Microbiomics-based discovery of novel plastic-degrading microbes and enzymes

• Grant number: 24/00320-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Gabriela Felix Persinoti
• Grantee: João Victor de Lira Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/03059-5 - Uncovering hidden microbial functions involved in adaptation and processing of synthetic pollutants, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

One of the major environmental issues of our time is the accumulation and improper disposal of plastic waste resulting from industrial activities and human consumption. Several studies have already reported the existence of microorganisms associated with plastics degradation, opening new perspectives regarding the biodegradation of these pollutants, especially with the discovery PETases, enzymes capable of hydrolyzing PET. However, the knowledge regarding microbial enzymes active on other high molecular weight polymers is still scarce, highlighting the importance of new studies to prospect novel enzymatic systems for the degradation of such synthetic polymers. The goal here is to investigate microbial communities associated with plastics depolymerization to understand microbial dynamics aiming at the discovery of novel enzymatic strategies for processing of such contaminants derived from synthetic plastics. Thus, microbiomics approaches combining ultra-deep metagenomics employing complementary sequencing-based approaches to generate short and long reads with computational tools and large-scale data mining to identify microorganisms and microbial molecular strategies that allow their adaptation and utilization of plastic derived contaminants. We expect to elucidate genes, metabolic pathways and enzymes involved in plastic degradation and that these results could inspire the development of bio-based solutions for the management of plastic waste, reducing its environmental impact. (AU)