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Marcharla E, Vinayagam S, Gnanasekaran L, Soto-Moscoso M, Chen WH, Thanigaivel S, Ganesan S. Microplastics in marine ecosystems: A comprehensive review of biological and ecological implications and its mitigation approach using nanotechnology for the sustainable environment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 256:119181. [PMID: 38768884 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic contamination has rapidly become a serious environmental issue, threatening marine ecosystems and human health. This review aims to not only understand the distribution, impacts, and transfer mechanisms of microplastic contamination but also to explore potential solutions for mitigating its widespread impact. This review encompasses the categorisation, origins, and worldwide prevalence of microplastics and methodically navigates the complicated structure of microplastics. Understanding the sources of minute plastic particles infiltrating water bodies worldwide is critical for successful removal. The presence and accumulation of microplastics has far reaching negative impacts on various marine creatures, eventually extending its implications to human health. Microplastics are known to affect the metabolic activities and the survival of microbial communities, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fauna present in marine environments. Moreover, these microplastics cause developmental abnormalities, endocrine disruption, and several metabolic disorders in humans. These microplastics accumulates in aquatic environments through trophic transfer mechanisms and biomagnification, thereby disrupting the delicate balance of these ecosystems. The review also addresses the tactics for minimising the widespread impact of microplastics by suggesting practical alternatives. These include increasing public awareness, fostering international cooperation, developing novel cleanup solutions, and encouraging the use of environment-friendly materials. In conclusion, this review examines the sources and prevalence of microplastic contamination in marine environment, its impacts on living organisms and ecosystems. It also proposes various sustainable strategies to mitigate the problem of microplastics pollution. Also, the current challenges associated with the mitigation of these pollutants have been discussed and addressing these challenges require immediate and collective action for restoring the balance in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eswar Marcharla
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Saranya Vinayagam
- Department of Biosciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 602 105, India
| | - Lalitha Gnanasekaran
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, 1000000, Chile.
| | | | - Wei-Hsin Chen
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411, Taiwan
| | - Sundaram Thanigaivel
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India.
| | - Swamynathan Ganesan
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India.
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2
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Yan W, Qi X, Cao Z, Yao M, Ding M, Yuan Y. Biotransformation of ethylene glycol by engineered Escherichia coli. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2024; 9:531-539. [PMID: 38645974 PMCID: PMC11031724 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
There has been extensive research on the biological recycling of PET waste to address the issue of plastic waste pollution, with ethylene glycol (EG) being one of the main components recovered from this process. Therefore, finding ways to convert PET monomer EG into high-value products is crucial for effective PET waste recycling. In this study, we successfully engineered Escherichia coli to utilize EG and produce glycolic acid (GA), expecting to facilitate the biological recycling of PET waste. The engineered E. coli, able to utilize 10 g/L EG to produce 1.38 g/L GA within 96 h, was initially constructed. Subsequently, strategies based on overexpression of key enzymes and knock-out of the competing pathways are employed to enhance EG utilization along with GA biosynthesis. An engineered E. coli, characterized by the highest GA production titer and substrate conversion rate, was obtained. The GA titer increased to 5.1 g/L with a yield of 0.75 g/g EG, which is the highest level in the shake flake experiments. Transcriptional level analysis and metabolomic analysis were then conducted, revealing that overexpression of key enzymes and knock-out of the competing pathways improved the metabolic flow in the EG utilization. The improved metabolic flow also leads to accelerated synthesis and metabolism of amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Yan
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xinhua Qi
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zhibei Cao
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Mingdong Yao
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Mingzhu Ding
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yingjin Yuan
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
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Banerjee A, Dhal MK, Madhu K, Chah CN, Rattan B, Katiyar V, Sekharan S, Sarmah AK. Landfill-mined soil-like fraction (LMSF) use in biopolymer composting: Material pre-treatment, bioaugmentation and agricultural prospects. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 355:124255. [PMID: 38815894 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Polylactic Acid (PLA) based compostable bioplastic films degrade under thermophilic composting conditions. The purpose of our study was to understand whether sample pre-treatment along with bioaugmentation of the degradation matrix could reduce the biodegradation time under a simulated composting environment. Sepcifically, we also explored whether the commercial composts could be replaced by landfill-mined soil-like fraction (LMSF) for the said application. The effect of pre-treatment on the material was analysed by tests like tensile strength analysis, hydrophobicity analysis, morphological analysis, thermal degradation profiling, etc. Subsequently, the degradation experiment was performed in a simulated composting environment following the ASTM D5338 standard, along with bioaugmentation in selected experimental setups. When the novel approach of material pre-treatment and bioaugmentation were applied in combination, the time necessary for 90% degradation was reduced by 27% using compost and by 23% using LMSF. Beyond the improvement in degradation rate, the water holding capacity increased significantly for the degradation matrices. With pH, C: N ratio and microbial diversity tested to be favourable through 16s metabarcoding studies, material pre-treatment and bioaugmentation allow LMSF to not only replace commercial compost in polymer degradation but also find immense application in the agricultural sector of drought-affected areas (for better water retention) after it has been used for PLA degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Banerjee
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India; Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Dhal
- Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Kshitij Madhu
- Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Charakho N Chah
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Bharat Rattan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Vimal Katiyar
- Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Sreedeep Sekharan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India; Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Ajit K Sarmah
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand; Centre for Sustainable Water Research, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India.
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Sathiaseelan JJ, Afifah NMR, Abdullah AAA, Ramakrishna S, Vigneswari S, Bhubalan K. Exploring the advantages and limitations of degradation for various biodegradable micro-bioplastic in aquatic environments. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 366:121777. [PMID: 39018857 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics are being the substitute for synthetic plastics and widely been used in order to combat plastic pollution. Yet not all biodegradable plastics are degradable especially when it does not meet its favourable conditions, and also when it comes to aquatic environments. Therefore, this review is intended to highlight the types of various biodegradable plastic synthesized and commercialised and identify the limitations and advantages of these micro-bioplastics or residual bioplastic upon degradation in various aquatic environments. This review paper highlights on biodegradable plastic, degradation of biodegradable plastic in aquatic environments, application of biodegradable plastic, polylactic acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Polysaccharide derivatives, Poly (amino acid), polycaprolactone (PCL), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBA/T), limitations and advantages of biodegradable plastic degradation in aquatic environment. There is no limit on the period for literature search as this field is continuously being studied and there is no wide range of studies. Biodegradable plastic that is commercially available has its own advantages and limitations respectively upon degradation in both freshwater and marine environments. There is a growing demand for bioplastic as an alternative to synthetic plastic which causes plastic waste pollution. Thus, it is crucial to understand the biodegradation of biodegradable plastic in depth especially in aquatic environments. Moreover, there are also very few studies investigating the degradation and migration of micro-bioplastics in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nurul Mohd Ridzuan Afifah
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Amirul Al-Ashraf Abdullah
- School of Biological Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Seeram Ramakrishna
- Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, National University of Singapore, 119260, Singapore
| | - Sevakumaran Vigneswari
- Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Kesaven Bhubalan
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
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5
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Srivastava P, Saji J, Manickam N. Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by Brucella intermedia IITR130 and its proposed metabolic pathway. Biodegradation 2024; 35:671-685. [PMID: 38459363 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-024-10070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester in ecosystems across the globe is a major pollution of concern. Microbial degradation recently generated novel insights into the biodegradation of varieties of plastics. In this study, a PET degrading bacterium Brucella intermedia IITR130 was isolated from a contaminated lake ecosystem at Pallikaranai, Chennai, India. Incubation of the bacterium along with the PET sheet (0.1 mm thickness) for 60 days resulted in 26.06% degradation, indicating a half-life of 137.8 days. Considerable changes in the surface morphology of the PET sheet were found as holes, pits, and cracks on incubation with strain IITR130, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After bacterial treatment of PET, the formation of new functional groups, most notably in the area of 3326 cm-1 suggestive of O-H stretch, leading to carboxylic acid and alcohol as products were suggested by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Monomethyl terephthalate (MMT) and terephthalic acid (TPA) were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis as PET degradation metabolites. Tributyrin clearance assay confirmed the presence of a lipase/esterase enzyme in the strain IITR130. In this study, a degradation pathway for PET by an isolated and identified bacterium Brucella intermedia IITR130 was characterized in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Srivastava
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Environmental Toxicology Group, FEST Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Joel Saji
- Drug and Chemical Toxicology Group, FEST Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226001, India
| | - Natesan Manickam
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Environmental Toxicology Group, FEST Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226001, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India.
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6
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Zhang D, Calmanovici B, Marican H, Reisser J, Summers S. The assembly and ecological roles of biofilms attached to plastic debris of Ashmore reef. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116651. [PMID: 38917500 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a global environmental hazard aggravated by poor management of plastic waste and growth of annual plastic consumption. Microbial communities colonizing the plastic's surface, the plastisphere, has gained global interest resulting in numerous efforts to characterize the plastisphere. However, there are insufficient studies deciphering the underlying metabolic processes governing the function of the plastisphere and the plastic they reside upon. Here, we collected plastic and seawater samples from Ashmore Reef in Australia to examine the planktonic microbes and plastic associated biofilm (PAB) to investigate the ecological impact, pathogenic potential, and plastic degradation capabilities of PAB in Ashmore Reef, as well as the role and impact of bacteriophages on PAB. Using high-throughput metagenomic sequencing, we demonstrated distinct microbial communities between seawater and PAB. Similar numbers of pathogenic bacteria were found in both sample types, yet plastic and seawater select for different pathogen populations. Virulence Factor analysis further illustrated stronger pathogenic potential in PAB, highlighting the pathogenicity of environmental PAB. Furthermore, functional analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathways revealed xenobiotic degradation and fatty acid degradation to be enriched in PABs. In addition, construction of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAG) and functional analysis further demonstrated the presence of a complete Polyethylene (PE) degradation pathway in multiple Proteobacteria MAGs, especially in Rhodobacteriaceae sp. Additionally, we identified viral population presence in PAB, revealing the key role of bacteriophages in shaping these communities within the PAB. Our result provides a comprehensive overview of the various ecological processes shaping microbial community on marine plastic debris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhang
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore; Tropical Marine Science Institute, St. John's Island National Marine Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore
| | - Bruna Calmanovici
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Hana Marican
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Julia Reisser
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Stephen Summers
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore; Tropical Marine Science Institute, St. John's Island National Marine Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore.
