Could Plastic-Eating Bacteria Save The Planet?

Recent research on plastic-destroying microorganisms has led to several exciting discoveries. Scientists have found plastic-eating bacteria and fungi that can degrade certain types of plastics. For example, a study discovered a diverse microbiome of bacteria and plastic-degrading fungi living in the coastal salt marshes of Jiangsu, China. These microorganisms can break down polypropylene, a type of plastic commonly used in packaging and other products, by producing enzymes that break down the plastic into smaller molecules. This finding was published on the website of the World Economic Forum (weforum.org). Another breakthrough was made by a team at the University of Portsmouth, who re-engineered PETase, an enzyme found in bacteria that can break down PET plastic. This enzyme, combined with another called MHETase, forms a "cocktail" that can digest plastic up to six times faster than normal. The combined PETase-MHETase enzyme was created using a synchrotron, a type of particle accelerator. This research was reported on the website of Live Science (livescience.com). Moreover, a study published in the journal Microbiology revealed the discovery of bacteria that can degrade the common plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in industrial waste water. The research offers insights into the conditions that lead to biological degradation of industrial equipment and hope for a potential means of breaking down plastic waste (nature.com). These findings suggest that plastic-destroying microorganisms could play a significant role in addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. However, further research is needed to develop and optimize the processes for utilizing these microorganisms on a larger scale.