Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash
By combining key traits of two bacterial species, the team created a novel bug that can break down plastics in salty conditions—at room temperature.
By Prachi Patel, Anthropocene, September 21, 2023
Over 14 million tons of plastic litter ends up in the ocean every year, killing thousands of animals and birds that ingest it. Much of it ends up amassing in giant garbage patches and over time breaking down into smaller microscopic pieces that are harmful to marine life.
A new study offers a glimmer of hope in addressing this marine plastic pollution problem. Researchers at North Carolina State University report they have genetically engineered a marine microorganism to break down a commonly used plastic in salt water.
Some microbes have been found to have the ability to break down plastic. Researchers have genetically engineered bacteria, or even just the enzymes they produce, to convert plastic waste into valuable chemicals. A key limitation with these previously modified organisms is that “their growth is inhibited by high concentrations of salt,” the NCSU team writes. That means microplastics would have to be collected and washed off using large quantities of water before they can be broken down.
So the researchers took a different approach, harnessing two different species of bacteria. The first, Vibrio natriegens, lives in saltwater and reproduces very quickly, doubling in number in under 10 minutes in ideal conditions. The second bacteria, Ideonella sakaiensis, produces enzymes that can deconstruct PET.