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Kim H, Yoo K. Marine plastisphere selectively enriches microbial assemblages and antibiotic resistance genes during long-term cultivation periods. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123450. [PMID: 38280464 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Several studies have focused on identifying and quantifying suspended plastics in surface and subsurface seawater. Microplastics (MPs) have attracted attention as carriers of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the marine environment. Plastispheres, specific biofilms on MP, can provide an ideal niche to spread more widely through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), thereby increasing risks to ecosystems and human health. However, the microbial communities formed on different plastic types and ARG abundances during exposure time in natural marine environments remain unclear. Four types of commonly used MPs (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) were periodically cultured (46, 63, and 102 d) in a field-based marine environment to study the co-selection of ARGs and microbial communities in marine plastispheres. After the first 63 d of incubation (p < 0.05), the initial 16S rRNA gene abundance of microorganisms in the plastisphere increased significantly, and the biomass subsequently decreased. These results suggest that MPs can serve as vehicles for various microorganisms to travel to different environments and eventually provide a niche for a variety of microorganisms. Additionally, the qPCR results showed that MPs selectively enriched ARGs. In particular, tetA, tetQ, sul1, and qnrS were selectively enriched in the PVC-MPs. The abundances of intl1, a mobile genetic element, was measured in all MP types for 46 d (5.22 × 10-5 ± 8.21 × 10-6 copies/16s rRNA gene copies), 63 d (5.90 × 10-5 ± 2.49 × 10-6 copies/16s rRNA gene copies), and 102 d (4.00 × 10-5 ± 5.11 × 10-6 copies/16s rRNA gene copies). Network analysis indicated that ARG profiles co-occurred with key biofilm-forming bacteria. This study suggests that the selection of ARGs and their co-occurring bacteria in MPs could potentially accelerate their transmission through HGT in natural marine plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunsu Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea; Interdisciplinary Major of Ocean Renewable Energy Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea
| | - Keunje Yoo
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea; Interdisciplinary Major of Ocean Renewable Energy Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea.
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Wang H, Zhu Z, Zhang L, Liu X, Sun W, Yan F, Zhou Y, Wang Z, Wang X, Wei C, Lai J, Chen Q, Zhu D, Zhang Y. The hind information: Exploring the impact of physical damage on mask microbial composition in the aquatic environment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:116917. [PMID: 37611784 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Due to poor management and the lack of environmental awareness, lots of masks (an emerging form of plastic pollution) are discarded into the environment during the COVID-19, thereby jeopardizing the health of humans and the environment. Our study introduces a novel perspective by examining the impact of physical damage on the microbial composition of masks in the water environment. We focus on the variations in biofilm formation on each layer of both damaged and undamaged masks, which allows us to understand more about the biofilm on each layer and the significant changes that occur when masks are physically damaged. Research has shown that the community structure of microorganisms on discarded masks can be altered in just ten days, showing an evolution from undifferentiated pioneer colonizing species ("non-picky") to adaptive dominant species ("picky"). Especially, considering that discarded masks were inevitably damaged, we found that the biomass on the damaged samples is 1.62-2.38 times higher than that of the undamaged samples, respectively. Moreover, the microbial community structure on it was also significantly different. Genes involved in biogeochemical cycles of nutrients are more enriched in damaged masks. When damaged, the colonization process and community structure in the middle layer significantly differ from those in the inner and outer layers and even enrich more pathogenic bacteria. Based on the above, it is evident that the environmental risk of masks cannot be assessed as a whole, and the middle layer carries a higher risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Wang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China
| | - Zixian Zhu
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China; Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | - Ling Zhang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, PR China
| | - Weihong Sun
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China
| | - Feifei Yan
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China
| | - Yuxin Zhou
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei Province, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430077, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China
| | - Chunyan Wei
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China
| | - Jie Lai
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China
| | - Qingfeng Chen
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China
| | - Dong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo, 315830, PR China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China.
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