PLASTIC EATING BACTERIa“Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6”

PRESENTED BY – MADHU NATH B.Sc. MICROBIOLOGY

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l How do bacteria degrade plastics? What is PET and how it affects the environment? Application of Ideonella sakaiensis

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CAN BACTERIA REALLY EAT PLASTICS?

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INTRODUCTION

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PLASTIC (POLYMER)

Plastics are used in different sectors of applications like packaging, building materials, consumer products and much more.

Each year about 100 million tons of plastics are produced worldwide.

Americans generate more than 10.5 million tons of plastic waste is dumped in the ocean every year and recycle only 2% of it.

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HOW ARE PLASTICS HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT?

Polyethylene terephthalate-(PET) used for manufacturing plastic bottles, makes up one fifth of the annual production of plastic.

Lightweight , colourless, and strong.

PET’s strength and stability under heat makes it an ideal material for packaging.

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Polyethylene terephthalate-(PET)

MORPHOLOGY Gram-negative Rod –shaped bacterium Aerobic Non-spore forming Designed strain 201-F6

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Ideonella sakaiensis

Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6, a newly discovered bacterium that feed on PET.

Bacteria that break down the plastic using two enzymes- PETase and MHETase-could break down both PET and another compound MHET mono (2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid-which forms during breakdown process. 8

Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6

How does it degrades PET?

Cont.…… Breakdown products are

Ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, used by the bacteria as an energy source.

Completely degrade a thin film of PET after six weeks at a temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).

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THANK YOU

REFERENCES• www.sciencealert.com• science.howstuffworks.c

om• arstechnica.com• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov