PhD in Biological Sciences and Applied Biotechnologies

Contacts

Supervisor

Phd thesis

Study of the biodegradation of biodegradable polymers in conditions that simulate the open environment.

Research activities

Study of the biodegradation of biodegradable polymers in conditions that simulate the open environment:

Plastic is a dominant source of pollution nowadays, and currently, research is focusing on understanding its impact on ecosystems. Among others, aquatic ecosystems suffered serious repercussions of this phenomenon that threatens their functionality.

Besides universities, companies are also working hard to replace conventional plastic with alternatives considered "more biodegradable". Biodegradation is a complex process that results in an extensive reworking of carbon found in plastics which, under natural conditions, requires a long period of time. Even so-called “bioplastics”- plastics usually manufactured from bio-based polymers- require tightly controlled conditions in order for the biodegradation process to take place. The destiny of these materials in natural environments, however, is still largely unknown.

Some studies, even if carried out in artificialized mesocosm and thus simplifying environment complex dynamics, have focused on the potential role of microorganisms in breaking down plastic debris, but very little has been explored about fungi-plastic interactions. Nevertheless, fungi have already been shown to efficiently degrade complex pollutants, colonizing almost every niche on Earth.

The focus of my research is on fungal community assemblages in the plastisphere from a taxonomic and functional point of view, investigating inter-kingdom microbial interactions, and assessing the scope of microbial degradation of polymers in the open environment. The approach is interdisciplinary and involves culturomics, metagenomics, and structural chemistry.