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Isolation and characterization of marine microorganisms capable of degrading plastics

Summary

Scientists have discovered over 1,500 marine bacteria and fungi that can break down different types of plastic waste. By using optimized culturing methods, they isolated microorganisms capable of degrading common plastics like bottles, foam, and packaging materials. This research provides a foundation for developing biological solutions to address ocean plastic pollution through microbial-based technologies.

Background

Marine plastic pollution represents a critical global environmental challenge, with millions of tons entering oceans annually and threatening ecosystem integrity. While microbial degradation offers a promising sustainable solution, marine ecosystems remain underexploited as sources of plastic-degrading microorganisms compared to terrestrial environments like landfills and wastewater treatment plants.

Objective

To establish the largest marine microbial repository for plastic biodegradation and develop optimized methodological frameworks for isolating culturable plastic-degrading microorganisms from diverse marine environments targeting 13 different plastic polymers.

Results

A total of 1,579 strains (1,377 bacterial and 202 fungal) were isolated from 13 plastic types. Five PET-degrading strains, five PE-degrading strains, and 130 polyurethane-degrading strains were identified with confirmed degradation activity. Bacillus altitudinis emerged as the dominant polyurethane degrader, and selective enrichment combined with carbon-supplemented dual-layer plating proved most effective for isolating plastic-degrading pure cultures.

Conclusion

This study provides the largest marine microbial culture collection for plastic biodegradation and establishes effective methodological frameworks for isolating plastic-degrading microorganisms. The identified strains and strategies lay biological and technical foundations for developing tailored microbial consortia and promoting sustainable strategies in plastic waste management.
  • Published in:mSystems,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1128/msystems.01388-25; PMID: 41358689
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