Microbes from Mexico's Extreme Spots: A New Hope for Biodegradable Plastics

Did you know that plastic waste can take hundreds of years to break down? That's why scientists are on the hunt for better solutions. One promising find is polyhydroxybutyrate, or PHB, a biodegradable polymer made by microbes. Mexico, with its diverse microbial world, is a hotspot for these tiny helpers. Researchers have been digging into extreme environments, like refinery wastewater, to find the best PHB producers. One standout is the Bacillus cereus strain saba. zh. These microbes have adapted to tough conditions, making them super producers of PHB. But there's a catch. Producing these biopolymers can be pricey. That's why scientists are looking for new strains that can churn out PHB more cheaply or have unique traits to boost industrial processes. Imagine if we could make affordable, eco-friendly plastics from microbes! That's the dream driving this research.