High density polyethylene (HDPE) biodegradation by the fungus Cladosporium halotolerans. Issue 2 (7th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Napoli, Michela; Silvestri, Brigida; Castagliuolo, Giusy; Carpentieri, Andrea; Luciani, Giuseppina; Di Maro, Antimo; Sorbo, Sergio; Pezzella, Alessandro; Zanfardino, Anna; Varcamonti, Mario
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology ecology. Volume 99:Issue 2(2023)
• Publication Date: 2022-12-07
• Subjects: bioremediation -- Cladosporium halotolerans -- enzymatic assay -- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy -- high density polyethylene degradation -- oxidoreductase; Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac148
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-6496

Abstract

Abstract: Polyethylene (PE) is high molecular weight synthetic polymer, very hydrofobic and hardly biodegradable. To increase polyethylene bio-degradability it is very important to find microorganisms that improve the PE hydrophilic level and/or reduce the length of its polymeric chain by oxidation. In this study, we isolated Cladosporium halotolerans, a fungal species, from the gastric system of Galleria mellonella larvae. Here, we show that C. halotolerans grows in the presence of PE polymer, it is able to interact with plastic material through its hyphae and secretes enzymes involved in PE degradation. Abstract : In this article, a fungus is isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of the G. mellonella larva, which infests hives by feeding on wax. The similarity of structure between the wax and the polyethylene makes the microorganism suitable for the degradation of plastic materials that are difficult to eliminate.