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7
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Jamal QMS, Ahmad V. Bacterial metabolomics: current applications for human welfare and future aspects. JOURNAL OF ASIAN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH 2024:1-24. [PMID: 39078342 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2024.2385365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
An imbalanced microbiome is linked to several diseases, such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and even neurological disorders. Bacteria and their by-products are used for various industrial and clinical purposes. The metabolites under discussion were chosen based on their biological impacts on host and gut microbiota interactions as established by metabolome research. The separation of bacterial metabolites by using statistics and machine learning analysis creates new opportunities for applications of bacteria and their metabolites in the environmental and medical sciences. Thus, the metabolite production strategies, methodologies, and importance of bacterial metabolites for human well-being are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qazi Mohammad Sajid Jamal
- Department of Health Informatics, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Varish Ahmad
- Health Information Technology Department, The Applied College, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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8
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Wróbel M, Deja-Sikora E, Hrynkiewicz K, Kowalkowski T, Szymańska S. Microbial Allies in Plastic Degradation: Specific bacterial genera as universal plastic-degraders in various environments. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142933. [PMID: 39067822 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Microbiological degradation of polymers offers a promising approach for mitigating environmental plastic pollution. This study (i) elucidated the diversity and structure of bacterial microbiomes from distinct environments (landfill soil, sewage sludge, and river water) characterized by specific physicochemical parameters, and (ii) utilized environment-derived microbial cultures enriched with microplastics (MPs) to investigate the degradation of polymers and identify culturable bacterial strains contributing to the plastisphere. We found that alpha diversity was notably higher in river water (∼20%) compared to landfill soil and sewage sludge. Dominant phyla included Pseudomonadota in sewage sludge (39.1%) and water (23.7%), while Actinomycetota prevailed in soil (38.5%). A multistage experiment, involving successive subcultures of environmental microbiomes exposed to polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), and polylactic acid (PLA), facilitated the assessment of MPs degradation processes. Analysis of carbonyl indices CIs and FTIR spectra revealed substantial structural changes in the treatment PVC-landfill soil, as well as in PLA- and PC-sludge enriched cultures. Further, using enriched cultures as a source of microorganisms, the study obtained 17 strains of plastic degraders from landfill soil, 14 from sewage sludge, and 6 from river water. Remarkably, similar bacterial genera were isolated across environmental microbiomes regardless of the MPs substrate used in enriched cultures. Among the 37 identified strains, Pseudomonadota predominated (64.86%) and were accompanied by Bacteroidota (16.22%), Actinomycetota (13.51%), and Bacillota (5.41%). This study highlights the complex relationship between microbiome diversity and the biodegradation efficiency of plastics, showing the potential for using microbial communities in the plastic pollution management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz Wróbel
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Toruń, Poland; Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalysis, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Gagarina 7, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Edyta Deja-Sikora
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Toruń, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Tomasz Kowalkowski
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalysis, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Gagarina 7, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Sonia Szymańska
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Toruń, Poland.
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Ramamurthy K, Thomas NP, Gopi S, Sudhakaran G, Haridevamuthu B, Namasivayam KR, Arockiaraj J. Is Laccase derived from Pleurotus ostreatus effective in microplastic degradation? A critical review of current progress, challenges, and future prospects. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 276:133971. [PMID: 39032890 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Exploration of Pleurotus ostreatus as a biological agent in the degradation of persistent plastics like polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate, revealing a promising avenue toward mitigating the environmental impacts of plastic pollution. Leveraging the intrinsic enzymatic capabilities of this fungus, mainly its production of laccase, presents a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to breaking down complex polymer chains into less harmful constituents. This review focused on enhancements in the strain's efficiency through genetic engineering, optimized culture conditions, and enzyme immobilization to underscore the potential for scalability and practical application of this bioremediation process. The utilization of laccase from P. ostreatus in plastic waste management demonstrates a vital step forward in pursuing sustainable environmental solutions. By using the potential of fungal bioremediation, researchers can move closer to a future in which the adverse effects of plastic pollution are significantly mitigated, benefiting the health of our planet and future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthikeyan Ramamurthy
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Kattankulatur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - N Paul Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Kattankulatur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sanjay Gopi
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Kattankulatur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gokul Sudhakaran
- Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Instituite of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - B Haridevamuthu
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Kattankulatur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Karthick Raja Namasivayam
- Centre for Applied Research, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Instituite of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Jesu Arockiaraj
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Kattankulatur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India.
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10
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Ibrahim SS, Ionescu D, Grossart HP. Tapping into fungal potential: Biodegradation of plastic and rubber by potent Fungi. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173188. [PMID: 38740197 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Plastic polymers are present in most aspects of routine daily life. Their increasing leakage into the environment poses a threat to environmental, animal, and human health. These polymers are often resistant to microbial degradation and are predicted to remain in the environment for tens to hundreds of years. Fungi have been shown to degrade complex polymers and are considered good candidates for bioremediation (biological pollutant reduction) of plastics. Therefore, we screened 18 selected fungal strains for their ability to degrade polyurethane (PU), polyethylene (PE), and tire rubber. As a proxy for plastic polymer mineralization, we quantified O2 consumption and CO2 production in an enclosed biodegradation system providing plastic as the sole carbon source. In contrast to most studies we demonstrated that the tested fungi attach to, and colonize the different plastic polymers without any pretreatment of the plastics and in the absence of sugars, which were suggested essential for priming the degradation process. Functional polymer groups identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and changes in fungal morphology as seen in light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used as indicators of fungal adaptation to growth on PU as a substrate. Thereby, SEM analysis revealed new morphological structures and deformation of the cell wall of several fungal strains when colonizing PU and utilizing this plastic polymer for cell growth. Strains of Fusarium, Penicillium, Botryotinia cinerea EN41, and Trichoderma demonstrated a high potential to degrade PU, rubber, and PE. Growing on PU, over 90 % of the O2 was consumed in <14 days with 300-500 ppm of CO2 generated in parallel. Our study highlights a high bioremediation potential of some fungal strains to efficiently degrade plastic polymers, largely dependent on plastic type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabreen S Ibrahim
- Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Stechlin 16775, Germany; Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Potsdam 14469, Germany
| | - Danny Ionescu
- Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Stechlin 16775, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Grossart
- Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Stechlin 16775, Germany; Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Potsdam 14469, Germany.
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11
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M SF, Narayanan R. Enterobacter cloacae-mediated polymer biodegradation: in-silico analysis predicts broad spectrum degradation potential by Alkane monooxygenase. Biodegradation 2024:10.1007/s10532-024-10091-4. [PMID: 39001975 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-024-10091-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution poses a significant environmental challenge. In this study, the strain Enterobacter cloacae O5-E, a bacterium displaying polyethylene-degrading capabilities was isolated. Over a span of 30 days, analytical techniques including x-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, optical profilometry, hardness testing and mass spectrometric analysis were employed to examine alterations in the polymer. Results revealed an 11.48% reduction in crystallinity, a 50% decrease in hardness, and a substantial 25-fold increase in surface roughness resulting from the pits and cracks introduced in the polymer by the isolate. Additionally, the presence of degradational by-products revealed via gas chromatography ascertains the steady progression of degradation. Further, recognizing the pivotal role of alkane monooxygenase in plastic degradation, the study expanded to detect this enzyme in the isolate molecularly. Molecular docking studies were conducted to assess the enzyme's affinity with various polymers, demonstrating notable binding capability with most polymers, especially with polyurethane (- 5.47 kcal/mol). These findings highlight the biodegradation potential of Enterobacter cloacae O5-E and the crucial involvement of alkane monooxygenase in the initial steps of the degradation process, offering a promising avenue to address the global plastic pollution crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafana Farveen M
- Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering and Faculty of Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering & Technology (CET), SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Rajnish Narayanan
- Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering and Faculty of Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering & Technology (CET), SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India.
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12
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Satta A, Ghiotto G, Santinello D, Giangeri G, Bergantino E, Modesti M, Raga R, Treu L, Campanaro S, Zampieri G. Synergistic functional activity of a landfill microbial consortium in a microplastic-enriched environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174696. [PMID: 38997032 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution of the soil is a global issue of increasing concern, with far-reaching impact on the environment and human health. To fully understand the medium- and long-term impact of plastic dispersal in the environment, it is necessary to define its interaction with the residing microbial communities and the biochemical routes of its degradation and metabolization. However, despite recent attention on this problem, research has largely focussed on microbial functional potential, failing to clearly identify collective adaptation strategies of these communities. Our study combines genome-centric metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to characterise soil microbial communities adapting to high polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate concentration. The microbiota were sampled from a landfill subject to decades-old plastic contamination and enriched through prolonged cultivation using these microplastics as the only carbon source. This approach aimed to select the microorganisms that best adapt to these specific substrates. As a result, we obtained simplified communities where multiple plastic metabolization pathways are widespread across abundant and rare microbial taxa. Major differences were found in terms of expression, which on average was higher in planktonic microbes than those firmly adhered to plastic, indicating complementary metabolic roles in potential microplastic assimilation. Moreover, metatranscriptomic patterns indicate a high transcriptional level of numerous genes in emerging taxa characterised by a marked accumulation of genomic variants, supporting the hypothesis that plastic metabolization requires an extensive rewiring in energy metabolism and thus provides a strong selective pressure. Altogether, our results provide an improved characterisation of the impact of microplastics derived from common plastics types on terrestrial microbial communities and suggest biotic responses investing contaminated sites as well as potential biotechnological targets for cooperative plastic upcycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Satta
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ghiotto
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Davide Santinello
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Ginevra Giangeri
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 227, 220, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Michele Modesti
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Via Gradenigo, 6/a, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Roberto Raga
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Treu
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Stefano Campanaro
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Guido Zampieri
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
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13
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Lu B, Lou Y, Wang J, Liu Q, Yang SS, Ren N, Wu WM, Xing D. Understanding the Ecological Robustness and Adaptability of the Gut Microbiome in Plastic-Degrading Superworms ( Zophobas atratus) in Response to Microplastics and Antibiotics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12028-12041. [PMID: 38838251 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Recent discoveries indicate that several insect larvae are capable of ingesting and biodegrading plastics rapidly and symbiotically, but the ecological adaptability of the larval gut microbiome to microplastics (MPs) remains unclear. Here, we described the gut microbiome assemblage and MP biodegradation of superworms (Zophobas atratus larvae) fed MPs of five major petroleum-based polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate) and antibiotics. The shift of molecular weight distribution, characteristic peaks of C═O, and metabolic intermediates of residual polymers in egested frass proved depolymerization and biodegradation of all MPs tested in the larval intestines, even under antibiotic suppression. Superworms showed a wide adaptation to the digestion of the five polymer MPs. Antibiotic suppression negatively influenced the survival rate and plastic depolymerization patterns. The larval gut microbiomes differed from those fed MPs and antibiotics, indicating that antibiotic supplementation substantially shaped the gut microbiome composition. The larval gut microbiomes fed MPs had higher network complexity and stability than those fed MPs and antibiotics, suggesting that the ecological robustness of the gut microbiomes ensured the functional adaptability of larvae to different MPs. In addition, Mantel's test indicated that the gut microbiome assemblage was obviously related to the polymer type, the plastic degradability, antibiotic stress, and larval survival rate. This finding provided novel insights into the self-adaptation of the gut microbiome of superworms in response to different MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiyun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Yu Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Shan-Shan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Chemistry, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Center for Sustainable Development & Global Competitiveness, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Defeng Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
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14
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Wang C, Long R, Lin X, Liu W, Zhu L, Jiang L. Development and characterization of a bacterial enzyme cascade reaction system for efficient and stable PET degradation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134480. [PMID: 38703683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in various industries has led to a surge in microplastics (MPs) pollution, posing a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. To address this, we have developed a bacterial enzyme cascade reaction system (BECRS) that focuses on the efficient degradation of PET. This system harnesses the Escherichia coli (E. coli) surface to display CsgA protein, which forms curli fibers, along with the carbohydrate-binding module 3 (CBM3) and PETases, to enhance the adsorption and degradation of PET. The study demonstrated that the BECRS achieved a notable PET film degradation rate of 3437 ± 148 μg/(d*cm²), with a degradation efficiency of 21.40% for crystalline PET MPs, and the degradation products were all converted to TPA. The stability of the system was evidenced by retaining over 80% of its original activity after multiple uses and during one month of storage. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the presence of CsgA did not interfere with the enzymatic activity of PETases. This BECRS represents a significant step forward in the biodegradation of PET, particularly microplastics, offering a practical and sustainable solution for environmental pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China; College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Rui Long
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Xiran Lin
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Liying Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Ling Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China; College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China.
