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Hong JK, Lee TK, Kim I, Park S. Determinants of microbial colonization on microplastics through wastewater treatment processes: The role of polymer type and sequential treatment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:170072. [PMID: 38218474 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170072] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
This study examines the microbial colonization characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), focusing on polymer types (High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)) and various stages of wastewater treatments. Through individual and sequential deployment approaches, the research aimed to identify the determinants of bacterial colonization on MPs, whether they were introduced at each stage of treatment individually or in sequence from primary to tertiary stages. The study revealed that the stage of wastewater treatment profoundly influenced bacterial colonization on the polymer types MPs, with bacterial attachment being largely niche-specific. HDPE showed increased sensitivity to wastewater composition, leading to selective biofilm formation. For instance, in HDPE, Firmicutes accounted for 25.1 ± 0.04 % during primary treatment, while Alphaproteobacteria increased significantly in the tertiary treatment to 19.8 ± 0.1 %. Conversely, PET exhibited a stochastic pattern of bacterial colonization due to differences in surface hydrophilicity. Additionally, in sequential deployments, a notable shift towards stochastic bacterial attachment on MPs, particularly with HDPE was observed. The Shannon diversity values for MP biofilms were consistently higher than those for wastewater across all stages, with PET showing an increase in diversity in sequential deployments (Shannon diversity: 5.01 ± 0.03 for tertiary stage). These findings highlight the critical role of MPs as carriers of diverse bacteria, emphasizing the necessity for strategies to mitigate their impact in WWTPs. This study presents a significant advancement in our understanding of the interactions between MPs and microbial populations in WWTP environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Kyung Hong
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Kwon Lee
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Ilho Kim
- Department of Environmental research, Korea Institute of Civil engineering and building Technology (KICT), Gyeonggi-Do 10223, Republic of Korea; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Saerom Park
- Department of Environmental research, Korea Institute of Civil engineering and building Technology (KICT), Gyeonggi-Do 10223, Republic of Korea; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Tuvo B, Scarpaci M, Bracaloni S, Esposito E, Costa AL, Ioppolo M, Casini B. Microplastics and Antibiotic Resistance: The Magnitude of the Problem and the Emerging Role of Hospital Wastewater. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20105868. [PMID: 37239594 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The role of microplastics (MPs) in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is increasingly attracting global research attention due to their unique ecological and environmental effects. The ubiquitous use of plastics and their release into the environment by anthropic/industrial activities are the main sources for MP contamination, especially of water bodies. Because of their physical and chemical characteristics, MPs represent an ideal substrate for microbial colonization and formation of biofilm, where horizontal gene transfer is facilitated. In addition, the widespread and often injudicious use of antibiotics in various human activities leads to their release into the environment, mainly through wastewater. For these reasons, wastewater treatment plants, in particular hospital plants, are considered hotspots for the selection of ARGs and their diffusion in the environment. As a result, the interaction of MPs with drug-resistant bacteria and ARGs make them vectors for the transport and spread of ARGs and harmful microorganisms. Microplastic-associated antimicrobial resistance is an emerging threat to the environment and consequently for human health. More studies are required to better understand the interaction of these pollutants with the environment as well as to identify effective management systems to reduce the related risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Tuvo
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Michela Scarpaci
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Bracaloni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Enrica Esposito
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Costa
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Ioppolo
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Beatrice Casini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Hossain S, Manan H, Shukri ZNA, Othman R, Kamaruzzan AS, Rahim AIA, Khatoon H, Minhaz TM, Islam Z, Kasan NA. Microplastics biodegradation by biofloc-producing bacteria: An inventive biofloc technology approach. Microbiol Res 2023; 266:127239. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Metcalf R, Oliver DM, Moresco V, Quilliam RS. Quantifying the importance of plastic pollution for the dissemination of human pathogens: The challenges of choosing an appropriate 'control' material. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:152292. [PMID: 34896491 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Discarded plastic wastes in the environment are serious challenges for sustainable waste management and for the delivery of environmental and public health. Plastics in the environment become rapidly colonised by microbial biofilm, and importantly this so-called 'plastisphere' can also support, or even enrich human pathogens. The plastisphere provides a protective environment and could facilitate the increased survival, transport and dissemination of human pathogens and thus increase the likelihood of pathogens coming into contact with humans, e.g., through direct exposure at beaches or bathing waters. However, much of our understanding about the relative risks associated with human pathogens colonising environmental plastic pollution has been inferred from taxonomic identification of pathogens in the plastisphere, or laboratory experiments on the relative behaviour of plastics colonised by human pathogens. There is, therefore, a pressing need to understand whether plastics play a greater role in promoting the survival and dispersal of human pathogens within the environment compared to other substrates (either natural materials or other pollutants). In this paper, we consider all published studies that have detected human pathogenic bacteria on the surfaces of environmental plastic pollution and critically discuss the challenges of selecting an appropriate control material for plastisphere experiments. Whilst it is clear there is no 'perfect' control material for all plastisphere studies, understanding the context-specific role plastics play compared to other substrates for transferring human pathogens through the environment is important for quantifying the potential risk that colonised plastic pollution may have for environmental and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Metcalf
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK.
