22
metabolism and genetic background (Swartz 2018; Holmes et al. 2019). The omic
technology and system biology can outline the regulatory processes and genes for
further improvement or optimization of microbial degradation processes by engineering host cells (Shah et al. 2011; Dvořák et al. 2017; Gravouil et al. 2017).
The research on biodegradation studies advances and enables researchers to
work toward the unknown and unmapped side of the biodegradation mechanism
(Yoshida et al. 2016; Gravouil et al. 2017; Yang et al. 2014). By the development of
molecular techniques, it is possible to study the molecules involved and released
during the polymer utilization by the microbe, while the actual step involved in the
degradation processes is uncovered. Imprinting of the microbial-based degradation
and changes in the polymeric structures through analytical tools involves the appearance and disappearance of functional groups resulting from oxidation-reduction
events during the degradation processes. Wilkes and Aristilde (2017) outlined the
polyethylene biodegradation pathway; however, the actual microbial degradation
path for plastic is still unclear. There has been no practical application of biodegradation on a commercial scale yet. However, extensive research needs to be conducted to explore the enormous metabolic potential of microorganisms and bring it
up to the translational level.
In one outlook, recalcitrant plastic waste and their degraded intermediates can be
utilized as next-generation carbon sources (Wierckx et al. 2015). In the future, we
need to isolate and identify novel microbes and genes with the help of advances in
sequencing technology and new tools for monitoring microbial metabolism for
hydrocarbon substrates (Austin and Callaghan 2013).
1.9 Conclusion
The increasing and spreading of plastic waste in the environment needs to the application of bioremediation technology for reduction. We are at the edge of the bioremediation revolution, where understanding the microbes and molecule interactions
might be the basis for the global carbon cycle. Environmental pollution treatment by
means of microorganisms would be a promising tool; however, a combination of
various approaches can make it possible to implicate and engineer the candidate
organism to optimize the enzyme activity, metabolic pathways, and growth conditions for the biodegradation processes of plastics. Many microorganisms from different sources have been harnessed for biodegradation studies of different types of
plastics, while the degradation efficiency of these microbes is a halt for large-scale
applications. Perhaps, there is also variation in biodegradation testing methods that
makes the inconsistency and inadequacy in the field and commercial trials.
Knowledge of the rate and end product of the plastic contaminant biotransformations before field practice is mandatory. The significant development of omic technology and bioinformatics databases will help in understanding the essential roles
of microbial metabolism in the biotransformation of plastics. Our current
A. Kumari et al.
metabolism and genetic background (Swartz 2018; Holmes et al. 2019). The omic
technology and system biology can outline the regulatory processes and genes for
further improvement or optimization of microbial degradation processes by engineering host cells (Shah et al. 2011; Dvořák et al. 2017; Gravouil et al. 2017).
The research on biodegradation studies advances and enables researchers to
work toward the unknown and unmapped side of the biodegradation mechanism
(Yoshida et al. 2016; Gravouil et al. 2017; Yang et al. 2014). By the development of
molecular techniques, it is possible to study the molecules involved and released
during the polymer utilization by the microbe, while the actual step involved in the
degradation processes is uncovered. Imprinting of the microbial-based degradation
and changes in the polymeric structures through analytical tools involves the appearance and disappearance of functional groups resulting from oxidation-reduction
events during the degradation processes. Wilkes and Aristilde (2017) outlined the
polyethylene biodegradation pathway; however, the actual microbial degradation
path for plastic is still unclear. There has been no practical application of biodegradation on a commercial scale yet. However, extensive research needs to be conducted to explore the enormous metabolic potential of microorganisms and bring it
up to the translational level.
In one outlook, recalcitrant plastic waste and their degraded intermediates can be
utilized as next-generation carbon sources (Wierckx et al. 2015). In the future, we
need to isolate and identify novel microbes and genes with the help of advances in
sequencing technology and new tools for monitoring microbial metabolism for
hydrocarbon substrates (Austin and Callaghan 2013).
1.9 Conclusion
The increasing and spreading of plastic waste in the environment needs to the application of bioremediation technology for reduction. We are at the edge of the bioremediation revolution, where understanding the microbes and molecule interactions
might be the basis for the global carbon cycle. Environmental pollution treatment by
means of microorganisms would be a promising tool; however, a combination of
various approaches can make it possible to implicate and engineer the candidate
organism to optimize the enzyme activity, metabolic pathways, and growth conditions for the biodegradation processes of plastics. Many microorganisms from different sources have been harnessed for biodegradation studies of different types of
plastics, while the degradation efficiency of these microbes is a halt for large-scale
applications. Perhaps, there is also variation in biodegradation testing methods that
makes the inconsistency and inadequacy in the field and commercial trials.
Knowledge of the rate and end product of the plastic contaminant biotransformations before field practice is mandatory. The significant development of omic technology and bioinformatics databases will help in understanding the essential roles
of microbial metabolism in the biotransformation of plastics. Our current
A. Kumari et al.