Lake and river microbes carry built-in plastic-eating genes
Zhou Y, Zhao Z, Ke T, Wang Z, Wang J
Phytoremediation
The pond or stream near your garden isn't just scenery, it's teeming with microbes that may already be quietly chipping away at the plastic mulch film, plant pots, and packaging waste that washes into waterways.
Researchers looked at tiny microbes living in lakes and rivers all over the world and found thousands of genes that let these microbes break down plastic. The most common gene helps with general plastic breakdown, and some microbes even have a full set of genes needed to digest polystyrene, the hard foam plastic used in packaging. This means freshwater ecosystems might hold a natural, ready-made workforce for tackling plastic pollution.
Key Findings
Analysis of ~1,000 global freshwater metagenome datasets yielded 13,109 microbial genomes and 22,621 plastic-degradation-associated genes (PDAGs).
Phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase (16,664 instances) and catalase (5,931 instances) were the most common plastic-degrading genes, dominated by Gamma-proteobacteria and Bacteroidia respectively.
11 microbial genomes contained a complete polystyrene-degradation pathway, and 25 styrene monooxygenase enzymes clustered into two distinct groups across continents.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists scanned nearly 1,000 freshwater samples worldwide and found over 22,000 genes in lake and river microbes that can help break down plastic, including a complete pathway for degrading polystyrene (styrofoam). This suggests rivers and lakes already harbor a natural toolkit that could be harnessed to help clean up plastic pollution.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
The global potential of freshwater microbes for plastic degradation.
Plastic pollution is becoming increasingly severe on a global scale, and the potential for biodegradation as a treatment method that is environmentally friendly merits greater attention. A signific...
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