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15
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Morales Ramos JG, Fernández Tarrillo LM, Guevara Bravo AX, Sánchez-Purihuamán M, Carreño Farfán CR, Loayza Estrada CS, Llontop Ynga EG, De La Cruz Silva H. Efficiency of Microorganisms and Effectiveness of Biodegradation Techniques on LDPE Plastics: A Systematic Review. F1000Res 2024; 13:745. [PMID: 39086772 PMCID: PMC11289592 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.151338.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The aim of the research was to demonstrate the efficiency of microorganisms and the effectiveness of biodegradation techniques on Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics. The research question was: What is the efficiency of LDPE-degrading microorganisms and the effectiveness of biodegradation techniques? Methods The systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Articles were obtained from Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), Embase, and Google Scholar. The DeCS/Mesh search terms were: Low-density polyethylene, efficiency, biodegradation, microbial consortia, fungi, bacteria. Inclusion criteria were: scientific articles that included bacteria, fungi, and microbial consortia reported as LDPE degraders that report the percentage of weight loss; articles published from January 2010 to October 2022, and publications in Spanish and English with open access. Exclusion criteria were: studies that do not report gravimetry, the biodegradation time of LDPE, and the genus or species of the polyethylene-degrading microorganism. Results Out of 483 studies found, 50 were included in this Systematic Review (SR). The most frequent study techniques were scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gravimetry, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and in the case of microorganisms, the most studied belonged to the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Aspergillus. Regarding the isolation place, the most frequent mentioned in the reviewed articles were landfill soil and sanitary landfill soil. The efficiency of LDPE-degrading microorganisms was higher in bacteria such as Enterobacter spp., Pantoea spp., Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, and Bacillus spp., which obtained a range of DE of 9.00-70.00%, 24.00-64%, 1.15 - 61.00%, 45.00%, and 1.5-40% with DT of 4-150, 120, 4-150, 30, and 30-120 days, respectively; in the case of fungi, the main microorganisms are Neopestalotiopsis phangngaensis, Colletotrichum fructicola, and Thyrostroma jaczewskii with efficiencies of 54.34, 48.78, and 46.34%, in 90 days, respectively; and the most efficient microbial consortia were from Enterobacter spp. and Pantoea sp. with 38.00 - 81.00%, in 120 days; and, Pseudomonas protegens, Stenotrophomonas sp., B. vallismortis and Paenibacillus sp. with 55. 00 - 75.00% in 120 days. Conclusions The most efficient microorganisms in LDPE degradation are Enterobacter spp., Pantoea spp., Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, and Bacillus spp.; in fungi Neopestalotiopsis phangngaensis, Colletotrichum fructicola, and Thyrostroma jaczewskii; and in microbial consortia, those formed by Enterobacter spp. and Pantoea sp., and that of P. protegens, Stenotrophomonas sp., B. vallismortis and Paenibacillus sp.; and the most effective techniques used in LDPE biodegradation are SEM, gravimetry, and FTIR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Guillermo Morales Ramos
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Lambayeque - Perú, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Peru
| | | | - Anghelly Xiomara Guevara Bravo
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Lambayeque - Perú., Lambayeque, Lambayeque, 14000, Peru
| | - Marilin Sánchez-Purihuamán
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Lambayeque - Perú., Lambayeque, Lambayeque, 14000, Peru
| | - Carmen Rosa Carreño Farfán
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Lambayeque - Perú., Lambayeque, Lambayeque, 14000, Peru
| | - Carolina Susana Loayza Estrada
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Lambayeque - Perú, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Peru
| | - Enrique Guillermo Llontop Ynga
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Lambayeque - Perú, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Peru
| | - Horacio De La Cruz Silva
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Lambayeque - Perú., Lambayeque, Lambayeque, 14000, Peru
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16
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Salgado CA, Pereira Vidigal PM, Dantas Vanetti MC. Biodegradation of polyurethanes by Staphylococcus warneri and by microbial co-culture. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 359:142169. [PMID: 38710416 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
With the increasing production and use of polyurethanes (PUs), it is necessary to develop sustainable techniques for the remediation of plastic pollution. The use of microorganisms capable of biodegrading PUs may be an environmentally desirable solution for controlling these plastic contaminants. To contribute to the discovery of alternatives for the mitigation of plastics in the environment, this study aimed to explore the potential of StaphylococcuswarneriUFV_01.21, isolated from the gut of Galleria mellonellalarvae, for biodegradation of PU in pure culture and microbial co-culture with Serratia liquefaciensL135. S. warneri grew using Impranil® PU as the sole carbon source in pure culture and co-culture. With six days of incubation, the biodegradation of Impranil® in Luria Bertani broth was 96, 88 and 76%, while in minimal medium, it was 58, 54 and 42% for S. warneri, S. liquefaciens, and co-culture, respectively. In addition, S. warneri in pure culture or co-culture was able to biodegrade, adhere and form biofilms on the surfaces of Impranil® disks and poly[4,4'-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate)-alt-1,4-butanediol/di(propylene glycol)/polycaprolactone] (PCLMDI) films. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed biodegradation by detecting the formation of cracks, furrows, pores, and roughness on the surfaces of inoculated PU, both with pure culture and microbial co-culture. This study is the first to demonstrate the potential of S. warneriin PU biodegradation.
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17
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Ahuja V, Singh PK, Mahata C, Jeon JM, Kumar G, Yang YH, Bhatia SK. A review on microbes mediated resource recovery and bioplastic (polyhydroxyalkanoates) production from wastewater. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:187. [PMID: 38951813 PMCID: PMC11218116 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02430-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plastic is widely utilized in packaging, frameworks, and as coverings material. Its overconsumption and slow degradation, pose threats to ecosystems due to its toxic effects. While polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, their production costs present significant obstacles to global adoption. On the other side, a multitude of household and industrial activities generate substantial volumes of wastewater containing both organic and inorganic contaminants. This not only poses a threat to ecosystems but also presents opportunities to get benefits from the circular economy. Production of bioplastics may be improved by using the nutrients and minerals in wastewater as a feedstock for microbial fermentation. Strategies like feast-famine culture, mixed-consortia culture, and integrated processes have been developed for PHA production from highly polluted wastewater with high organic loads. Various process parameters like organic loading rate, organic content (volatile fatty acids), dissolved oxygen, operating pH, and temperature also have critical roles in PHA accumulation in microbial biomass. Research advances are also going on in downstream and recovery of PHA utilizing a combination of physical and chemical (halogenated solvents, surfactants, green solvents) methods. This review highlights recent developments in upcycling wastewater resources into PHA, encompassing various production strategies, downstream processing methodologies, and techno-economic analyses. SHORT CONCLUSION Organic carbon and nitrogen present in wastewater offer a promising, cost-effective source for producing bioplastic. Previous attempts have focused on enhancing productivity through optimizing culture systems and growth conditions. However, despite technological progress, significant challenges persist, such as low productivity, intricate downstream processing, scalability issues, and the properties of resulting PHA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Ahuja
- Department of Biotechnology, University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, 140413, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, 140413, India
| | - Chandan Mahata
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, 1304 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, 61801, USA
| | - Jong-Min Jeon
- Green & Sustainable Materials R&D Department, Research Institute of Clean Manufacturing System, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Chungnam, 331-825, Republic of Korea
| | - Gopalakrishnan Kumar
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Stavanger, Box 8600, Forus, Stavanger, 4036, Norway
| | - Yung-Hun Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Ubiquitous Information Technology and Application, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Shashi Kant Bhatia
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
- Institute for Ubiquitous Information Technology and Application, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
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18
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Pires CS, Costa L, Barbosa SG, Sequeira JC, Cachetas D, Freitas JP, Martins G, Machado AV, Cavaleiro AJ, Salvador AF. Microplastics Biodegradation by Estuarine and Landfill Microbiomes. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:88. [PMID: 38943017 PMCID: PMC11213754 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02399-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution poses a worldwide environmental challenge, affecting wildlife and human health. Assessing the biodegradation capabilities of natural microbiomes in environments contaminated with microplastics is crucial for mitigating the effects of plastic pollution. In this work, we evaluated the potential of landfill leachate (LL) and estuarine sediments (ES) to biodegrade polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polycaprolactone (PCL), under aerobic, anaerobic, thermophilic, and mesophilic conditions. PCL underwent extensive aerobic biodegradation with LL (99 ± 7%) and ES (78 ± 3%) within 50-60 days. Under anaerobic conditions, LL degraded 87 ± 19% of PCL in 60 days, whereas ES showed minimal biodegradation (3 ± 0.3%). PE and PET showed no notable degradation. Metataxonomics results (16S rRNA sequencing) revealed the presence of highly abundant thermophilic microorganisms assigned to Coprothermobacter sp. (6.8% and 28% relative abundance in anaerobic and aerobic incubations, respectively). Coprothermobacter spp. contain genes encoding two enzymes, an esterase and a thermostable monoacylglycerol lipase, that can potentially catalyze PCL hydrolysis. These results suggest that Coprothermobacter sp. may be pivotal in landfill leachate microbiomes for thermophilic PCL biodegradation across varying conditions. The anaerobic microbial community was dominated by hydrogenotrophic methanogens assigned to Methanothermobacter sp. (21%), pointing at possible syntrophic interactions with Coprothermobacter sp. (a H2-producer) during PCL biodegradation. In the aerobic experiments, fungi dominated the eukaryotic microbial community (e.g., Exophiala (41%), Penicillium (17%), and Mucor (18%)), suggesting that aerobic PCL biodegradation by LL involves collaboration between fungi and bacteria. Our findings bring insights on the microbial communities and microbial interactions mediating plastic biodegradation, offering valuable perspectives for plastic pollution mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina S Pires
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Luís Costa
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia G Barbosa
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | - Diogo Cachetas
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - José P Freitas
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Gilberto Martins
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Vera Machado
- IPC - Institute for Polymers and Composites, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana J Cavaleiro
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Andreia F Salvador
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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19
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Costa T, Sampaio-Marques B, Neves NM, Aguilar H, Fraga AG. Antimicrobial properties of hindered amine light stabilizers in polymer coating materials and their mechanism of action. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1390513. [PMID: 38978720 PMCID: PMC11229053 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1390513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
UV-stabilizers are a class of additives that provide extended polymer resistance to UV-degradation, but have also been suggested to have antimicrobial activity, potentially preventing the spread of pathogens, and inhibiting microbial-induced biodegradation. In this work, we incorporated different UV-stabilizers, a hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS), Tinuvin 770 DF and Tinuvin PA 123, or a hybrid HALS/UV-absorber, Tinuvin 5151, in polyurethane formulations to produce lacquer-films, and tested their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant and -sensitive strains), Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Lacquer-films incorporated with Tinuvin 770 DF showed strong antimicrobial performance against bacteria and fungi, while maintaining cytocompatibility. The mechanism of action revealed a positive relationship between Tinuvin 770 DF concentration, microbial death, and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), suggesting that RNS produced during autoxidation of Tinuvin 770 DF is responsible for the antimicrobial properties of this UV-stabilizer. Conversely, lacquer-films incorporated with Tinuvin 5151 or Tinuvin PA 123 exhibited no antimicrobial properties. Collectively, these results highlight the commercial potential of Tinuvin 770 DF to prevent photo- and biodegradation of polymers, while also inhibiting the spread of potentially harmful pathogens. Furthermore, we provide a better understanding of the mechanism underlying the biocidal activity of HALS associated to autooxidation of the amine group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Belém Sampaio-Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno M. Neves
