⇒ NTU Scientists Develops Artificial Worms To Combat Plastic Pollution

Remember those icky-but-essential Earthworms munching in your compost pile? Turns out, their gut holds a powerful secret: microbes capable of breaking down plastics!

Solution:

• Enter the Zophobas atratus worm, also known as a "superworm", whose gut harbours microbes that can degrade certain plastics.
• Using these microbes, NTU scientists developed an artificial gut environment that mimics the worm's digestive system.
• This lab-grown gut allows them to cultivate the plastic-eating microbes at scale, bypassing the need for actual worms!

Scientific Approach:

• Microbial Isolation: NTU scientists identified and isolated plastic-degrading enzymes from the superworm gut microbiome.
• Bioreactor Design: An artificial gut environment was created, replicating the worm's digestive system's temperature, pH, and nutrients.
• Microbial Cultivation: The isolated enzymes were cultured within the bioreactor, creating a self-sustaining plastic-degrading system.

Key Scientific Insights:

• Enzyme Power: Specific enzymes secreted by the gut microbes act as "molecular scissors," breaking down plastic polymers into smaller, harmless molecules.
• Microbial Diversity: Multiple microbial strains work synergistically within the gut, each contributing unique enzymes for efficient plastic degradation.
• Biomimicry Advantage: The artificial gut replicates the natural environment, optimizing enzyme activity and maximizing biodegradation potential.

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