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Biodegradation of synthetic organic pollutants: principles, progress, problems, and perspectives

Summary

This comprehensive review explains how bacteria naturally break down synthetic pollutants in our environment through various mechanisms. Scientists use advanced tools like gene sequencing and computer analysis to identify which bacteria degrade specific pollutants, how quickly they work, and what intermediate products form. Understanding these bacterial degradation pathways helps us develop better strategies to clean up contaminated water and soil in an environmentally friendly way.

Background

Biodegradation plays a critical role in controlling environmental pollution caused by synthetic organic compounds. Naturally occurring microbes can degrade various pollutants, but bioremediation of emerging recalcitrant compounds requires accelerated knowledge acquisition and advanced strategies. Recent advances in sequencing technologies and analytical instruments have revolutionized biodegradation research.

Objective

This review provides comprehensive insights into fundamental principles and advanced techniques in bacteria-mediated biodegradation research. It addresses four key research questions: whether synthetic organic pollutants are biodegradable, degradation rates, identification of degraders, and degradation mechanisms. The review integrates culture-based, sequencing-based, and computational approaches to biodegradation studies.

Results

The review identifies QSBR models as effective tools for predicting biodegradability despite data limitations. High-throughput experimentation enables rapid biodegradation data acquisition. Sequencing technologies have facilitated discovery of novel degrader species and functional genes, with genomic databases expanding significantly. Integration of metagenomic data with culture-based methods creates positive feedback loops for degrader isolation. Single-cell sequencing and Hi-C technology enable identification of plasmid-borne degradation genes and microbial partnerships in multistep biodegradation.

Conclusion

Bacteria-mediated biodegradation research has advanced significantly through integration of culture-dependent and culture-independent methods coupled with computational approaches. Understanding partnership dynamics, metabolic models, and enzymatic mechanisms are crucial for emerging pollutant bioremediation. Future progress requires expanded genomic databases, better characterization of emerging pollutants, and development of ecologically informed management strategies for contaminated environments.
  • Published in:FEMS Microbiology Reviews,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMC12448294, PMID: 40880137, DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaf043
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