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- 3B’s Research Group on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Helena Aguilar
- Têxtil Manuel Gonçalves—Tecidos Plastificados e Outros Revestimentos Para a Indústria Automóvel, S.A. (TMG Automotive), Largo Comendador Manuel Gonçalves, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Alexandra G. Fraga
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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20
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Beena Unni A, Muringayil Joseph T. Enhancing Polymer Sustainability: Eco-Conscious Strategies. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1769. [PMID: 39000625 PMCID: PMC11244229 DOI: 10.3390/polym16131769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Polymer sustainability is a pressing concern in today's world driven by the increasing demand for environmentally friendly materials. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of eco-friendly approaches towards enhancing the sustainability of polymers. It synthesized recent research and developments in various areas such as green polymer synthesis methods, biodegradable polymers, recycling technologies, and emerging sustainable alternatives. The environmental impact of traditional polymer production processes and the importance of adopting greener alternatives were critically examined. The review delved into the advancements in polymer recycling technologies like mechanical, chemical, and biological processes aimed at minimizing plastic waste and promoting a circular economy. The innovative approaches such as upcycling, hybrid methods etc., which offer promising solutions for addressing plastic pollution and achieving long-term sustainability goals were also analyzed. Finally, the paper discussed the challenges and future prospects of eco-friendly approaches for polymer sustainability, emphasizing the need for researchers and concerted efforts from scientists across industries and academia to drive meaningful change towards a more sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Beena Unni
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia, 75 Pulku Piechoty 1a, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland
| | - Tomy Muringayil Joseph
- Department of Polymer Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, G. Narutowicza, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
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Tayyab M, Kazmi SSUH, Pastorino P, Saqib HSA, Yaseen ZM, Hanif MS, Islam W. Microplastics in agroecosystems: Soil-plant dynamics and effective remediation approaches. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142641. [PMID: 38906184 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Increasing microplastic (MP) pollution, primarily from anthropogenic sources such as plastic film mulching, waste degradation, and agricultural practices, has emerged as a pressing global environmental concern. This review examines the direct and indirect effects of MPs on crops, both in isolation and in conjunction with other contaminants, to elucidate their combined toxicological impacts. Organic fertilizers predominantly contain 78.6% blue, 9.5% black, and 8.3% red MPs, while irrigation water in agroecosystems contains 66.2% white, 15.4% blue, and 8.1% black MPs, ranging from 0-1 mm to 4-5 mm in size. We elucidate five pivotal insights: Firstly, soil MPs exhibit affinity towards crop roots, seeds, and vascular systems, impeding water and nutrient uptake. Secondly, MPs induce oxidative stress in crops, disrupting vital metabolic processes. Thirdly, leachates from MPs elicit cytotoxic and genotoxic responses in crops. Fourthly, MPs disrupt soil biotic and abiotic dynamics, influencing water and nutrient availability for crops. Lastly, the cumulative effects of MPs and co-existing contaminants in agricultural soils detrimentally affect crop yield. Thus, we advocate agronomic interventions as practical remedies. These include biochar input, application of growth regulators, substitution of plastic mulch with crop residues, promotion of biological degradation, and encouragement of crop diversification. However, the efficacy of these measures varies based on MP type and dosage. As MP volumes increase, exploring alternative mitigation strategies such as bio-based plastics and environmentally friendly biotechnological solutions is imperative. Recognizing the persistence of plastics, policymakers should enact legislation favoring the mitigation and substitution of non-degradable materials with bio-derived or compostable alternatives. This review demonstrates the urgent need for collective efforts to alleviate MP pollution and emphasizes sustainable interventions for agricultural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tayyab
- Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China.
| | - Syed Shabi Ul Hassan Kazmi
- Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Paolo Pastorino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, 10154, Torino, Italy
| | - Hafiz Sohaib Ahmed Saqib
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Zaher Mundher Yaseen
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia; Interdisciplinary Research Center for Membranes and Water Security, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Sajid Hanif
- Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Waqar Islam
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
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Maheswaran B, Sebastin Raj J, Pandiyarajan P, Jaya Santhi R, Mythili R, K S V, Kim W, Karmegam N, Govarthanan M. Polyurethane degradation by extracellular urethanase producing bacterial isolate Moraxella catarrhalis strain BMPPS3. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118631. [PMID: 38452914 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Plastic waste has become a global issue and a threat to the ecosystem. The present study isolated polyurethane (PU) degrading bacterial species from soil dumped with plastic wastes. Four bacterial isolates, RS1, RS6, RS9 and RS13 were obtained and their ability to degrade PU in a synthetic medium with PU as a sole source of carbon was assessed individually. After thirty days of incubation, the highest PU weight loss of 67.36 ± 0.32% was recorded in the medium containing RS13 isolate. The results of FTIR revealed the occurrence of carbonyl peaks. The putative isolate RS13 confirmed with the genus Moraxella according to 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the isolate was specified as Moraxella catarrhalis strain BMPPS3. The restriction analysis of Moraxella catarrhalis strain BMPPS3 revealed that the GCAT content to 51% and 49% correspondingly. Moraxella catarrhalis strain BMPPS3 was able to colonize on PU surface and form a biofilm as revealed by SEM investigation. Fatty acids and alkanes were found to be the degradation products by GC-MS analysis. The presence of these metabolites facilitated the growth of strain RS13 and suggested that ester hydrolysis products had been mineralized into CO2 and H2O. Extracellular biosurfactant synthesis has also been found in Moraxella catarrhalis strain BMPPS13 inoculated with synthetic media and mineral salt media containing PU and glucose as carbon sources, respectively with a significant level of cell-surface hydrophobicity (32%). The production and activity of extracellular esterase showed consistent increase from day 1-15 which peaked (1.029 mM/min/mg) on day 24 significantly at P < 0.001. Crude biosurfactants were lipopeptide-based, according to the characteristic investigation. According to this study findings, Moraxella catarrhalis produces biosurfactants of the esterase, urethanase and lipase (lipopeptide) types when carbon source PU is present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baskaran Maheswaran
- Post Graduate Department of Biotechnology, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University, Sivakasi, 626124, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Joseph Sebastin Raj
- Post Graduate and Research Department of Biotechnology, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620020, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Pandiselvam Pandiyarajan
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Computing, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, 626126, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - R Jaya Santhi
- Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Auxilium College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore, 632006, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - R Mythili
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, India
| | - Vignesh K S
- Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Woong Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - N Karmegam
- PG and Research Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem, 636007, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Muthusamy Govarthanan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
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Bergeson AR, Silvera AJ, Alper HS. Bottlenecks in biobased approaches to plastic degradation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4715. [PMID: 38830860 PMCID: PMC11148140 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49146-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic waste is an environmental challenge, but also presents a biotechnological opportunity as a unique carbon substrate. With modern biotechnological tools, it is possible to enable both recycling and upcycling. To realize a plastics bioeconomy, significant intrinsic barriers must be overcome using a combination of enzyme, strain, and process engineering. This article highlights advances, challenges, and opportunities for a variety of common plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia R Bergeson
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ashli J Silvera
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hal S Alper
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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Akhigbe GE, EnochOghene AE, Olumurewa KO, Koleoso OB, Ogbonna ND. Characterization of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films degraded using bacteria strains isolated from oil-contaminated soil. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2024; 45:3155-3161. [PMID: 37139964 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2023.2210770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film degradation potential of microorganisms isolated from oil-contaminated soil and also analyzed the morphological and chemical composition of LDPE films after the biodegradation period. The bacteria strains isolated from oil-contaminated soil were standardized and used to degrade the pretreated LDPE films in mineral salt media. Thereafter, they were incubated for 78 days at 37°C in an incubator shaker, and the degraded LDPE films were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively (using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and energy dispersal x-ray (EDX)). Isolates A32 and BTT4 amongst other bacteria isolates showed the highest LDPE film degradation activity, with a weight reduction of 71.80% and 89.72% respectively, and were identified using the 16S rRNA sequencing technique. The EDX results showed that LDPE film incubated with A32 has the highest reduction in carbon and nitrogen (23.8% and 44.9% respectively) when compared with the Control. However, LDPE film incubated with BTT4 had an increase in calcium and chlorine (139% and 40% respectively), when compared with the control. Similarly, the SEM images showed the appearance of pinholes, cracks and particles on the surfaces of LDPE films incubated with A32 and BTT4 contrary to the controls. A32 and BTT4 were identified as Proteus mirabilis (Accession number: MN124173.1) and Proteus mirabilis (Accession number: KY027145.1) respectively. Proteus mirabilis showed viable plastic biodegradation potentials and may be useful in the management of plastic waste, leading to a reduction in global plastic waste and a clean environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godswill E Akhigbe
- Department of Chemical Sciences, McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Nigeria
| | | | - Kayode O Olumurewa
- Department of Physical and Computer Sciences, McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Nigeria
| | | | - Ngozi D Ogbonna
- Department of Biological Sciences, McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Nigeria
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25
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Khatua S, Simal-Gandara J, Acharya K. Myco-remediation of plastic pollution: current knowledge and future prospects. Biodegradation 2024; 35:249-279. [PMID: 37665521 PMCID: PMC10950981 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-023-10053-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
To date, enumerable fungi have been reported to participate in the biodegradation of several notorious plastic materials following their isolation from soil of plastic-dumping sites, marine water, waste of mulch films, landfills, plant parts and gut of wax moth. The general mechanism begins with formation of hydrophobin and biofilm proceding to secretion of specific plastic degarding enzymes (peroxidase, hydrolase, protease and urease), penetration of three dimensional substrates and mineralization of plastic polymers into harmless products. As a result, several synthetic polymers including polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and/or bio-degradable plastics have been validated to deteriorate within months through the action of a wide variety of fungal strains predominantly Ascomycota (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium spp.). Understanding the potential and mode of operation of these organisms is thus of prime importance inspiring us to furnish an up to date view on all the presently known fungal strains claimed to mitigate the plastic waste problem. Future research henceforth needs to be directed towards metagenomic approach to distinguish polymer degrading microbial diversity followed by bio-augmentation to build fascinating future of waste disposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somanjana Khatua
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211002, India
| | - Jesus Simal-Gandara
- Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Science, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain.
| | - Krishnendu Acharya
- Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Centre of Advanced Study, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700019, India.
