By Jessica Jones
In a surprising and exciting scientific breakthrough with major implications for sustainable energy and waste management, researchers at the University of Lagos have found unique microorganisms from the gut of American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) capable of breaking down recalcitrant pollutants. This unexpected finding may unlock new, efficient methods for converting amongst others agricultural and paper waste into clean, renewable biofuels.
While the microbial communities in the digestive tracts of wood feeding termites are well documented for their ability to break down lignocellulose, the gut microbiota of cockroaches, has remained largely unexplored. Now, a microbiologist, Pelumi Oladipo has shed light on this overlooked microbial ecosystem by isolating both cellulose degrading fungi (CDF) and cellulose degrading bacteria (CDB) from P. americana. These microbial isolates demonstrated remarkable enzymatic capabilities, including the production of cellulases, enzymes that break down cellulose into simpler sugars and some cases able to completely breakdown pollutant into water and carbondioxide.
This is a significant advancement for environmental biotechnology as these microorganisms will be huge in waste management and in oil spillage cleaning.
Remarking on this incredible discovery, Pelumi Oladipo says that “Our goal is to create an eco-friendly approach to waste-management and especially oil spillage cleaning with little or no adverse effects on living things. We have shown that these microorganisms are powerful in making our environment safer through their metabolic activities that transform pollutants into environmentally friendly products”.
She added that this approach is cost-effective, sustainable with complete mineralization of the pollutant without generation of toxic waste which is a major advantage over other forms of remediation and waste management.