Researchers are studying a newly isolated microorganism and its genetic mechanisms in a bid to develop biological methods for tackling persistent plastic and chemical pollution.
Scientists in Belarus are investigating a microorganism that could help break down certain types of plastic, opening a potential new route towards biological waste treatment and environmental pollution control, as reported by BelTA, a TV BRICS partner.
Researchers at the Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus are studying microorganisms capable of degrading pollutants that accumulate in wastewater, soil and other parts of the environment. The work forms part of a broader research programme focused on environmental biotechnology and the use of biological processes to treat difficult-to-remove contaminants.
One of the most promising findings has come from a young researcher who isolated a microorganism from the Slepian water system in Minsk with the potential to degrade some relatively simple forms of plastic.
Scientists caution that the microorganism cannot currently break down all types of plastic. However, analysing its genome has already provided valuable information about the genetic mechanisms that may enable the organism to attack plastic materials.
Researchers now plan to use this knowledge to investigate how the biological process could be strengthened and potentially adapted for environmental applications. Understanding the genes and biochemical pathways involved could help scientists identify other microorganisms with stronger plastic-degrading capabilities.
The research is part of a wider effort to develop microorganisms capable of breaking down pollutants that are difficult to remove through conventional treatment methods. Scientists are also searching for biological agents that can degrade rubber and complex chemical compounds entering the environment.
Further research will determine whether the organism can be adapted for larger-scale applications and whether related microorganisms could offer more effective ways of breaking down a wider range of persistent materials.
Source: TV BRICS