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26
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Redko V, Wolska L, Olkowska E, Tankiewicz M, Cieszyńska-Semenowicz M. Long-Term Polyethylene (Bio)Degradation in Landfill: Environmental and Human Health Implications from Comprehensive Analysis. Molecules 2024; 29:2499. [PMID: 38893375 PMCID: PMC11173707 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the process of long-term (bio)degradation of polyethylene (PE) in an old municipal waste landfill (MWL) and its implications for environmental and human health. Advanced techniques, such as ICP-ES/MS and IC-LC, were used to analyze heavy metals and anions/cations, demonstrating significant concentration deviations from control samples. The soil's chemical composition revealed numerous hazardous organic compounds, further indicating the migration of additives from PE to the soil. Toxicological assessments, including Phytotoxkit FTM, Microtox® bioassay, and Ostracodtoxkit®, demonstrated phytotoxicity, acute toxicity, and high mortality in living organisms (over 85% for Heterocypris Incongruens). An unusual concentration of contaminants in the MWL's middle layers, linked to Poland's economic changes during the 1980s and 1990s, suggests increased risks of pollutant migration, posing additional environmental and health threats. Moreover, the infiltration capability of microorganisms, including pathogens, into PE structures raises concerns about potential groundwater contamination through the landfill bottom. This research underscores the need for vigilant management and updated strategies to protect the environment and public health, particularly in older landfill sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladyslav Redko
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Lidia Wolska
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ewa Olkowska
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Maciej Tankiewicz
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Monika Cieszyńska-Semenowicz
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
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27
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Lordelo R, Branco R, Gama F, Morais PV. Assessment of antimicrobial resistance, biofilm formation, and surface modification potential in hospital strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30464. [PMID: 38711646 PMCID: PMC11070870 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The occurrence of healthcare-associated infections is a multifactorial phenomenon related to hospital space contamination by bacteria. The ESKAPE group, specifically Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, play a relevant role in the occurrence of these infections. Therefore, comprehensive research is needed to identify characteristics that justify the prevalence of these species in the healthcare environment. In this line, the study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance, biofilm formation, and the potential for polymer degradation in a collection of 33 P. aeruginosa strains and 2 K. pneumoniae strains sampled from various equipment and non-critical surfaces in a Portuguese hospital. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed that none of the strains was categorized as multidrug-resistant (non-MDR). An assessment of their biofilm-forming capabilities indicated that 97 % of the strains exhibited biofilm-producing characteristics. Notably, within this group, the majority of P. aeruginosa and half of K. pneumoniae strains were classified as strong biofilm producers. Furthermore, the strains were evaluated for their potential to cause damage or change medical devices, namely infusion sets, nasal cannula, and urinary catheters. Three P. aeruginosa strains, two strong and one moderate biofilm producers, showed the highest ability to modify surfaces of the nasal cannula and infusion sets. Additionally, the Chi-square test revealed a statistically significant relationship between the presence of P. aeruginosa strains and the water accession spots. In conclusion, this work suggests that bacteria from this group hold a significant ability to grow in the healthcare environment through the degradation of non-critical materials. This suggests a potential concern for the persistence and proliferation of these organisms in hospital environments, emphasizing the importance of robust infection control measures to mitigate the risks associated with bacterial growth on such surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lordelo
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Mechanical Engineering Material and Processes, ARISE, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita Branco
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Mechanical Engineering Material and Processes, ARISE, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Fernando Gama
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Portugal and Health School of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Portugal
| | - Paula V. Morais
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Mechanical Engineering Material and Processes, ARISE, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
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Jebashalomi V, Emmanuel Charles P, Rajaram R. Microbial degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene using Bacillus cereus (OR268710) isolated from plastic-polluted tropical coastal environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171580. [PMID: 38462004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The study focused on marine bacteria, specifically Bacillus cereus, sourced from heavily polluted coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, aiming to assess their efficacy in degrading low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene over a 42-day period. When LDPE and polystyrene films were incubated with Bacillus cereus, they exhibited maximum weight losses of 4.13 ± 0.81 % and 14.13 ± 2.41 %, respectively. Notably, polystyrene exhibited a higher reduction rate (0.0036 day-1) and a shorter half-life (195.29 days). SEM images of the treated LDPE and polystyrene unveiled surface erosion with cracks. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis revealed elevated carbon content and the presence of oxygen in the treated LDPE and polystyrene films. The ATR-FTIR spectra exhibited distinctive peaks corresponding to functional groups, with observable peak shifts in the treated films. Notable increases were detected in carbonyl, internal double bond, and vinyl indices across all treated groups. Additionally, both treated LDPE and polystyrene showed reduced crystallinity. This research sheds light on Bacillus cereus (OR268710) biodegradation capabilities, emphasizing its potential for eco-friendly waste management in coastal regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vethanayaham Jebashalomi
- Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Rajendran Rajaram
- Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India.
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29
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Mupamhadzi TL, Machona O, Chidzwondo F, Mangoyi R. Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of the alkB Gene in Klebsiella oxytoca Strains Isolated from the Gut of Tenebrio molitor. ScientificWorldJournal 2024; 2024:3350591. [PMID: 38756480 PMCID: PMC11098606 DOI: 10.1155/2024/3350591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The challenge in polystyrene disposal has caused researchers to look for urgent innovative and ecofriendly solutions for plastic degradation. Some insects have been reported to use polystyrene as their sole carbon source, and this has been linked to the presence of microbes in their guts that aid in plastic digestion. Thus, this study focuses on the molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of the alkane-1-monooxygenase (alkB) gene in Klebsiella oxytoca strains isolated from the gut of Tenebrio molitor. The alkB gene encodes for alkane-1-monooxygenase, an enzyme involved in the oxidation of inactivated alkanes. This gene can be used as a marker to assess bacteria's ability to biodegrade polystyrene. Three bacterial strains were isolated from the guts of T. molitor mealworms and were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The primers used in the amplification of the 16S ribosomal RNA region were designed using NCBI, a bioinformatics tool. To detect the presence of the alkB gene in the isolated bacterial strains, a set of primers used in the amplification of this gene was manually designed from the conserved regions of the alkB nucleotide sequences of eleven bacterial species from GenBank. TCOFFE online tool was used to align the alkB sequences of the bacteria, while Jalview and ConSurf were used to view the alignment. The amplified alkB gene was then sequenced using the Sanger sequencing technique, blasted on NCBI to look for similar sequences, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. Based on the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences, the isolated bacterial strains were confirmed to be Klebsiella oxytoca NBRC 102593, Klebsiella oxytoca JCM 1665, and Klebsiella oxytoca ATCC 13182. The alkB gene sequence identical to fourteen alkB gene sequences derived from Actinobacteria whole genome was detected in Klebsiella oxytoca for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The novel nucleotide sequence was published in the NCBI database under accession number OP959069. This gene sequence was found to be for the enzyme alkane-1-monooxygenase and may be one of the enzymes responsible for polystyrene degradation by the putative Klebsiella oxytoca ATCC 13182 in T. molitor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oleen Machona
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Farisai Chidzwondo
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Rumbidzai Mangoyi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
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30
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Crystal Thew XE, Lo SC, Ramanan RN, Tey BT, Huy ND, Chien Wei O. Enhancing plastic biodegradation process: strategies and opportunities. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:477-494. [PMID: 36788704 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2170861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Plastic biodegradation has emerged as a sustainable approach and green alternative in handling the ever-increasing accumulation of plastic wastes in the environment. The complete biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate is one of the most recent breakthroughs in the field of plastic biodegradation. Despite the success, the effective and complete biodegradation of a wide variety of plastics is still far from the practical implementation, and an on-going effort has been mainly devoted to the exploration of novel microorganisms and enzymes for plastic biodegradation. However, alternative strategies which enhance the existing biodegradation process should not be neglected in the continuous advancement of this field. Thus, this review highlights various strategies which have shown to improve the biodegradation of plastics, which include the pretreatment of plastics using UV irradiation, thermal, or chemical treatments to increase the susceptibility of plastics toward microbial action. Alternative pretreatment strategies are also suggested and compared with the existing techniques. Besides, the effects of additives such as pro-oxidants, natural polymers, and surfactants on plastic biodegradation are discussed. In addition, considerations governing the biodegradation performance, such as the formulation of biodegradation medium, cell-free biocatalysis, and physico-chemical properties of plastics, are addressed. Lastly, the challenges and future prospects for the advancement of plastic biodegradation are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Er Crystal Thew
- Chemical Engineering Discipline, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Sewn Cen Lo
- Chemical Engineering Discipline, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | | | - Beng Ti Tey
- Chemical Engineering Discipline, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
- Advanced Engineering Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Nguyen Duc Huy
- Institute of Biotechnology, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
| | - Ooi Chien Wei
- Chemical Engineering Discipline, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
- Advanced Engineering Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
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Hossain S, Shukri ZNA, Waiho K, Ibrahim YS, Kamaruzzan AS, Rahim AIA, Draman AS, Wahab W, Khatoon H, Kasan NA. Biodegradation of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) microplastics by floc-forming bacteria, Bacillus cereus strain SHBF2, isolated from a commercial aquafarm. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:32225-32245. [PMID: 38644425 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33337-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The ubiquitous proximity of the commonly used microplastic (MP) particles particularly polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) poses a serious threat to the environment and human health globally. Biological treatment as an environment-friendly approach to counter MP pollution has recent interest when the bio-agent has beneficial functions in their ecosystem. This study aimed to utilize beneficial floc-forming bacteria Bacillus cereus SHBF2 isolated from an aquaculture farm in reducing the MP particles (PE, PP, and PS) from their environment. The bacteria were inoculated for 60 days in a medium containing MP particle as a sole carbon source. On different days of incubation (DOI), the bacterial growth analysis was monitored and the MP particles were harvested to examine their weight loss, surface changes, and alterations in chemical properties. After 60 DOI, the highest weight loss was recorded for PE, 6.87 ± 0.92%, which was further evaluated to daily reduction rate (k), 0.00118 day-1, and half-life (t1/2), 605.08 ± 138.52 days. The OD value (1.74 ± 0.008 Abs.) indicated the higher efficiency of bacteria for PP utilization, and so for the colony formation per define volume (1.04 × 1011 CFU/mL). Biofilm formation, erosions, cracks, and fragments were evident during the observation of the tested MPs using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The formation of carbonyl and alcohol group due to the oxidation and hydrolysis by SHBF2 strain were confirmed using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis. Additionally, the alterations of pH and CO2 evolution from each of the MP type ensures the bacterial activity and mineralization of the MP particles. The findings of this study have confirmed and indicated a higher degree of biodegradation for all of the selected MP particles. B. cereus SHBF2, the floc-forming bacteria used in aquaculture, has demonstrated a great potential for use as an efficient MP-degrading bacterium in the biofloc farming system in the near future to guarantee a sustainable green aquaculture production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahadat Hossain
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Zuhayra Nasrin Ahmad Shukri
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Khor Waiho
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Yusof Shuaib Ibrahim
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Amyra Suryatie Kamaruzzan
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Ahmad Ideris Abdul Rahim
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Ahmad Shuhaimi Draman
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Wahidah Wahab
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Helena Khatoon
- Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, 4225, Bangladesh
| | - Nor Azman Kasan
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
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Mavai S, Bains A, Sridhar K, Rashid S, Elossaily GM, Ali N, Chawla P, Sharma M. Formulation and application of poly lactic acid, gum, and cellulose-based ternary bioplastic for smart food packaging: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131687. [PMID: 38642692 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
In future, global demand for low-cost-sustainable materials possessing good strength is going to increase tremendously, to replace synthetic plastic materials, thus motivating scientists towards green composites. The PLA has been the most promising sustainable bio composites, due to its inherent antibacterial property, biodegradability, eco-friendliness, and good thermal and mechanical characteristics. However, PLA has certain demerits such as poor water and gas barrier properties, and low glass transition temperature, which restricts its use in food packaging applications. To overcome this, PLA is blended with polysaccharides such as gum and cellulose to enhance the water barrier, thermal, crystallization, degradability, and mechanical properties. Moreover, the addition of these polysaccharides not only reduces the production cost but also helps in manufacturing packaging material with superior quality. Hence this review focuses on various fabrication techniques, degradation of the ternary composite, and its application in the food sector. Moreover, this review discusses the enhanced barrier and mechanical properties of the ternary blend packaging material. Incorporation of gum enhanced flexibility, while the reinforcement of cellulose improved the structural integrity of the ternary composite. The unique properties of this ternary composite make it suitable for extending the shelf life of food packaging, specifically for fruits, vegetables, and fried products. Future studies must be conducted to investigate the optimization of formulations for specific food types, explore scalability for industrial applications, and integrate these composites with emerging technologies (3D/4D printing).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayani Mavai
- Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, India
| | - Aarti Bains
- Department of Microbiology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, India
| | - Kandi Sridhar
- Department of Food Technology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University), Coimbatore 641021, India
| | - Summya Rashid
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173 Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gehan M Elossaily
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, AlMaarefa University, P.O. Box 71666, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nemat Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Prince Chawla
- Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, India.
