RT Journal Article
T1 Multi-omics reveals wastewater sludge bacteria with genomic potential to degrade poly(ethylene terephthalate)
A1 Vijande, Carlota
A1 Balboa Méndez, Sabela
A1 Lazzari, Massimo
A1 Lema Rodicio, Juan Manuel
A1 Pabst, Martin
K1 Biofilm
K1 Metaproteomics
K1 Metagenomics
K1 PET  biodegradation
AB Plastic pollution is a growing concern, especially poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), one of the most produced plastic polymers. Although several microorganisms capable of degrading PET have been identified, little is known about those present in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study explores their ability to degrade PET and the enzymes involved. Activated sludge from two facilities—one urban WWTP and one industrial WWTP—was cultivated with PET of different crystallinities. The inoculum source primarily determined differences in microbial community composition. Metagenomics revealed more than 300 genes homologous to PET-degrading enzymes in all biofilms; however, metaproteomics confirmed expression of only a few of these enzymes in industrial WWTP-derived biofilms. This inoculum demonstrated the ability to degrade PET breakdown products within 24 h. In addition, FTIR analysis revealed initial signs of surface alteration. In conclusion, this study reveals the presence of microorganisms in industrial wastewater treatment sludge that possess the genetic potential to degrade PET.
PB Elsevier
YR 2026
FD 2026-03
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46844
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46844
LA eng
NO Vijande, C., Balboa, S., Lazzari, M., Lema, J. M., & Pabst, M. (2026). Multi-omics reveals wastewater sludge bacteria with genomic potential to degrade poly(ethylene terephthalate). Bioresource Technology, 444, 134003. 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134003
NO This work was financed by the Galician Government through project ED431F2024/302, the Spanish Investigation Agency (projects RYC2021-031220-I, TED2021-131322B-I00) and by a PhD Xunta de Galicia Grant (ED481A 2022/391, Carlota Vijande ´ Alvarez de Linera). The authors belong to a Galician Competitive Research Group (ED431C- 2025/19) and to Cross-disciplinary Research in Environmental Technologies (CRETUS Research Center, ED431G 2023/12). The authors acknowledge Dita Heikens for support with metaproteomic sample processing. The graphical abstract was created using Biorender (Biorender.com).
DS Minerva
RD 9 may 2026