Comamonadacae is a family of bacteria often found growing on plastics in water. A new study finds a bacterium in this family can break down the plastic for food. Researchers also identified the enzyme the bacterium use to degrade plastic. The discovery opens new possibilities for developing bacteria-based engineering solutions to help clean up difficult-to-remove plastic waste.

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Phys.org

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Wastewater bacteria can break down plastic for food, yielding new possibilities for cleaning up plastic waste

A bacteria commonly found in wastewater can break down plastic to turn it into a food source, a new study finds. Scientists hope it is a pollution solution.

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The Washington Post

Jeff Bezos

Plastic-eating bacteria could combat pollution problems, scientists hope

Researchers have long observed that a common family of environmental bacteria, Comamonadacae, grow on plastics littered throughout urban rivers and wastewater systems. But exactly what these Comamonas bacteria are doing has remained a mystery.

Comamonadacae is a family of bacteria often found growing on plastics in water. New study finds a bacterium in this family can break down the plastic for food. Researchers also identified the enzyme the bacterium use to degrade plastic. The discovery opens new possibilities for developing bacteria-based engineering solutions to help clean up difficult-to-remove plastic waste.

Science Daily

Daniel Hogan

United States

Wastewater bacteria can breakdown plastic for food

Bacteria Found to Break Down Plastic, Offering Hope for Pollution SolutionScientists discover bacteria that can convert PET plastic into food, potentially addressing global pollution. The study reveals a six-step process, but optimization is needed for practical application.

The World Without Fake News!

Bacteria Found to Break Down Plastic, Offering Hope for Pollution Solution

Wastewater is a huge reservoir of microplastics and nanoplastics and many nanoplastics can be formed during wastewater treatment through microbial activity. This increases pollution. However, one bacterium appears to break down the plastics into harmless substances. Comamonadacae is a family of bacteria often found growing on plastics in water. A new study finds a bacterium in this family can break down the plastic for food. The researchers also…

Digital Journal

Northwestern-led researchers have discovered how cells of a Comamonas bacterium are breaking down plastic for food.

Tech Explorist

A common bacterium can break down plastic for food

New study finds a bacterium in the Comamonadacae family can break down the plastic for food. Researchers also identified the enzyme the bacterium use to degrade plastic. The discovery opens new possibilities for developing bacteria-based engineering solutions to help clean up difficult-to-remove plastic waste, which pollutes drinking water and harms wildlife.

northwestern.edu

Wastewater bacteria can break down plastic for food

Bacteria in wastewater can break down plastic into tiny pieces and use enzymes to decompose it, offering a potential solution to plastic pollution.

Science Times

Bacteria in Wastewater Could Help Solve the World's Plastic Pollution Problem

[Imedia=Hwang Won-hee] For a long time, it was known that Comamonadacae, a common environmental bacteria family, thrives on plastics scattered in urban rivers and wastewater systems. However, there has been no detailed study on these Comamonas bacteria. Recently, researchers at Northwestern University have discovered the habits of Comamonas bacteria cells in how they decompose plastics and use them as food. First, they decompose plastics into sm…

[이미디어= 황원희 기자] 오랫동안 일반적인 환경 박테리아 계열인 코마모나다카에(Comamonadacae)가 도시 강과 폐수 시스템에 흩어져 있는 플라스틱에서 번식하고 있는 것으로 알려졌다. 하지만 이 코마모나스 박테리아에 대해서는 아직 자세한 연구가 없었다. 이와 관련해 최근 노스웨스턴 대학교 연구진은 코마모나스 박테리아 세포가 어떻게 플라스틱을 분해하여 먹이로 삼는지 그 습성을 발견했다. 먼저 플라스틱을 나노플라스틱이라고 하는 작은 조각으로 분해한다. 그후 플라스틱을 더욱 분해하는 특수 효소를 분비한다. 마지막으로 이 박테리아는 플라스틱의 탄소 원자 고리를 먹이 공급원으로 사용한다고 연구진은 밝혔다. 이번 발견으로 식수를 오염시키고 야생동물에게 해를 끼치는 제거하기 어려운 플라스틱 폐기물을 정화하는 데 도움이 되는 박테리아 기반 엔지니어링 솔루션을 개발할 수 있는 새로운 가능성이 열렸다. …

Plastic-eating bacteria could combat pollution problems, scientists hope

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