Microbe of the month
- ARTIS-Micropia
Each month at ARTIS-Micropia, a special microbe is featured. It’s only on display for that month, so be sure not to miss it!
Which microbe is on display this month?
♫Life in plastic, it’s fantastic!? ♪ As you know, plastic is used in almost everything. Unfortunately, this material is difficult to break down and releases microplastics that are invisible to the naked eye, making them even more difficult to clean up. Fortunately, scientists are now looking for microbes to solve this problem.
One of these microbes is Cladosporium cladosporioides, which is now on display at Micropia. This fungus is found almost everywhere: in the forest, but also on your forgotten sandwich! According to researchers, C. cladosporioides can grow on plastic and partially break it down.
Unfortunately, plastic is rarely broken down into reusable substances, but this discovery is still good news! By researching the enzymes, the “tools” of the cell that break down plastic, scientists are learning more about this process. What's more, plastic is already being recycled in small quantities with the help of these enzymes.
Want to know more about this remarkable cleaner? Come to the Microbe of the Month in March, next to the laboratory, and get surprised by the invisible world.