Japanese scientists have made a discovery proving that nature learns to resist the harm that humans cause to it. The answer to plastic waste pollution is the emergence of bacteria that feed on it! Factrum publishes opening details.
A new type of gram-negative bacteria called Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 was discovered during a study of microorganisms living in the ocean. Among many different species, scientists have found a colony of bacteria that use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in carbon and energy metabolism. This artificial substance is mainly used for the manufacture of plastic containers.
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It turned out that Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 secrete two enzymes that decompose PET to terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, and they are environmentally friendly. Similar properties were previously discovered in a small group of fungi and zooplankton, but science is not yet able to adapt for large-scale processing of industrial waste.
The research results are published in the journal Science. In the explanatory note, scientists emphasize that the appearance of Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 is directly related to the increase in the volume of plastic on the planet: enzymes that decompose PET are a relatively new genetic modification of bacteria of the genus Ideonella. This, in turn, shows how nature begins to rebuff aggressive human invasion.
In addition, Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 can be easily used in the field of industrial waste processing: they are not only distinguished by their "gluttony", but also perfectly adapt to any environmental conditions, that is, it is enough just to place a colony of these bacteria in places where products polyethylene terephthalate - and over time it will be decomposed into environmentally friendly components.
