Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics
Abstract The accumulation of plastic waste presents a significant worldwide environmental challenge. This study aimed to isolate polyethylene-degrading bacteria from marine samples containing plastic waste. Four culturable bacterial isolates: Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecali...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Bioresources and Bioprocessing |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-025-00902-8 |
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| author | Marwa Gamal Eldeen Afify Ola M. Gomaa Hussein Abd El Kareem Mohamed A. Abou Zeid |
| author_facet | Marwa Gamal Eldeen Afify Ola M. Gomaa Hussein Abd El Kareem Mohamed A. Abou Zeid |
| author_sort | Marwa Gamal Eldeen Afify |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The accumulation of plastic waste presents a significant worldwide environmental challenge. This study aimed to isolate polyethylene-degrading bacteria from marine samples containing plastic waste. Four culturable bacterial isolates: Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Actinomyces sp. were assessed for their biofilm formation, biosurfactant, and protease production. Gamma irradiation was used to induce structural changes and promote bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on low-density polyethylene microplastics (LDPE MPs). Optimal biofilm formation was achieved in minimal media supplemented with 30% tryptic soy broth, 10% biosurfactant, and 300 µM calcium chloride. The factorial design experiment demonstrated that adding media supplementation significantly improved bacterial colonization and biofilm formation when compared to gamma irradiation. This was supported with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The optimized LDPE MP degradation was achieved through a multi-step protocol: (1) samples are pre-treated to 40 kGy gamma irradiation, which resulted in 5.7% Gravimetric weight loss and structural and morphological changes, (2) incubation in biofilm inducing media overnight, and (3) further incubation in minimal media for 30 days. This approach resulted in a total weight loss of 22.5%. In conclusion, synergistic pre-treatment is recommended to promote biofilm and improve biodegradation of LDPE MPs by marine bacteria. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-255be886c6dc4fb5b657d10fab485ccf |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2197-4365 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bioresources and Bioprocessing |
| spelling | doaj-art-255be886c6dc4fb5b657d10fab485ccf2025-08-20T02:06:23ZengSpringerOpenBioresources and Bioprocessing2197-43652025-06-0112111310.1186/s40643-025-00902-8Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplasticsMarwa Gamal Eldeen Afify0Ola M. Gomaa1Hussein Abd El Kareem2Mohamed A. Abou Zeid3Microbiology Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA)Microbiology Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA)Microbiology Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA)Faculty of Science, Galala UniversityAbstract The accumulation of plastic waste presents a significant worldwide environmental challenge. This study aimed to isolate polyethylene-degrading bacteria from marine samples containing plastic waste. Four culturable bacterial isolates: Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Actinomyces sp. were assessed for their biofilm formation, biosurfactant, and protease production. Gamma irradiation was used to induce structural changes and promote bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on low-density polyethylene microplastics (LDPE MPs). Optimal biofilm formation was achieved in minimal media supplemented with 30% tryptic soy broth, 10% biosurfactant, and 300 µM calcium chloride. The factorial design experiment demonstrated that adding media supplementation significantly improved bacterial colonization and biofilm formation when compared to gamma irradiation. This was supported with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The optimized LDPE MP degradation was achieved through a multi-step protocol: (1) samples are pre-treated to 40 kGy gamma irradiation, which resulted in 5.7% Gravimetric weight loss and structural and morphological changes, (2) incubation in biofilm inducing media overnight, and (3) further incubation in minimal media for 30 days. This approach resulted in a total weight loss of 22.5%. In conclusion, synergistic pre-treatment is recommended to promote biofilm and improve biodegradation of LDPE MPs by marine bacteria.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-025-00902-8 |
| spellingShingle | Marwa Gamal Eldeen Afify Ola M. Gomaa Hussein Abd El Kareem Mohamed A. Abou Zeid Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics Bioresources and Bioprocessing |
| title | Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics |
| title_full | Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics |
| title_fullStr | Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics |
| title_short | Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics |
| title_sort | promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low density polyethylene microplastics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-025-00902-8 |
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