Project description:The study aimed to explore the potential of bacterial biodegradation as a solution to the global problem of plastic pollution, specifically targeting polyethylene (PE), one of the most common types of plastic. The goals of the study were to isolate a bacterial strain capable of breaking down PE, identify the key enzymes responsible for the degradation process, and understand the metabolic pathways involved.
Project description:Although the biodegradation of biodegradable plastics in soil and compost is well-studied, there is little knowledge on the metabolic mechanisms of synthetic polymers degradation by marine microorganisms. Here, we present a multiomics study to elucidate the biodegradation mechanism of a commercial aromatic-aliphatic copolyester film by a marine microbial enrichment culture. The plastic film and each monomer can be used as sole carbon source. Our analysis showed that the consortium synergistically degrades the polymer, different degradation steps being performed by different members of the community. Analysis of gene expression and translation profiles revealed that the relevant degradation processes in the marine consortium are closely related to poly(ethylene terephthalate) biodegradation from terrestrial microbes. Although there are multiple genes and organisms with the potential to perform a degradation step, only a few of these are active during biodegradation. Our results elucidate the potential of marine microorganisms to mineralize biodegradable plastic polymers and describe the mechanisms of labor division within the community to get maximum energetic yield from a complex synthetic substrate.
Project description:The study aimed to explore the potential of bacterial biodegradation as a solution to the global problem of plastic pollution, specifically targeting polyethylene (PE), one of the most common types of plastic. The goals of the study were to isolate a bacterial strain capable of breaking down PE, identify the key enzymes responsible for the degradation process, and understand the metabolic pathways involved. By investigating these aspects, researchers sought to gain critical insights that could be used to optimize plastic degradation conditions and inform the development of artificial microbial communities for effective bioremediation strategies. This research has significant relevance, as it addresses the pressing need for innovative and sustainable approaches to tackle the ever-growing issue of plastic waste and its impact on the environment.
Project description:This project investigates the biodegradative molecular signatures (proteins and metabolites) expressed by Lasiodiplodia iraniensis (K3) and Lasiodiplodia theobromae (K5) when exposed to plastic polymers. Specifically, L. iraniensis was exposed to Polyurethane (PU) and Polyethylene (PE) plastics, while L. theobromae was exposed only to Polyurethane plastic particles. The control treatments for both species involved glucose as a carbon source. The study compares the proteomic and metabolomic profiles of both species to identify potential biomarkers and insights into their biodegradation capabilities. Additionally, a comparison of expression profiles between Polyurethane and Polyethylene plastics was performed for L. iraniensis to assess differential responses to the two distinct plastics.
Project description:Humans are exposed to chemicals leaching from plastics, yet many remain data-poor and lack toxicological evaluation. High-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) offers a scalable approach to screen chemicals of concern and derive mechanistic insights for human health risk assessment. We applied HTTr in MCF-7 breast cancer cells to evaluate plastic additives and dyes effects. Transcriptomic points of departure (tPODs) were derived from global gene perturbations, pathway-specific, and estrogen receptor α (ERα)–specific measures of gene expression. Transcriptomic biomarkers were also used to assess ERα activity and stress responses. Most plastic additives showed similar toxicological potencies, with the majority producing tPODs within one order of magnitude. Bisphenol K (BPK) was the most potent chemical tested, activating ERα at the lowest concentrations, followed by plastic additive 08 (PA08), and bisphenol A (BPA). Despite similar potencies, transcriptomic biomarkers revealed mechanistic differences: plastic additives that shared similar chemical features as BPA activated the ERα, whereas several others with different functional groups inhibited the biomarker. Pathway and upstream regulator analyses further showed that BPA-like plastic additives perturbed ERα–related pathways, while other plastic additives enriched fewer and often of opposing directionality gene sets. At the highest concentrations tested, many plastic additives also activated stress biomarkers and inhibited proliferation. These findings suggest that while many plastic additives display broadly similar in vitro potencies, they diverge in ERα regulation and downstream pathways. This study demonstrates the reproducibility and utility of HTTr for chemical screening, supports grouping of ERα-active plastic additives for read-across, and highlights the need for further screening of plastic additives.
Project description:This research provides a thorough ecotoxicological evaluation of natural biopolymers (BP) and naturally modified polymers (NMP). The study focuses on biopolymers such as chitosan, xanthan, alginate, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), alongside NMPs like Jelucel HM 200 and Emwaxy Jel 100. Each polymer was individually tested on zebrafish embryos using a zebrafish embryo toxicity (zFET) test. Natural polymers, although prevalent in agrotechnical products, remain largely unregulated under REACH due to their natural origins. There is a critical lack of data regarding their potential impact on closed ecosystem cycles, raising concerns about environmental risks. To assess the sublethal effects of these polymers, a modified zebrafish embryo toxicity test (ZFET) was utilized, incorporating transcriptomics as an additional evaluation endpoint. This modified methodology adheres to the OECD 236 guidelines but includes specific adjustments for gene expression analysis, such as changes in the number of embryos used, test setup volume, and sample processing procedures. Zebrafish embryos were exposed for 96 hours to each polymer's filtrate at a maximum concentration of 100 mg/L. After exposure, the embryos underwent assessments for survival rates, hatching rates, and morphological malformations. The study identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for each polymer exposure, shedding light on the transcriptomic changes induced by both biopolymers and NMPs. The primary objective is to understand how these substances influence gene expression profiles in zebrafish embryos, aiming to identify transcriptomic biomarkers that could assist in environmental risk assessment. This research contributes valuable insights into the potential ecological impacts of natural and modified polymers, highlighting the need for further regulatory consideration.
Project description:Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising biodegradable material used in various fields, such as mulching films and disposable packaging materials. Biological approaches for completely degrading biodegradable polymers can provide environmentally friendly solutions. However, to our knowledge, no studies have performed transcriptome profiling to analyze PLA-degrading genes of PLA-degrading bacteria. Therefore, this study reports for the first time an RNA sequence approach for tracing genes involved in PLA biodegradation in the PLA-degrading bacterium Brevibacillus brevis. In the interpretation results of the differentially expressed genes, the hydrolase genes mhqD and nap and the serine protease gene besA were up-regulated by a fold change of 7.97, 4.89, and 4.09, respectively. This result suggests that hydrolases play a key role in PLA biodegradation by B. brevis. In addition, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that genes implicated in biofilm formation were upregulated. The biodegradation of PLA starts with bacteria attaching to the surface of PLA and forming a biofilm. Therefore, it could be confirmed that the above genes were up-regulated for access to PLA and biodegradation. Our results provide transcriptome-based insights into PLA biodegradation, which pitch a better understanding of microbial biodegradation of plastics.