Sensor-Aided Rapid Identification of Plastic-Degrading Bacterial Strains

Biodegradation has been highlighted as a promising strategy to cope with the worldwide plastic waste problems. However, its widespread application remains a major challenge, since the identification of the bacterial strains that are capable of efficiently degrading plastics from various bacterial choices is rather time-consuming. Herein, we report on a novel and universal strategy for rapid identification of plastic-degrading bacteria by using sensor technology. The proposed method is based on the biodegradation-induced Ca²⁺ ion release, followed by potentiometric detection with an ion-selective electrode. A core-shell structured magnetic bead serves as both the recognizer for the plastic-degrading bacterial cells and the signal reporter for their plastic-degradation capabilities. By using the proposed strategy, two <i>Enterobacter</i> species have been identified as the bacterial candidates for polystyrene (PS) biodegradation. Their PS-degrading capabilities were confirmed by using complete genome sequencing and transcriptomic analysis. As compared to the conventional methods for identifying plastic-degrading bacterial strains, the process could be remarkably shortened from weeks to hours by using the present methodology. Given its high efficiency, this methodology can provide a promising strategy to address the current challenges in the rapid identification of plastic-degrading bacterial strains.