Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a method to genetically modify wastewater bacteria, enabling them to effectively degrade microplastics, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This innovative approach leverages the natural processes of bacteria, often referred to as 'bacterial sex', to share genetic material and enhance their plastic-degrading capabilities. The engineered bacteria show promising results, capable of reducing PET plastic samples by 50% in just four days, highlighting a significant advance in combating plastic pollution.
Project lead researcher Marc Aucoin emphasized the potential of using proteins as natural tools to facilitate the breakdown of microplastics, stating, 'What we want to do is use a natural tool, [proteins], to be able to degrade the plastics.' This method aims to address the growing concern of microplastics accumulating in various ecosystems by harnessing naturally occurring bacteria that can be tailored to be more efficient in their plastic degradation tasks.
PhD candidate Aaron Yip pointed out that focusing on wastewater treatment plants represents a practical initial application of the research. He mentioned, 'Right now, microplastic degradation in wastewater treatment plants is a safer application to target,' indicating that this targeted use combines efficient waste management with environmental protection, presenting a viable route for mitigating the persistent issue of microplastic pollution in our water systems.
The study, published in *Microbial Biotechnology*, describes the innovative approach the researchers took, noting, 'We’re engineering an organism to carry a transferable piece of DNA so that [the bacteria in wastewater] can all produce that tool to degrade the plastic.' This genetic modification strategy not only increases the bacteria's capability to tackle plastics but also could lead to scalable solutions for dealing with plastic waste on a larger environmental scale.
#microplastics #bacteria-engineering #wastewater-treatment #environmental-science #plastic-degradation
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