Polymer-induced biofilms for enhanced biocatalysis

Adoni, Pavan; Romanyuk, Andrey; Overton, Tim W.; Fernández-Trillo, Francisco

doi:10.1039/d2mh00607c

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 55 publications

(121 reference statements)

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“…We hypothesised that bacteria present on plastic pollution are more likely to possess plastic‐degrading abilities as the prevalence of plastic waste has previously been directly linked to prevalence of genes encoding putative plastic‐degrading enzymes (Zrimec et al, 2021 ). We aimed to identify the plastic type that promoted most bacterial biofilm formation, to increase the likelihood of identifying bacteria or communities with plastic‐degrading potential (Adoni et al, 2022 ; Artham et al, 2009 ; Atiq et al, 2010 ; Gilan et al, 2004 ; Lobelle & Cunliffe, 2011 ; Mor & Sivan, 2008 ; Morohoshi et al, 2018 ). Using pure untreated pellets and film of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PS as well as EPS, we tested bacterial attachment.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enrichment of native plastic‐associated biofilm communities to enhance polyester degrading activity

Howard,

Carr,

Sbahtu

et al. 2023

Environmental Microbiology

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

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