USA – Researchers from North Carolina State University have successfully created a marine microorganism that can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in seawater.
The researchers worked with two species of bacterium, Vibrio natriegens and Ideonella sakaiensis in conducting the experiment.
A DNA sequence from I. sakaiensis, which is responsible for producing enzymes capable of breaking down PET, was extracted and inserted into a plasmid – genetic sequences that can replicate within a cell.
The plasmid containing the I. sakaiensis genes is then introduced into the V. natriegens bacteria, a bacterium that thrives and reproduces quickly in saltwater.
Results of the study show that the genetically engineered V. natriegens was able to break down PET in a saltwater setting.
Nathan Crook, the corresponding author, says that this is the first time that V. natriegens was able to express foreign enzymes on its cell surface.
Similarly, Tianyu Li, the first author of the paper, says that this is also the first genetically engineered organism to break down PET microplastics in saltwater.
With the promising findings of the study, genetic engineering has the potential to mitigate the issue of plastic accumulation in saltwater environments.
Meanwhile, several different microorganisms have been found to participate in the biodegradation of various synthetic plastic materials following their isolation from the soil of plastic-dumping sites, the waste of mulch films, marine water, soil contaminated by crude oil, sewage sludge, landfills, and the intestines of plastic-eating worms.
The widespread use of plastic around the world is largely due to its low production costs, as well as its strength, lightweight nature, resistance to corrosion, and ability to insulate against electricity.
Recent estimates suggest that between 500 billion to one trillion tonnes of polyethylene (PE) are produced each year to meet this global demand.
Despite its advantageous characteristics for industrial purposes, the degradation of plastic takes more than 1,000 years to occur.
In addition to its extensive degradation time in the environment, the burning of plastic also releases dioxide and carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment.
Taken together, plastic consumption and waste are major contributors to global warming and pollution.
Another significant environmental concern associated with plastics is the formation of microplastics, which occurs following the photodegradation of large plastic materials by the sunlight.
These microplastics can contaminate both sand and water supplies, which can lead to the accidental consumption of these toxic particles by terrestrial and aquatic animals, as well as humans through the food chain.
Recent estimates suggest that plastic contaminants in the aquatic environment affect at least 276 species, of which include 44% and 86% of seabirds and sea turtles, respectively.
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