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Chai YJ, Syauqi TA, Sudesh K, Ee TL, Ban CC, Kar Mun AC, Anne Strain EM, Merican F, Rahim MA, Md Salleh K, Yin CS. Effects of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] coating on the bacterial communities of artificial structures. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300929. [PMID: 38635673 PMCID: PMC11025745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The expanding urbanization of coastal areas has led to increased ocean sprawl, which has had both physical and chemical adverse effects on marine and coastal ecosystems. To maintain the health and functionality of these ecosystems, it is imperative to develop effective solutions. One such solution involves the use of biodegradable polymers as bioactive coatings to enhance the bioreceptivity of marine and coastal infrastructures. Our study aimed to explore two main objectives: (1) investigate PHA-degrading bacteria on polymer-coated surfaces and in surrounding seawater, and (2) comparing biofilm colonization between surfaces with and without the polymer coating. We applied poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)) coatings on concrete surfaces at concentrations of 1% and 6% w/v, with varying numbers of coating cycles (1, 3, and 6). Our findings revealed that the addition of P(3HB) indeed promoted accelerated biofilm growth on the coated surfaces, resulting in an occupied area approximately 50% to 100% larger than that observed in the negative control. This indicates a remarkable enhancement, with the biofilm expanding at a rate roughly 1.5 to 2 times faster than the untreated surfaces. We observed noteworthy distinctions in biofilm growth patterns based on varying concentration and number of coating cycles. Interestingly, treatments with low concentration and high coating cycles exhibited comparable biofilm enhancements to those with high concentrations and low coating cycles. Further investigation into the bacterial communities responsible for the degradation of P(3HB) coatings identified mostly common and widespread strains but found no relation between the concentration and coating cycles. Nevertheless, this microbial degradation process was found to be highly efficient, manifesting noticeable effects within a single month. While these initial findings are promising, it's essential to conduct tests under natural conditions to validate the applicability of this approach. Nonetheless, our study represents a novel and bio-based ecological engineering strategy for enhancing the bioreceptivity of marine and coastal structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Jean Chai
- Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Taufiq Ahmad Syauqi
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Kumar Sudesh
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Tan Leng Ee
- School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Cheah Chee Ban
- School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Amanda Chong Kar Mun
- Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Elisabeth Marijke Anne Strain
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Faradina Merican
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Chee Su Yin
- Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
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Bocci V, Galafassi S, Levantesi C, Crognale S, Amalfitano S, Congestri R, Matturro B, Rossetti S, Di Pippo F. Freshwater plastisphere: a review on biodiversity, risks, and biodegradation potential with implications for the aquatic ecosystem health. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1395401. [PMID: 38699475 PMCID: PMC11064797 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1395401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The plastisphere, a unique microbial biofilm community colonizing plastic debris and microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments, has attracted increasing attention owing to its ecological and public health implications. This review consolidates current state of knowledge on freshwater plastisphere, focussing on its biodiversity, community assembly, and interactions with environmental factors. Current biomolecular approaches revealed a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa associated with plastic surfaces. Despite their ecological importance, the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and mobile genetic elements (i.e., antibiotic resistance genes) raises concerns for ecosystem and human health. However, the extent of these risks and their implications remain unclear. Advanced sequencing technologies are promising for elucidating the functions of plastisphere, particularly in plastic biodegradation processes. Overall, this review emphasizes the need for comprehensive studies to understand plastisphere dynamics in freshwater and to support effective management strategies to mitigate the impact of plastic pollution on freshwater resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Bocci
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Galafassi
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Verbania, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Caterina Levantesi
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Crognale
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefano Amalfitano
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberta Congestri
- Laboratory of Biology of Algae, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruna Matturro
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Rossetti
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Pippo
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
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Salam LB. Metagenomic investigations into the microbial consortia, degradation pathways, and enzyme systems involved in the biodegradation of plastics in a tropical lentic pond sediment. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:172. [PMID: 38630153 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03972-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The exploitation of exciting features of plastics for diverse applications has resulted in significant plastic waste generation, which negatively impacts environmental compartments, metabolic processes, and the well-being of aquatic ecosystems biota. A shotgun metagenomic approach was deployed to investigate the microbial consortia, degradation pathways, and enzyme systems involved in the degradation of plastics in a tropical lentic pond sediment (APS). Functional annotation of the APS proteome (ORFs) using the PlasticDB database revealed annotation of 1015 proteins of enzymes such as depolymerase, esterase, lipase, hydrolase, nitrobenzylesterase, chitinase, carboxylesterase, polyesterase, oxidoreductase, polyamidase, PETase, MHETase, laccase, alkane monooxygenase, among others involved in the depolymerization of the plastic polymers. It also revealed that polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and nylon have the highest number of annotated enzymes. Further annotation using the KEGG GhostKOALA revealed that except for terephthalate, all the other degradation products of the plastic polymers depolymerization such as glyoxylate, adipate, succinate, 1,4-butanediol, ethylene glycol, lactate, and acetaldehyde were further metabolized to intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Taxonomic characterization of the annotated proteins using the AAI Profiler and BLASTP revealed that Pseudomonadota members dominate most plastic types, followed by Actinomycetota and Acidobacteriota. The study reveals novel plastic degraders from diverse phyla hitherto not reported to be involved in plastic degradation. This suggests that plastic pollution in aquatic environments is prevalent with well-adapted degrading communities and could be the silver lining in mitigating the impacts of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lateef B Salam
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria.
