Merging Plastics, Microbes, and Enzymes: Highlights from an International Workshop

Jiménez, Diego Javier; Öztürk, Başak; Wei, Ren; Bugg, Timothy D. H.; Gómez, Carol Viviana Amaya; Galán, Felipe Salcedo; Castro-Mayorga, J.L.; Saldarriaga, Juan F.; Tarazona, Natalia A.

doi:10.1128/aem.00721-22

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…While studies investigating the interaction between SRM and PHA degradation are scarce and largely limited to older culturebased studies, they demonstrated that PHAs can serve as carbon and electron source for sulfur reduction (Urmeneta et al, 1995) and that SRM are capable of causing pitting to the surface of PHA (Çetin, 2009). Desulfarulaceae may have uniquely evolved to utilize this substrate and they may be a promising source of bioplastic-degrading microbes and enzymes to complement efforts to recycle and valorize bioplastic waste (Jimeńez et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial succession during the degradation of bioplastic in coastal marine sediment favors sulfate reducing microorganisms

Pinnell

Conkle²,

Turner³

2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Marine environments are sinks for many contaminants, including petroleum-based plastic waste. Bioplastics, or biodegradable plastics derived from renewable resources, are considered promising alternatives as numerous studies have demonstrated their degradation in marine environments. However, their rates of degradation vary and microbial consortia responsible for its degradation are not well characterized. Previous research by our group has shown that polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) stimulates sulfate reducing microorganisms (SRM), enriches sulfate reduction gene pools, and accumulates antibiotic and metal resistance genes. Here, we quantify the degradation rate of PHA pellets in marine sediment and present the long-term temporal changes in PHA-associated SRM communities over 424 days. For comparative purposes, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and ceramic served as biofilm controls and the free-living microorganisms in the overlying water column served as a non-biofilm control. PHA experienced a 51% mass loss after 424 days and a generalized additive mixed model predicted that 100% mass loss would require 909 days. Throughout the course of the 424-day exposure, PHA was colonized by a distinct microbial community while PET and ceramic were colonized by similarly structured communities. SRM comprised a larger proportion of the overall community (25 – 40%) in PHA-associated biofilms as compared to PET and ceramic controls across all timepoints. Further, the diversity of SRM was greater within PHA biofilms than PET and ceramic biofilms. This study shows that PHA degrades relatively slowly and promotes a long-term shift in microbial community structure toward sulfate reduction, demonstrating the ability of this manufactured polymer to alter its environment via the disruption of biogeochemical cycling, indicating that PHA rises to the level of pollutant in benthic marine systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial succession during the degradation of bioplastic in coastal marine sediment favors sulfate reducing microorganisms

Pinnell

Conkle²,

Turner³

2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…Aliphatic polyesters represent valuable plastic polymers that could be, in principle, depolymerized by microbial enzymes; however, apart from PET, limited studies are available on the specificity and efficiency of polyester-degrading enzymes and organisms in nature [ 217 ]. Recent studies investigated whether plastics spread in the environment stimulated the evolution of polyester degradation and assimilation of molecular machineries in microorganisms [ 220 , 221 ]. The collected evidence is not yet conclusive; the observed alteration of microbial diversity and genetic content could be an adaptation in response to the effects of the presence of toxic compounds rather than an adaptation to the use of plastics as a carbon source [ 222 ].…”

Section: Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Enzyme Biotechnology to Reach Plastic Waste Circularity: Current Status, Problems and Perspectives

Orlando

Molla

Castellani

et al. 2023

IJMS

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The accumulation of synthetic plastic waste in the environment has become a global concern. Microbial enzymes (purified or as whole-cell biocatalysts) represent emerging biotechnological tools for waste circularity; they can depolymerize materials into reusable building blocks, but their contribution must be considered within the context of present waste management practices. This review reports on the prospective of biotechnological tools for plastic bio-recycling within the framework of plastic waste management in Europe. Available biotechnology tools can support polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling. However, PET represents only ≈7% of unrecycled plastic waste. Polyurethanes, the principal unrecycled waste fraction, together with other thermosets and more recalcitrant thermoplastics (e.g., polyolefins) are the next plausible target for enzyme-based depolymerization, even if this process is currently effective only on ideal polyester-based polymers. To extend the contribution of biotechnology to plastic circularity, optimization of collection and sorting systems should be considered to feed chemoenzymatic technologies for the treatment of more recalcitrant and mixed polymers. In addition, new bio-based technologies with a lower environmental impact in comparison with the present approaches should be developed to depolymerize (available or new) plastic materials, that should be designed for the required durability and for being susceptible to the action of enzymes.

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“…85 2.4. solutions, for example the use of natural products such as bamboo for pipes networks, 86 banana leaves 87 for packaging, seaweed as traps, 88 mussels as filters, 89 or microbes to breakdown microplastics. 90 Exploring and implementing natural options also have positive outcomes for biodiversity and addressing climate change issues. Life cycle assessments of alternatives need to be undertaken for all options to ensure that there is no shift of burden.…”

Section: Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Environmental capacity includes knowledge and resources to use nature-based solutions, for example the use of natural products such as bamboo for pipes networks, banana leaves for packaging, seaweed as traps, mussels as filters, or microbes to breakdown microplastics . Exploring and implementing natural options also have positive outcomes for biodiversity and addressing climate change issues.…”

Section: Microplastics In the Context Of Disastermentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategies to Reduce Risk and Mitigate Impacts of Disaster: Increasing Water Quality Resilience from Microplastics in the Water Supply System

Senathirajah,

Palanisami

2023

ACS EST Water

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Microplastics contaminating the water supply system qualifies as a disaster. This has major far-reaching implications, posing significant threats to economic growth and human livelihoods, as well as environmental and human health and well-being. Thus, we need to reduce the risk and mitigate against the effects of microplastics to build resilience and ensure continuity and efficiency of water supply system functions. To date, microplastics in the water supply cycle have not been considered in the context of disaster management. Hence, we provide an understanding of the disaster risk that microplastics pose using a conceptual mathematical framework. Additionally, we enhance understanding of the resilience of the social and physical infrastructure by highlighting hazards that people and infrastructure in the community face. Insights of the social, economic, and other human factors that make them vulnerable highlights capacities required to reduce risk and mitigate impacts. By evaluating the social and physical infrastructure resilience to microplastics in the water supply system and recommending multidisciplinary strategies to build resilience over time, we aim to catalyze action to address the problem. This will also contribute toward achieving targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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Merging Plastics, Microbes, and Enzymes: Highlights from an International Workshop

Cited by 22 publications

References 104 publications

Microbial succession during the degradation of bioplastic in coastal marine sediment favors sulfate reducing microorganisms

Microbial succession during the degradation of bioplastic in coastal marine sediment favors sulfate reducing microorganisms

Microbial Enzyme Biotechnology to Reach Plastic Waste Circularity: Current Status, Problems and Perspectives

Strategies to Reduce Risk and Mitigate Impacts of Disaster: Increasing Water Quality Resilience from Microplastics in the Water Supply System

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