Clipping

A descoberta de um organismo que ajude nesse processo é animadora. Para a farmacêutica Thalita Calixto, que realizou uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a ação do P. microspora na Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, em Minas Gerais, a natureza tem muito a oferecer na resolução dos problemas da humanidade.

“A gente tem a prova disso constantemente. Um exemplo são os estudos de biodegradação. Fungos e bactérias apresentam um enorme potencial, já comprovado, de degradar certos tipos de plástico presentes no nosso cotidiano,

seja nas sacolinhas, seja nas garrafas PET, fibras sintéticas, tintas, resinas,

entre outros. Desenvolver estudos de biodegradação com esses microrganismos já conhecidos, ou adi TBRAM fazer novas descobertas,

pode reduzir de maneira expressiva o impacto causado pelos polímeros plásticos descartados no meio ambiente”, afirma a pesquisadora.

Para Thalita, o diferencial do P. microspora, além da degradação do poliuretano, inclusive em ambiente anaeróbio, é a produção de bioativos usados pela indústria farmacêutica, como o taxol, uma substância usada no tratamento de alguns tipos de câncer.

O biólogo Ulisses Albino, professor da Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará (Unifesspa),

lembra que, além do fungo amazônico equatoriano,

há diversos outros capazes de digerir plásticos.

“Um estudo de 2023 traz uma tabela com vários exemplos de fungos com essa propriedade”, afirma.

APOIO Adescobertade um organismo que ajude nesse processo é animadora.

Para a farmacêutica Thalita Calixto, que realizou uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a ação do P. microspora na Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, em Minas Gerais,

a natureza tem muito a oferecer na resolução dos problemas da humanidade.

Thediscovery of an organism that helps in this processis encouraging. For pharmacist Thalita Calixto, who carried outa bibliographical study on the action of P. microspora at the Federal University of Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais, nature has so muchto offer in solving humanity's problems.

FOTO MICHAEL DANTAS / AFP.

l 9

KL NATIVETOTHE AMAZON Plastic-eating fungusis a weapon against pollution MICROORGANISM - Pestalotiopsis microsporais capable of decomposing polyurethane, one of the most resistant polymers, but the solution to the problem also ÁDRIA AZEVEDO Special for O Liberal. Translated by George Luis de Castro Correia; Silvia Benchimol and Ewerton Branco (ET-Multi/UFPA)

fungus found in the Amazon,

more specifically in Ecuador, represents hope in the fight against plastic pollution worldwide, currently considered the second greatest environmental threat to the planet, second only to the climate emergency. Named Pestalotiopsis microspora, the organismis capable of degrading one of the most resistant plastics to decomposition, polyurethane.

The fungus was discovered in 2011 by researchers from noth American Yale University during an expedition to Yasuní National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest.

The researchers, who were looking for microorganisms with biotechnological potential,

observed that P. microspora, an endophytic fungus, one that lives inside plants, can

“eat” plastic, whether in environments with or without oxygen, called aerobic or anaerobic,

respectively.

The unique potentials to degrade polyurethane, even in anaerobic environments,

makes P. microspora a promising solution for the use in landfills, whose deepest layers consist in environments without oxygen.

Currently, 46% of the plastic produced on the planet ends up in landfills without being properly recycled.

DEGRADATION It is already kKnown that plastics take hundreds of years to degrade. Naturally, the breaking down of its constituent molecular chains is extremely slow, leaving these residues persistently in the environment. Polyurethane, whichis used to make things ranging from foams for mattresses and cleaning sponges to shoe soles, is one of the most resistant materials to natural degradation. Without the intervention of expensive industrial methods or incineration, it can remain in landfills and dumps for centuries.

The discovery of an organism that helps in this process is encouraging. For pharmacist Thalita Calixto, who carried out a bibliographical study on the action of P. microspora at the Federal University of Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais, nature has so much to offer in solving humanity's problems.

“We constantly have this proof. One exampleis biodegradation studies. Fungi and bacteria have enormous potential, already proven, to degrade certain types of plastic present in our daily lives, whether in plastic bags, PET bottles,

synthetic fibers, paints, resins, among others.

Developing biodegradation studies with these already known microorganisms, or making new discoveries, can significantly reduce the impact caused by plastic polymers discarded in the environment;' says the researcher.

For Thalita, the advantage of the P. microspora, in additionto the degradation of polyurethane, evenin anaerobic environments, is the production of bioactives used by the pharmaceutical industry, such as taxol, a substance used in the treatment of some types of cancer.

Biologist Ulisses Albino, a professor at the Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará (Unifesspa), points out that, in addition to the Ecuadorian Amazonian fungus, there are several others capable of digesting plastics. “A

2023 study provides a table with several examples of fungi with this property;' he says.

