Bacillus subtilis as potential producer for polyhydroxyalkanoates

TLDR

Polyhydroxyalkanoates are biodegradable polymers produced by microbes, but commercial production is hampered by high costs and the brittle, low‑strength nature of the most common type, polyhydroxybutyrate. The study aims to produce PHAs with improved elastomeric properties suitable for biomedical applications, using inexpensive renewable feedstocks to lower production costs. Bacillus subtilis is highlighted as a promising candidate because it lacks toxic lipopolysaccharides, expresses self‑lysing genes that facilitate easy recovery of the polymer, and can utilize biowaste as a feedstock, thereby enhancing commercial viability.

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers produced by microbes to overcome environmental stress. Commercial production of PHAs is limited by the high cost of production compared to conventional plastics. Another hindrance is the brittle nature and low strength of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the most widely studied PHA. The needs are to produce PHAs, which have better elastomeric properties suitable for biomedical applications, preferably from inexpensive renewable sources to reduce cost. Certain unique properties of Bacillus subtilis such as lack of the toxic lipo-polysaccharides, expression of self-lysing genes on completion of PHA biosynthetic process - for easy and timely recovery, usage of biowastes as feed enable it to compete as potential candidate for commercial production of PHA.