Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
Biodeterioration01:28

Biodeterioration

Biodeterioration refers to the unwanted alteration of materials caused by microorganisms—especially fungi—which damage both organic substrates (paper, wood, textiles) and inorganic ones (stone, plaster, glass). Unlike abiotic decay, biodeterioration results from biological activity that produces physical disruption and chemical degradation.Physical deterioration occurs as fungal hyphae penetrate pores, cracks, and surface irregularities. Hyphal turgor pressure, thigmotropic growth along...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Whole-Cell Bioreporter-Based Assay for Detecting Fungal-Derived β-Lactamase Inhibitors.

Biosensors·2025
Same author

Microbial dark matter sequences verification in amplicon sequencing and environmental metagenomics data.

Frontiers in microbiology·2023
Same author

Temporal distribution of microbial community in an industrial wastewater treatment system following crash and during recovery periods.

Chemosphere·2020
Same author

Effect of proteases on biofilm formation of the plastic-degrading actinomycete Rhodococcus ruber C208.

FEMS microbiology letters·2013
Same author

Antibacterial activity of Pseudoalteromonas in the coral holobiont.

Microbial ecology·2012
Same author

Geographic specific coral-associated ammonia-oxidizing archaea in the northern Gulf of Eilat (Red Sea).

Microbial ecology·2012
Same journal

Microbial C1 assimilation pathways for chemical synthesis: from native metabolism to synthetic design.

Current opinion in biotechnology·2026
Same journal

Medicinal plants fermentation: current knowledge and perspectives.

Current opinion in biotechnology·2026
Same journal

Fermented foods: lessons learned from metagenomics.

Current opinion in biotechnology·2026
Same journal

Microfluidic platforms for the transient transfection of mammalian cells: recent developments and challenges.

Current opinion in biotechnology·2026
Same journal

Harvesting insights from recent advances in yeast genomics for predictable and precision wine fermentation.

Current opinion in biotechnology·2026
Same journal

Minimal enzyme cascades for the aromatic-to-aromatic upgrading of lignin monomers.

Current opinion in biotechnology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

New perspectives in plastic biodegradation.

Alex Sivan1

  • 1Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva, Israel. sivan@bgu.ac.il

Current Opinion in Biotechnology
|March 2, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Plastic biodegradation offers a promising solution to environmental pollution. Microbial strains can break down polyethylene (PE), a common plastic, reducing waste accumulation.

More Related Videos

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
08:43

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer

Published on: October 24, 2025

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
08:14

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
08:43

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer

Published on: October 24, 2025

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
08:14

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Plastics have replaced traditional materials, but their durability causes significant environmental pollution.
  • Recycling efforts for plastic waste, particularly polyethylene (PE), have proven largely ineffective, with low recycling rates.
  • Polyethylene (PE) is a widely used plastic, contributing substantially to global plastic waste accumulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore microbial biodegradation as a viable solution for plastic waste management.
  • To identify and isolate microorganisms capable of utilizing polyethylene (PE) as a synthetic polymer source.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of unique microorganisms from the environment.
  • Culturing and testing microbial strains for their ability to degrade polyethylene (PE).

Main Results:

  • Identification of specific microbial strains with the capability to utilize synthetic polymers.
  • Demonstration that selected microbial strains can effectively biodegrade plastic waste, including polyethylene (PE).

Conclusions:

  • Microbial biodegradation presents a feasible and environmentally sound approach to managing plastic waste.
  • Further research into microbial plastic degradation can significantly mitigate the environmental impact of polyethylene (PE).