Texto na íntegra:	A descoberta de um organismo que ajude nesse processo é animadora. Para a farmacêutica Thalita Calixto, que realizou uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a ação do P. microspora na Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, em Minas Gerais, a natureza tem muito a oferecer na resolução dos problemas da humanidade. “A gente tem a prova disso constantemente. Um exemplo são os estudos de biodegradação. Fungos e bactérias apresentam um enorme potencial, já comprovado, de degradar certos tipos de plástico presentes no nosso cotidiano, seja nas sacolinhas, seja nas garrafas PET, fibras sintéticas, tintas, resinas, entre outros. Desenvolver estudos de biodegradação com esses microrganismos já conhecidos, ou adi TBRAM fazer novas descobertas, pode reduzir de maneira expressiva o impacto causado pelos polímeros plásticos descartados no meio ambiente”, afirma a pesquisadora. Para Thalita, o diferencial do P. microspora, além da degradação do poliuretano, inclusive em ambiente anaeróbio, é a produção de bioativos usados pela indústria farmacêutica, como o taxol, uma substância usada no tratamento de alguns tipos de câncer. O biólogo Ulisses Albino, professor da Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará (Unifesspa), lembra que, além do fungo amazônico equatoriano, há diversos outros capazes de digerir plásticos. “Um estudo de 2023 traz uma tabela com vários exemplos de fungos com essa propriedade”, afirma. APOIO Adescobertade um organismo que ajude nesse processo é animadora. Para a farmacêutica Thalita Calixto, que realizou uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a ação do P. microspora na Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, em Minas Gerais, a natureza tem muito a oferecer na resolução dos problemas da humanidade. Thediscovery of an organism that helps in this processis encouraging. For pharmacist Thalita Calixto, who carried outa bibliographical study on the action of P. microspora at the Federal University of Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais, nature has so muchto offer in solving humanity's problems. FOTO MICHAEL DANTAS / AFP. l 9 KL NATIVETOTHE AMAZON Plastic-eating fungusis a weapon against pollution MICROORGANISM - Pestalotiopsis microsporais capable of decomposing polyurethane, one of the most resistant polymers, but the solution to the problem also ÁDRIA AZEVEDO Special for O Liberal. Translated by George Luis de Castro Correia; Silvia Benchimol and Ewerton Branco (ET-Multi/UFPA) fungus found in the Amazon, more specifically in Ecuador, represents hope in the fight against plastic pollution worldwide, currently considered the second greatest environmental threat to the planet, second only to the climate emergency. Named Pestalotiopsis microspora, the organismis capable of degrading one of the most resistant plastics to decomposition, polyurethane. The fungus was discovered in 2011 by researchers from noth American Yale University during an expedition to Yasuní National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. The researchers, who were looking for microorganisms with biotechnological potential, observed that P. microspora, an endophytic fungus, one that lives inside plants, can “eat” plastic, whether in environments with or without oxygen, called aerobic or anaerobic, respectively. The unique potentials to degrade polyurethane, even in anaerobic environments, makes P. microspora a promising solution for the use in landfills, whose deepest layers consist in environments without oxygen. Currently, 46% of the plastic produced on the planet ends up in landfills without being properly recycled. DEGRADATION It is already kKnown that plastics take hundreds of years to degrade. Naturally, the breaking down of its constituent molecular chains is extremely slow, leaving these residues persistently in the environment. Polyurethane, whichis used to make things ranging from foams for mattresses and cleaning sponges to shoe soles, is one of the most resistant materials to natural degradation. Without the intervention of expensive industrial methods or incineration, it can remain in landfills and dumps for centuries. The discovery of an organism that helps in this process is encouraging. For pharmacist Thalita Calixto, who carried out a bibliographical study on the action of P. microspora at the Federal University of Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais, nature has so much to offer in solving humanity's problems. “We constantly have this proof. One exampleis biodegradation studies. Fungi and bacteria have enormous potential, already proven, to degrade certain types of plastic present in our daily lives, whether in plastic bags, PET bottles, synthetic fibers, paints, resins, among others. Developing biodegradation studies with these already known microorganisms, or making new discoveries, can significantly reduce the impact caused by plastic polymers discarded in the environment;' says the researcher. For Thalita, the advantage of the P. microspora, in additionto the degradation of polyurethane, evenin anaerobic environments, is the production of bioactives used by the pharmaceutical industry, such as taxol, a substance used in the treatment of some types of cancer. Biologist Ulisses Albino, a professor at the Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará (Unifesspa), points out that, in addition to the Ecuadorian Amazonian fungus, there are several others capable of digesting plastics. “A 2023 study provides a table with several examples of fungi with this property;' he says.
Pessoa citada/ entrevistada:	THALITA SILVA CALIXTO
URL:	https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.resources/original_page/d8e0766275dce8450f6d3f5d6fd8be83?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAVXOJ7J3ICBSSDWFS&Expires=1762062504&Signature=FuFqAWXLYl9UHaJOf1Caf01R3Ts%3D

Plastic-eating fungus is a weapon against pollution

O Liberal Belém-PA em 2025-09-28 00:00:00.0