Bacteria to help recycle waste

Five new strains of bacteria that have been discovered that potentially degrade starch and cellulose, reports VK Tripathi.

Researchers at Patna University have isolated from the city’s municipal garbage five new strains of bacteria that have the potential to degrade starch and cellulose and thus, help in recycling. They believe the new microbes could then control pollution and produce biofertilizer.

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The newly discovered bacteria have been deposited with the Microbial Type Cultural Collection and Gene Bank in Chandigarh for documentation. The research team had earlier isolated six new strains of bacteria — including Klebsiella and Streptomycetes, which have the ability to degrade cellulose and help release minerals in soil.