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He L, Ding J, Yang SS, Zang YN, Pang JW, Xing D, Zhang LY, Ren N, Wu WM. Molecular-Weight-Dependent Degradation of Plastics: Deciphering Host-Microbiome Synergy Biodegradation of High-Purity Polypropylene Microplastics by Mealworms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6647-6658. [PMID: 38563431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The biodegradation of polypropylene (PP), a highly persistent nonhydrolyzable polymer, by Tenebrio molitor has been confirmed using commercial PP microplastics (MPs) (Mn 26.59 and Mw 187.12 kDa). This confirmation was based on the reduction of the PP mass, change in molecular weight (MW), and a positive Δδ13C in the residual PP. A MW-dependent biodegradation mechanism was investigated using five high-purity PP MPs, classified into low (0.83 and 6.20 kDa), medium (50.40 and 108.0 kDa), and high (575.0 kDa) MW categories to access the impact of MW on the depolymerization pattern and associated gene expression of gut bacteria and the larval host. The larvae can depolymerize/biodegrade PP polymers with high MW although the consumption rate and weight losses increased, and survival rates declined with increasing PP MW. This pattern is similar to observations with polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), i.e., both Mn and Mw decreased after being fed low MW PP, while Mn and/or Mw increased after high MW PP was fed. The gut microbiota exhibited specific bacteria associations, such as Kluyvera sp. and Pediococcus sp. for high MW PP degradation, Acinetobacter sp. for medium MW PP, and Bacillus sp. alongside three other bacteria for low MW PP metabolism. In the host transcriptome, digestive enzymes and plastic degradation-related bacterial enzymes were up-regulated after feeding on PP depending on different MWs. The T. molitor host exhibited both defensive function and degradation capability during the biodegradation of plastics, with high MW PP showing a relatively negative impact on the larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jie Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shan-Shan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Ya-Ni Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Ji-Wei Pang
- CECEP Digital Technology Co., Ltd., China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Defeng Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Lu-Yan Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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Zaini N, Kasmuri N, Mojiri A, Kindaichi T, Nayono SE. Plastic pollution and degradation pathways: A review on the treatment technologies. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28849. [PMID: 38601511 PMCID: PMC11004578 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the production of plastic has been estimated to reach 300 million tonnes, and nearly the same amount has been dumped into the waters. This waste material causes long-term damage to the ecosystem, economic sectors, and aquatic environments. Fragmentation of plastics to microplastics has been detected in the world's oceans, which causes a serious global impact. It is found that most of this debris ends up in water environments. Hence, this research aims to review the microbial degradation of microplastic, especially in water bodies and coastal areas. Aerobic bacteria will oxidize and decompose the microplastic from this environment to produce nutrients. Furthermore, plants such as microalgae can employ this nutrient as an energy source, which is the byproduct of microplastic. This paper highlights the reduction of plastics in the environment, typically by ultraviolet reduction, mechanical abrasion processes, and utilization by microorganisms and microalgae. Further discussion on the utilization of microplastics in the current technologies comprised of mechanical, chemical, and biological methods focusing more on the microalgae and microbial pathways via fuel cells has been elaborated. It can be denoted in the fuel cell system, the microalgae are placed in the bio-cathode section, and the anode chamber consists of the colony of microorganisms. Hence, electric current from the fuel cell can be generated to produce clean energy. Thus, the investigation on the emerging technologies via fuel cell systems and the potential use of microplastic pollutants for consumption has been discussed in the paper. The biochemical changes of microplastic and the interaction of microalgae and bacteria towards the degradation pathways of microplastic are also being observed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurfadhilah Zaini
- School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Norhafezah Kasmuri
- School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Amin Mojiri
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8527, Japan
| | - Tomonori Kindaichi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8527, Japan
| | - Satoto Endar Nayono
- Department of Civil Engineering and Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Jalan Colombo 1, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
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Shi C, Quinn EC, Diment WT, Chen EYX. Recyclable and (Bio)degradable Polyesters in a Circular Plastics Economy. Chem Rev 2024; 124:4393-4478. [PMID: 38518259 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Polyesters carrying polar main-chain ester linkages exhibit distinct material properties for diverse applications and thus play an important role in today's plastics economy. It is anticipated that they will play an even greater role in tomorrow's circular plastics economy that focuses on sustainability, thanks to the abundant availability of their biosourced building blocks and the presence of the main-chain ester bonds that can be chemically or biologically cleaved on demand by multiple methods and thus bring about more desired end-of-life plastic waste management options. Because of this potential and promise, there have been intense research activities directed at addressing recycling, upcycling or biodegradation of existing legacy polyesters, designing their biorenewable alternatives, and redesigning future polyesters with intrinsic chemical recyclability and tailored performance that can rival today's commodity plastics that are either petroleum based and/or hard to recycle. This review captures these exciting recent developments and outlines future challenges and opportunities. Case studies on the legacy polyesters, poly(lactic acid), poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene succinate), and poly(butylene-adipate terephthalate), are presented, and emerging chemically recyclable polyesters are comprehensively reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxia Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Ethan C Quinn
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Wilfred T Diment
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Eugene Y-X Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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Frey B, Aiesi M, Rast BM, Rüthi J, Julmi J, Stierli B, Qi W, Brunner I. Searching for new plastic-degrading enzymes from the plastisphere of alpine soils using a metagenomic mining approach. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300503. [PMID: 38578779 PMCID: PMC10997104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic materials, including microplastics, accumulate in all types of ecosystems, even in remote and cold environments such as the European Alps. This pollution poses a risk for the environment and humans and needs to be addressed. Using shotgun DNA metagenomics of soils collected in the eastern Swiss Alps at about 3,000 m a.s.l., we identified genes and their proteins that potentially can degrade plastics. We screened the metagenomes of the plastisphere and the bulk soil with a differential abundance analysis, conducted similarity-based screening with specific databases dedicated to putative plastic-degrading genes, and selected those genes with a high probability of signal peptides for extracellular export and a high confidence for functional domains. This procedure resulted in a final list of nine candidate genes. The lengths of the predicted proteins were between 425 and 845 amino acids, and the predicted genera producing these proteins belonged mainly to Caballeronia and Bradyrhizobium. We applied functional validation, using heterologous expression followed by enzymatic assays of the supernatant. Five of the nine proteins tested showed significantly increased activities when we used an esterase assay, and one of these five proteins from candidate genes, a hydrolase-type esterase, clearly had the highest activity, by more than double. We performed the fluorescence assays for plastic degradation of the plastic types BI-OPL and ecovio® only with proteins from the five candidate genes that were positively active in the esterase assay, but like the negative controls, these did not show any significantly increased activity. In contrast, the activity of the positive control, which contained a PLA-degrading gene insert known from the literature, was more than 20 times higher than that of the negative controls. These findings suggest that in silico screening followed by functional validation is suitable for finding new plastic-degrading enzymes. Although we only found one new esterase enzyme, our approach has the potential to be applied to any type of soil and to plastics in various ecosystems to search rapidly and efficiently for new plastic-degrading enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beat Frey
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Margherita Aiesi
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Facoltà de Science Agrarie e Alimentari, University Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Basil M. Rast
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Joel Rüthi
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Julmi
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Beat Stierli
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Weihong Qi
- Functional Genomics Center Zürich, ETH Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics SIB, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivano Brunner
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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40
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Chaimusik N, Sombuttra N, Nakaramontri Y, Sompongchaiyakul P, Charoenpong C, Intra B, Euanorasetr J. The comparative plastisphere microbial community profile at Kung Wiman beach unveils potential plastic-specific degrading microorganisms. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17165. [PMID: 38590706 PMCID: PMC11000645 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nutsuda Chaimusik
- Laboratory of Biotechnological Research for Energy and Bioactive Compounds, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Natthaphong Sombuttra
- Laboratory of Biotechnological Research for Energy and Bioactive Compounds, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yeampon Nakaramontri
- Sustainable Polymer & Innovative Composites Material Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Penjai Sompongchaiyakul
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chawalit Charoenpong
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Bungonsiri Intra
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Mahidol University and Osaka University Collaborative Research Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jirayut Euanorasetr
- Laboratory of Biotechnological Research for Energy and Bioactive Compounds, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
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41
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Pawano O, Jenpuntarat N, Streit WR, Pérez-García P, Pongtharangkul T, Phinyocheep P, Thayanukul P, Euanorasetr J, Intra B. Exploring untapped bacterial communities and potential polypropylene-degrading enzymes from mangrove sediment through metagenomics analysis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1347119. [PMID: 38638899 PMCID: PMC11024650 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1347119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The versatility of plastic has resulted in huge amounts being consumed annually. Mismanagement of post-consumption plastic material has led to plastic waste pollution. Biodegradation of plastic by microorganisms has emerged as a potential solution to this problem. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the microbial communities involved in the biodegradation of polypropylene (PP). Mangrove soil was enriched with virgin PP sheets or chemically pretreated PP comparing between 2 and 4 months enrichment to promote the growth of bacteria involved in PP biodegradation. The diversity of the resulting microbial communities was accessed through 16S metagenomic sequencing. The results indicated that Xanthomonadaceae, unclassified Gaiellales, and Nocardioidaceae were promoted during the enrichment. Additionally, shotgun metagenomics was used to investigate enzymes involved in plastic biodegradation. The results revealed the presence of various putative plastic-degrading enzymes in the mangrove soil, including alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and alkane hydroxylase. The degradation of PP plastic was determined using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Water Contact Angle measurements. The FTIR spectra showed a reduced peak intensity of enriched and pretreated PP compared to the control. SEM images revealed the presence of bacterial biofilms as well as cracks on the PP surface. Corresponding to the FTIR and SEM analysis, the water contact angle measurement indicated a decrease in the hydrophobicity of PP and pretreated PP surface during the enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onnipa Pawano
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Mahidol University and Osaka Collaborative Research Center on Bioscience and Biotechnology, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nuttarin Jenpuntarat
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Mahidol University and Osaka Collaborative Research Center on Bioscience and Biotechnology, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wolfgang R. Streit
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Pablo Pérez-García
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Molecular Microbiology, Institute of General Microbiology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Pranee Phinyocheep
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Parinda Thayanukul
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Faculty of Science, Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Mahidol University at Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Jirayut Euanorasetr
- Laboratory of Biotechnological Research for Energy and Bioactive Compound (BREBC), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Bungonsiri Intra
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Mahidol University and Osaka Collaborative Research Center on Bioscience and Biotechnology, Bangkok, Thailand
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42
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Brynzak-Schreiber E, Schögl E, Bapp C, Cseh K, Kopatz V, Jakupec MA, Weber A, Lange T, Toca-Herrera JL, Del Favero G, Wadsak W, Kenner L, Pichler V. Microplastics role in cell migration and distribution during cancer cell division. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 353:141463. [PMID: 38423146 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Amidst the global plastic pollution crisis, the gastrointestinal tract serves as the primary entry point for daily exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. We investigated the complex dynamics between polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics (PS-MNPs) and four distinct human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT29, HCT116, SW480, and SW620). Our findings revealed a significant size- and concentration dependent uptake of 0.25, 1, and 10 μm PS-MNPs across all cell lines, with HCT116 cells exhibiting the highest uptake rates. During cell division, particles were distributed between mother and daughter cells. Interestingly, we observed no signs of elimination from the cells. Short-term exposure to 0.25 μm particles significantly amplified cell migration, potentially leading to pro-metastatic effects. Particles demonstrated high persistence in 2D and 3D cultures, and accumulation in non-proliferating parts of spheroids, without interfering with cell proliferation or division. Our study unveils the disturbing fact of the persistence and bioaccumulation of MNPs in colorectal cancer cell lines, key toxicological traits under REACH (Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). Our observations underscore the potential of MNPs as hidden catalysts for tumor progression, particularly through enhancing cell migration and possibly fueling metastasis - a finding that sheds light on a significant and previously underexplored area of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Brynzak-Schreiber
- University of Vienna, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Schögl
- University of Vienna, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vienna, Austria; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Department of Bionanosciences, Institute of Biophysics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carolin Bapp
- University of Vienna, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klaudia Cseh
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Kopatz
- Medical University of Vienna, Clinical Institute of Pathology, Department for Experimental and Laboratory Animal Pathology, Vienna, Austria; CBmed GmbH - Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Graz, Styria, Austria; Department for Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael A Jakupec
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Weber
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Department of Bionanosciences, Institute of Biophysics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tobias Lange
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Anatomy I, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), Germany
| | - José L Toca-Herrera
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Department of Bionanosciences, Institute of Biophysics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giorgia Del Favero
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Vienna, Austria; University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Wadsak
- CBmed GmbH - Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Graz, Styria, Austria; Medical University of Vienna, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Kenner
- Medical University of Vienna, Clinical Institute of Pathology, Department for Experimental and Laboratory Animal Pathology, Vienna, Austria; CBmed GmbH - Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Graz, Styria, Austria; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Unit of Laboratory Animal Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Applied Metabolomics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Verena Pichler
- University of Vienna, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vienna, Austria; CBmed GmbH - Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Graz, Styria, Austria.
