Plastic degradation by the fungus Zalerion maritimum: Gene discovery and characterization.

Abstract

Plastic waste poses a significant threat to human health and the biosphere. While various ways exist to re-use or recycle plastic waste, they are hard to use on a sufficient scale to deal with the waste. In particular, microplastics and nanoplastics can negatively influence the health of humans, animals, and other organisms. Of the various plastic types produced, polyethylene is the most prominent in terms of production and waste generation. There are some microorganisms that have started to show the capability to (partially) degrade plastics waste, but they are often slow on larger particles, but some show promising results on micro- and nanoplastics. Zalerion maritimum degrades polyethylene under laboratory conditions, with evidence suggesting that it uses polyethylene as a carbon source. However, the mechanisms underlying this degradation of polyethylene are not known. This research proposal aims to identify these mechanisms by identifying the genes involved in degradation of polyethylene and by characterizing their encoding proteins. We will also perform a toxicity test of Z. maritimum for various additives present in polyethylene products. With this research, we will contribute to biological solutions to the growing threat of plastics.