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Review Article

Microbial Consortia: Synergistic Effects on Plastic Degradation and Enzyme Production

Authors

  • Aminat Olamide Shokunbi Instituto Politécnico Nacional-Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Mexico https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4634-4514

    shokunbi.o.aminat@gmail.com

  • Ogochukwu Mercy Ezeh Department of Biological Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0396-8468
  • Deborah Pelumi Fadipe Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Ayobami Samson Olanrewaju Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ibadan Opposite Agbowo Shopping Complex, Ibadan, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0345-0743
  • Olabisi Oluwaseun Badru Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ibadan Opposite Agbowo Shopping Complex, Ibadan, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4550-2271
  • Chinechendo N. Eze Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4934-7331
  • Loveth Chinwendu Iwuala Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA

Abstract

Growing interest in biological degradation as a sustainable mitigation strategy is a result of the fact that plastic pollution is still one of the most persistent environmental threats. Through cooperative metabolism and complementary enzyme production, microbial consortia—diverse communities of bacteria, fungi, or both—have shown synergistic capacities to break down otherwise resistant plastics, outperforming single isolates. The enzymatic or oxidative activity of one organism in mixed cultures can release substrates for other organisms, speeding up the depolymerization and mineralization of polymers like polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. More thorough degradation pathways are made possible by these consortia’s support of diverse enzymatic repertoires, such as laccases, cutinases, and multicopper oxidases. Although previous research has listed strains and enzymes that break down plastic, this review synthesizes in a novel way how particular metabolic interactions within consortia promote superior plastic biodegradation. We discuss the significance of enzyme complementarity and cross-feeding, highlight recent research that demonstrates co-occurrence and functional cooperation, and pinpoint important design guidelines for scalable, consortium-based bioremediation. Future waste management solutions are informed by these insights into both the ecology of natural plastispheres and engineered microbial systems.

Keywords:

Bioremediation Enzyme Production Microbial Consortia Plastic Biodegradation Polymer Waste Synergistic Degradation

Article information

Journal

Journal of Medical Science, Biology, and Chemistry

Volume (Issue)

2(1), (2025)

Pages

149-156

Published

21-06-2025

How to Cite

Shokunbi, A. O., Ezeh, O. M., Fadipe, D. P., Olanrewaju, A. S., Badru, O. O., Eze, C. N., & Iwuala, L. C. (2025). Microbial Consortia: Synergistic Effects on Plastic Degradation and Enzyme Production. Journal of Medical Science, Biology, and Chemistry, 2(1), 149-156. https://doi.org/10.69739/jmsbc.v2i1.681

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