Plastic-Eating Bacteria Could Combat Pollution Problems

[Bro “Carepmu” Alex]

Distinct from most bacteria that predominantly consume sugar, C. testosteroni exhibits a more sophisticated dietary preference, which includes complex chemical materials derived from both plants and plastics that are slower to degrade. The researchers are pioneering in their demonstration that this bacterium can decompose plastic and elucidate the precise mechanisms involved. Through a comprehensive six-step process, utilizing advanced imaging and gene-editing techniques, they discovered that the bacteria initially physically fragment plastic into smaller pieces. Subsequently, they release enzymes—cellular components that accelerate chemical reactions—to chemically convert the plastic into a carbon-rich nutrient known as terephthalate.  hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc hc