is needed to overcome this problem. Biodegradation is an enzymatic degradation involving some microorganisms including bacteria. This technique can be used to prevent the plastic waste problem. Plastic waste biodegradation occurred through several steps, including biodeterioration, depolymerization, and assimilation. Within this process, bacteria will secrete many enzymes that will degrade and convert plastic polymers into microbial biomass and gases. Thus, this process has fewer even no side effect.

Plastic pollution has become one of the most critical environmental issues, as rapidly increasing production, compounded by persistence of plastic wastes in the environment, are outpacing efforts to keep ecosystems plastic-free. A switch to plastics more amenable to microbial attack is one of several possible responses. Against this background, the current study describes the isolation, enumeration and polyphasic characterization of plastic-degrading bacteria present in Norwegian terrestrial and aquatic habits. It shows that these bacteria are present in relatively high numbers, and that plastic-degrading capabilities are found in several taxa, most especially Streptomyces. Some isolates wereable to degrade several plastics. Notably, a Rhodococcus sp. and a Streptomyces sp. degraded, respectively, four and six of the eight plastics investigated and a number of other polymers relevant for plastic blends. The paper also has a methodological aspect, presenting various approaches for assaying plastic-degrading properties and a PCR/sequencing-based approach for the identification of potential polyethylene terephthalate-degrading genes. A candidate gene was detected in several Streptomyces isolates. The study shows that Norwegian environments are a rich source of bacteria with the ability to degrade bioplastics possibly representing a natural remediation capacity, as well as a potential source of useful enzymes.

Synthetic plastics present in everyday materials constitute the main anthropogenic debris entering the Earth’s oceans. The oceans provide important and valuable resources such as food, energy, and water. They are also the main way of international trade and the main stabilizer of the climate. Hence, changes in the marine ecosystem caused by anthropogenic influences such as plastic pollution can have a dramatic impact on a global scale. Although the problem of plastics still remains unsolved, different ways are being considered to reduce their impact on the environment. One of them is to use microorganisms capable of degradation of plastic. A particularly interesting area is the application of microorganisms isolated from cold regions in view of their unique characteristics. Nevertheless, the interactions between plastic and microorganisms are still poorly known. Here, we present a review of current knowledge on plastic degradation and plastic-microorganism interactions in cold marine habitats. Moreover, we highlight the advantages of microorganisms isolated from this environment for eliminating plastic waste from ecosystems.

Intensive exploitation, poor recycling, low repeatable use, and unusual resistance of plastics to environmental and microbiological action result in accumulation of huge waste amounts in terrestrial and marine environments, causing enormous hazard for human and animal life. In the last decades, much scientific interest has been focused on plastic biodegradation. Due to the comparatively short evolutionary period of their appearance in nature, sufficiently effective enzymes for their biodegradation are not available. Plastics are designed for use in conditions typical for human activity, and their physicochemical properties roughly change at extreme environmental parameters like low temperatures, salt, or low or high pH that are typical for the life of extremophilic microorganisms and the activity of their enzymes. This review represents a first attempt to summarize the extraordinarily limited information on biodegradation of conventional synthetic plastics by thermophilic, alkaliphilic, halophilic, and psychrophilic bacteria in natural environments and laboratory conditions. Most of the available data was reported in the last several years and concerns moderate extremophiles. Two main questions are highlighted in it: which extremophilic bacteria and their enzymes are reported to be involved in the degradation of different synthetic plastics, and what could be the impact of extremophiles in future technologies for resolving of pollution problems.

The present study focuses on the isolation of bacterial pathogens from waste disposal sites, and examination of their efficiencies for degrading various plastics. Seven bacterial isolates …

The use of plastic is growing day by day. Its durability and stability has made it an indispensable part of our life. Despite its superiority over other materials, it is posing a major threat to the environment because these long chain polymeric molecules take thousand years to decompose naturally. According to UNDP, more than 3.3 million tons of plastic are wasted in Pakistan each year. So, it is a much needed step to reduce its lifespan in order to protect the environment. Biodegradation is an environmental friendly method to degrade polyethylene as it does not generate any harmful byproducts. The speed of degradation depends upon the chemical nature of polymer, on the environmental conditions in which it is placed and on the amount of polymer. Statistically stated, 38% plastic is used for packaging and this rate of utilization is increasing 12% every year. 12% plastic is used for construction, 21% for indoors and the outdoors, 7% for automotive, 6% for electronics and 28% plastic is used in other sectors. When these plastics are introduced into the environment, they cause potential hazards [1]. Though, plastic is useful in many applications but it poses serious effect to the environment. Because plastic is durable that’s why it is highly persistent to decay. There is chemical bonding in its molecules which make is resilient to degrade. Plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade naturally [2]. Abstract

The municipal solid waste landfill (MSWL) is an important source of microplastics (MPs) and a huge bioreactor for plastic-degrading microorganisms (PDM). However, the spatiotemporal distribution and degradation mechanisms of MPs in MSWLs are unclear. Therefore, they were studied using the samples drilled in a sanitary landfill (SL) and an non-sanitary landfill (NSL). The results showed that there were a lot of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), Polyamide (PA), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in the landfill, and their abundance ranged from 0 to 80 items/g. The MPs surface gradually faded, became rough and even yielded cracks and holes with the landfill depth and age increase. The tiny-size MPs (< 100 µm) were the most abundant and their amount significantly increased from 28.14% to 49.13% in SL and from 24.54% to 59.51% in NSL, respectively, while large-size MPs were significantly reduced from the top to the bottom. Lysinibacillus (0.21%~67.87%) and Bacillus (0.10%~67.00%) were the dominate PDMs in SL and Candidatus_Caldatribacterium (5.06%~73.48%) was the dominate in NSL. The PE degradation was closely related to Candidatus_Cloacimonas (r = 0.688*) and Candidatus_Caldatribacterium (r = 0.680*); PS and PA were closely related to Candidatus_Contubernalis (r = 0.595*~0.705*) and PVC was closely related to Candidatus_Caldatribacterium (r = 0.547*). In addition to physical and chemical effects, biological effects can also promote the MPs formation in MSWLs.