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43
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Lin X, Lin S, Peng L, Chen M, Cheng X, Xie S, Bao R, Su Y, Mehmood T. Effects of polypropylene microplastics on carbon dioxide dynamics in intertidal mangrove sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 346:123682. [PMID: 38428788 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) in soil can influence CO2 dynamics by altering organic carbon (OC) and microbial composition. Nevertheless, the fluctuation of CO2 response attributed to MPs in mangrove sediments is unclear. This study explores the impact of micro-sized polypropylene (mPP) particles on the carbon dynamics of intertidal mangrove sediments. In the high-tide level sediment, after 28 days, the cumulative CO2 levels for varying mPP dosages were as follows: 496.86 ± 2.07, 430.38 ± 3.84 and 447.09 ± 1.72 mg kg-1 for 0.1%, 1% and 10% (w/w) mPP, respectively. The CO2 emissions were found to be increased with a 0.1% (w/w) mPP level and decreased with 1% and 10% (w/w) mPP at high-tide level sediment, suggesting a tide level-specific dose dependence of the CO2 emission pattern in mangrove sediments. Overall, results indicated that the presence of mPP in mangrove sediments would potentially affect intertidal total CO2 storage under given experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xubing Lin
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China
| | - Shuying Lin
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China
| | - Licheng Peng
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China.
| | - Miao Chen
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Eco-Circular Agriculture, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Xing Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China
| | - Shiyu Xie
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China
| | - Ruiqi Bao
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China
| | - Yuanyuan Su
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China
| | - Tariq Mehmood
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, China
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44
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Makryniotis K, Nikolaivits E, Taxeidis G, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Topakas E. Exploring the substrate spectrum of phylogenetically distinct bacterial polyesterases. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2400053. [PMID: 38593303 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202400053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The rapid escalation of plastic waste accumulation presents a significant threat of the modern world, demanding an immediate solution. Over the last years, utilization of the enzymatic machinery of various microorganisms has emerged as an environmentally friendly asset in tackling this pressing global challenge. Thus, various hydrolases have been demonstrated to effectively degrade polyesters. Plastic waste streams often consist of a variety of different polyesters, as impurities, mainly due to wrong disposal practices, rendering recycling process challenging. The elucidation of the selective degradation of polyesters by hydrolases could offer a proper solution to this problem, enhancing the recyclability performance. Towards this, our study focused on the investigation of four bacterial polyesterases, including DaPUase, IsPETase, PfPHOase, and Se1JFR, a novel PETase-like lipase. The enzymes, which were biochemically characterized and structurally analyzed, demonstrated degradation ability of synthetic plastics. While a consistent pattern of polyesters' degradation was observed across all enzymes, Se1JFR stood out in the degradation of PBS, PLA, and polyether PU. Additionally, it exhibited comparable results to IsPETase, a benchmark mesophilic PETase, in the degradation of PCL and semi-crystalline PET. Our results point out the wide substrate spectrum of bacterial hydrolases and underscore the significant potential of PETase-like enzymes in polyesters degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Makryniotis
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstratios Nikolaivits
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George Taxeidis
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
- Eco-Biotechnology & Drug Development Group, Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Evangelos Topakas
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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45
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Obrador‐Viel T, Zadjelovic V, Nogales B, Bosch R, Christie‐Oleza JA. Assessing microbial plastic degradation requires robust methods. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14457. [PMID: 38568802 PMCID: PMC10990042 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastics are versatile materials that have the potential to propel humanity towards circularity and ultimate societal sustainability. However, the escalating concern surrounding plastic pollution has garnered significant attention, leading to widespread negative perceptions of these materials. Here, we question the role microbes may play in plastic pollution bioremediation by (i) defining polymer biodegradability (i.e., recalcitrant, hydrolysable and biodegradable polymers) and (ii) reviewing best practices for evaluating microbial biodegradation of plastics. We establish recommendations to facilitate the implementation of rigorous methodologies in future studies on plastic biodegradation, aiming to push this field towards the use of isotopic labelling to confirm plastic biodegradation and further determine the molecular mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vinko Zadjelovic
- Centro de Bioinnovación de Antofagasta (CBIA), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos BiológicosUniversidad de AntofagastaAntofagastaChile
- Centre for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB)SantiagoChile
| | - Balbina Nogales
- Department of BiologyUniversity of the Balearic IslandsPalmaSpain
| | - Rafael Bosch
- Department of BiologyUniversity of the Balearic IslandsPalmaSpain
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46
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Xu L, Li Z, Wang L, Xu Z, Zhang S, Zhang Q. Progress in polystyrene biodegradation by insect gut microbiota. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:143. [PMID: 38530548 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03932-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Polystyrene (PS) is frequently used in the plastics industry. However, its structural stability and difficulty to break down lead to an abundance of plastic waste in the environment, resulting in micro-nano plastics (MNPs). As MNPs are severe hazards to both human and environmental health, it is crucial to develop innovative treatment technologies to degrade plastic waste. The biodegradation of plastics by insect gut microorganisms has gained attention as it is environmentally friendly, efficient, and safe. However, our knowledge of the biodegradation of PS is still limited. This review summarizes recent research advances on PS biodegradation by gut microorganisms/enzymes from insect larvae of different species, and schematic pathways of the degradation process are discussed in depth. Additionally, the prospect of using modern biotechnology, such as genetic engineering and systems biology, to identify novel PS-degrading microbes/functional genes/enzymes and to realize new strategies for PS biodegradation is highlighted. Challenges and limitations faced by the application of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) and multiomics technologies in the field of plastic pollution bioremediation are also discussed. This review encourages the further exploration of the biodegradation of PS by insect gut microbes/enzymes, offering a cutting-edge perspective to identify PS biodegradation pathways and create effective biodegradation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luhui Xu
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Zelin Li
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Liuwei Wang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Zihang Xu
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Shulin Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China.
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47
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Singh P, Lau CSS, Siah SY, Chua KO, Ting ASY. Microbial degradation of low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene by novel isolates from plastic-polluted environment. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:188. [PMID: 38519709 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-03895-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Biodegradation is an eco-friendly measure to address plastic pollution. This study screened four bacterial isolates that were capable of degrading recalcitrant polymers, i.e., low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. The unique bacterial isolates were obtained from plastic polluted environment. Dermacoccus sp. MR5 (accession no. OP592184) and Corynebacterium sp. MR10 (accession no. OP536169) from Malaysian mangroves and Bacillus sp. BS5 (accession no. OP536168) and Priestia sp. TL1 (accession no. OP536170) from a sanitary landfill. The four isolates showed a gradual increase in the microbial count and the production of laccase and esterase enzymes after 4 weeks of incubation with the polymers (independent experiment set). Bacillus sp. BS5 produced the highest laccase 15.35 ± 0.19 U/mL and showed the highest weight loss i.e., 4.84 ± 0.6% for PS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups as a result of oxidation reactions by enzymes. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the oxidation of the polymers to small molecules (alcohol, ethers, and acids) assimilated by the microbes during the degradation. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed bacterial colonization, biofilm formation, and surface erosion on the polymer surface. The result provided significant insight into enzyme activities and the potential of isolates to target more than one type of polymer for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Singh
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Claudeen Sze Siang Lau
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sze Yin Siah
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kah Ooi Chua
- Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Adeline Su Yien Ting
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Wimberger L, Ng G, Boyer C. Light-driven polymer recycling to monomers and small molecules. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2510. [PMID: 38509090 PMCID: PMC10954676 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46656-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Only a small proportion of global plastic waste is recycled, of which most is mechanically recycled into lower quality materials. The alternative, chemical recycling, enables renewed production of pristine materials, but generally comes at a high energy cost, particularly for processes like pyrolysis. This review focuses on light-driven approaches for chemically recycling and upcycling plastic waste, with emphasis on reduced energy consumption and selective transformations not achievable with heat-driven methods. We focus on challenging to recycle backbone structures composed of mainly C‒C bonds, which lack functional groups i.e., esters or amides, that facilitate chemical recycling e.g., by solvolysis. We discuss the use of light, either in conjunction with heat to drive depolymerization to monomers or via photocatalysis to transform polymers into valuable small molecules. The structural prerequisites for these approaches are outlined, highlighting their advantages as well as limitations. We conclude with an outlook, addressing key challenges, opportunities, and provide guidelines for future photocatalyst (PC) development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Wimberger
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design and School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, 2052, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gervase Ng
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design and School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, 2052, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Cyrille Boyer
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design and School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, 2052, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Choi J, Kim H, Ahn YR, Kim M, Yu S, Kim N, Lim SY, Park JA, Ha SJ, Lim KS, Kim HO. Recent advances in microbial and enzymatic engineering for the biodegradation of micro- and nanoplastics. RSC Adv 2024; 14:9943-9966. [PMID: 38528920 PMCID: PMC10961967 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra00844h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
This review examines the escalating issue of plastic pollution, specifically highlighting the detrimental effects on the environment and human health caused by microplastics and nanoplastics. The extensive use of synthetic polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) has raised significant environmental concerns because of their long-lasting and non-degradable characteristics. This review delves into the role of enzymatic and microbial strategies in breaking down these polymers, showcasing recent advancements in the field. The intricacies of enzymatic degradation are thoroughly examined, including the effectiveness of enzymes such as PETase and MHETase, as well as the contribution of microbial pathways in breaking down resilient polymers into more benign substances. The paper also discusses the impact of chemical composition on plastic degradation kinetics and emphasizes the need for an approach to managing the environmental impact of synthetic polymers. The review highlights the significance of comprehending the physical characteristics and long-term impacts of micro- and nanoplastics in different ecosystems. Furthermore, it points out the environmental and health consequences of these contaminants, such as their ability to cause cancer and interfere with the endocrine system. The paper emphasizes the need for advanced analytical methods and effective strategies for enzymatic degradation, as well as continued research and development in this area. This review highlights the crucial role of enzymatic and microbial strategies in addressing plastic pollution and proposes methods to create effective and environmentally friendly solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaewon Choi
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Hongbin Kim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Yu-Rim Ahn
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Minse Kim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Seona Yu
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Nanhyeon Kim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Su Yeon Lim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Jeong-Ann Park
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon 24341 Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Jin Ha
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Kwang Suk Lim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Hyun-Ouk Kim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
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O'Connell A, Barry A, Burke AJ, Hutton AE, Bell EL, Green AP, O'Reilly E. Biocatalysis: landmark discoveries and applications in chemical synthesis. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:2828-2850. [PMID: 38407834 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00689a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Biocatalysis has become an important tool in chemical synthesis, allowing access to complex molecules with high levels of activity and selectivity and with low environmental impact. Key discoveries in protein engineering, bioinformatics, recombinant technology and DNA sequencing have contributed towards the rapid acceleration of the field. This tutorial review explores enzyme engineering strategies and high-throughput screening approaches that have been applied for the discovery and development of enzymes for synthetic application. Landmark developments in the field are discussed and have been carefully selected to highlight the diverse synthetic applications of enzymes within the pharmaceutical, agricultural, food and chemical industries. The design and development of artificial biocatalytic cascades is also examined. This tutorial review will give readers an insight into the landmark discoveries and milestones that have helped shape and grow this branch of catalysis since the discovery of the first enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam O'Connell
- School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Amber Barry
- School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Ashleigh J Burke
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Amy E Hutton
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Elizabeth L Bell
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Anthony P Green
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Elaine O'Reilly
- School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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