ISOLATION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROPLASTIC DEGRADING BACTERIA FROM DUMPSITE

This study investigated the isolation and molecular characterization of plastic-degrading bacteria from soil samples collected at the Isale-Osun dumpsite, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria (7.45° N, 4.33° E). Physicochemical analysis revealed alkaline conditions (pH 8.2–8.8) and moderate temperatures (25–29.1 °C), which favored microbial proliferation. Total viable bacterial counts ranged from 2.8 × 10⁶ to 3.5 × 10⁶ CFU/g at a 10⁻¹ dilution, indicating high bacterial density in the polluted soil. Four bacterial isolates were obtained and biochemically characterized as Gram-positive species with positive citrate utilization. Molecular identification using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and nBLAST analysis identified isolate ODSB1 as Streptococcus agalactiae with 100 % query coverage and 98.68 % sequence identity (GenBank Accession PV819146). These findings suggest that S. agalactiae possesses enzymatic and genetic potential for plastic degradation under alkaline soil conditions. The study highlights the ecological adaptation of bacterial communities in dumpsite environments and their possible exploitation for biotechnological plastic waste management. Developing microbial strategies such as this supports global sustainability goals by promoting environmentally friendly, low-cost bioremediation alternatives.