A team of scientists has developed a genetically modified bacterium that can break down nylon and turn it into useful products. Nylon, a widely used plastic, has a low recycling rate, with most ending up in landfills. Researchers used genetic engineering and laboratory evolution to create a strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas putida that can break down nylon compounds and convert them into biodegradable plastics. The bacteria can consume up to 80-90% of the pre-treated plastic, but more work is needed to increase the amount of useful product produced and to make the process commercially viable. The developers hope that this technology will encourage the collection and recycling of old fishing nets, clothing, and car parts, which are often made of heat-resistant plastics. With further modification, this could lead to a solution for recycling nylon and reducing plastic waste.
Microorganisms engineered for breakdown could degrade hard-to-recycle nylon found in clothing.
