• Integrated in vivo and in sili...

*Result*: Integrated in vivo and in silico characterization of novel bacterial strains for biodegradation and desulfurization of end-of-life tire rubber.

Title:
Integrated in vivo and in silico characterization of novel bacterial strains for biodegradation and desulfurization of end-of-life tire rubber.
Authors:
Brito-Cabezas J; Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile., Rojas J; Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile., Hernández A; Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile., Rojo MJ; Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile., Rojas V; Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile., Baeza J; Centro de Bioinformática, Simulación y Modelado (CBSM), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile., Kasai D; Department of Materials Science and Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-2188, Japan., Andler R; Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile. Electronic address: randler@ucm.cl.
Source:
Bioresource technology [Bioresour Technol] 2026 Feb; Vol. 441, pp. 133672. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Nov 16.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Elsevier Applied Science Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9889523 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1873-2976 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09608524 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Bioresour Technol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: Barking, Essex, England : New York, N.Y. : Elsevier Applied Science ; Elsevier Science Pub. Co., 1991-
MeSH Terms:
Rubber*/metabolism , Sulfur*/metabolism , Bacteria*/metabolism , Bacteria*/genetics , Acinetobacter*/metabolism , Acinetobacter*/genetics , Acinetobacter*/isolation & purification , Computer Simulation*, Biodegradation, Environmental ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Phylogeny
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Acinetobacter; Cyclohexylamine; Paeniglutamicibacter; Rubber biodegradation; Thioredoxin reductase; Vulcanized rubber
Substance Nomenclature:
9006-04-6 (Rubber)
70FD1KFU70 (Sulfur)
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20251118 Date Completed: 20251211 Latest Revision: 20251216
Update Code:
20260130
DOI:
10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133672
PMID:
41253233
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*End-of-life tires remain the most difficult residue to manage within the automotive industry, mainly because of the crosslinked structure formed by different types of bonds, with sulfur limiting its biodegradation. This reinforces the need to find new microorganisms that have adapted to this waste over many years and enzymes that can perform this function. The aim of this study was to assess the degradation potential of new novel isolated strains using liquid cultures containing different rubber mixtures including poly(cis-1,4-isoprene), butyl rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, and crumb rubber granulates. Acinetobacter lwoffii and Paeniglutamicibacter quisquiliarum were isolated from two different contaminated sites and grew in selective agar-latex medium as well as in liquid cultures with the different rubber mixtures. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed changes in the structure of rubber mixtures with carbon-sulfur bond alterations. Based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the supernatant contained volatile compounds, suggesting that both strains have biodesulfurization potential. Genomic, proteomic, and bioinformatic analysis provided information on the degradative capabilities of the two species to explore potential enzymes for desulfurization. This study identifies and characterizes two novel bacterial strains capable of degrading vulcanized rubber and altering sulfur bonds, highlighting their potential for biodegradation. The findings open new opportunities for developing biotechnological solutions that contribute to the sustainable management of end-of-life tire waste.
(Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)*

*Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Rodrigo Andler reports financial support was provided by National Agency for Research and Development. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.*