Hormesis of Bacillus velezensis in response to low doses of polystyrene

by
Melanie Cham
Melanie Cham

Melanie Cham is a sophomore (’24) from Greenville, South Carolina. At Wesleyan, she is expecting to double major in Earth and Environmental Science and Italian Studies. Melanie plays on Wesleyan’s club volleyball team and works in the Admissions Office where she leads campus tours. She loves going to the beach, basking in the sun, cooking using her mom’s recipes, and tending to her plants. After graduation, she hopes to relocate to a nice, warm place to attend graduate school and gain more research experience. Melanie also wants to become a professional race car driver.

Abstract: The abundance of microplastics in soil presents a major crisis for not only human physiology, but also the entire global ecosystem. Much of this microplastic originates from agriculture – as mulch fertilizer contains significant amounts of plastic. In addition, large plastic sheets are used as crop covers to regulate temperature and prevent unwanted plant growth. However, within a year of exposure to environmental weathering and ultraviolet light, these sheets break down into microplastics. The effects of this plastic have been measured on various bacterial strains. This project aims to isolate agricultural strains that can promote plant growth and degrade plastics. Using Bacillus velezensis, which is commonly investigated for its enhancement of growth in plants, as a model organism, it is determined that low concentrations of polystyrene can actually be beneficial to bacterial growth. This information can be applied to the agricultural sector with regards to also bioremediating the existing plastics.

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