| | - David M Oliver
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Vanessa Moresco
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Richard S Quilliam
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
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5
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Li W, Chen X, Li M, Cai Z, Gong H, Yan M. Microplastics as an aquatic pollutant affect gut microbiota within aquatic animals. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127094. [PMID: 34530278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The adverse impact of microplastics (MPs) on gut microbiota within aquatic animals depends on the overall effect of chemicals and biofilm of MPs. Thus, it is ideal to fully understand the influences that arise from each or even all of these characteristics, which should give us a whole picture of consequences that are brought by MPs. Harmful effects of MPs on gut microbiota within aquatic organisms start from the ingestion of MPs by aquatic organisms. According to this, the present review will discuss the ingestion of MPs and its following results on gut microbial communities within aquatic animals, in which chemical components, such as plastic polymers, heavy metals and POPs, and the biofilm of MPs would be involved. This review firstly analyzed the impacts of MPs on aquatic organisms in detail about its chemical components and biofilm based on previous relevant studies. At last, the significance of field studies, functional studies and complex dynamics of gut microbial ecology in the future research of MPs affecting gut microbiota is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixin Li
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Xiaofeng Chen
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Minqian Li
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Zeming Cai
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Han Gong
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China.
| | - Muting Yan
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
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Abstract
Major water-polluting microplastics (for example, polyethylene, polypropylene and others) have lower density than water. Therefore, they are concentrated in the neustonic layer near the water-air interface altogether with dissolved or colloidal natural organic matter, hydrophobic cells and spores of bacteria. This can cause environmental and public health problems because the floating micro- and nanoparticles of plastics could be coated with biofilm of hydrophobic and often putative pathogenic bacteria. Biofilm-coated microplastics are more attractive for consumption by aquatic animals than pure microplastics, and that increases the negative impacts of microplastics. So, impacts of even small quantities of microplastics in aquatic environments must be accounted for considering their accumulation in the micro-layer of water-air interphase and its interaction with bacterioneuston. Microorganisms attached to the surface of microplastic particles could interact with them, use them as substrates for growth, to change properties and biodegrade. The study of microbial life on the surface of microplastic particles is one of the key topics to understanding their role in the environment.
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Stollberg N, Kröger SD, Reininghaus M, Forberger J, Witt G, Brenner M. Uptake and absorption of fluoranthene from spiked microplastics into the digestive gland tissues of blue mussels, Mytilus edulis L. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 279:130480. [PMID: 33866097 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The present work intended to investigate the fate of contaminant-loaded microplastics if ingested by benthic filter feeder Mytilus edulis under laboratory conditions. In the course of a 7-day experiment the mussels were exposed to PVC microplastics in a size range ≤40 μm, in doses of 2000 particles L-1 (11.56 mg L-1). Particles were either virgin or loaded with one of four different nominal concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fluoranthene (500, 125, 31.25 and 7.8125 μg g-1). Verification of fluoranthene concentrations on the particles provided evidence of the high absorptive capacity of PVC for this PAH, indicating that comparable particles may serve as considerable accumulation sites for high concentrations of hydrophobic contaminants in the aquatic environment. Analysis of digestive gland tissues via polarised light microscopy revealed the occurrence of particles and particle aggregates within stomach and intestines of all mussels treated with microplastics, thus making the xenobiotic bioavailable. Results of contaminant analysis in mussel tissues via equilibrium sampling point to a considerable capability of microplastics for the accumulation of hydrophobic contaminants from the environment and their potential to act as vehicles for the transport of theses contaminants into organismal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Stollberg
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Silja Denise Kröger
- University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, Faculty Life Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Reininghaus
- University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, Faculty Life Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Forberger
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Chemische Technologie ICT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Str. 7, 76327, Pfinztal, Germany
| | - Gesine Witt
- University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, Faculty Life Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Brenner
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany.
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Liu Y, Liu W, Yang X, Wang J, Lin H, Yang Y. Microplastics are a hotspot for antibiotic resistance genes: Progress and perspective. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 773:145643. [PMID: 33940744 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and microplastics in the environment are of great public concern due to their potential risk to human health. Microplastics can form distinct bacterial communities and absorb pollutants from the surrounding environment, which provide potential hosts and exert possible selection pressure of ARGs. We provide a practical evaluation of the scientific literature regarding this issue. The occurrence and transport of ARGs on microplastics in wastewater treatment plants, aquatic, terrestrial, and air environments were summarized. Selective enrichment of ARGs and antibiotic resistance bacteria on microplastics have been confirmed in different environments. Aggregates may be crucial to understand the behavior and transport of ARGs on microplastics, especially in the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Microplastics could be a carrier of ARGs between the environment and animals. Accumulation of pollutants and dense bacterial communities on microplastics provide favorable conditions for higher transfer rate and evolution of ARGs. More studies are still needed to understand the enrichment, transport, and transfer of ARGs on microplastics and provide a fundamental basis for evaluating their exposure health risk to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Wenzhi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiaomei Yang
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708PB Wageningen, the Netherlands; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100 Yangling, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Hui Lin
- The Institute of Environment, Resources, Soil and Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Yuyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
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9
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Li LL, Amara R, Souissi S, Dehaut A, Duflos G, Monchy S. Impacts of microplastics exposure on mussel (Mytilus edulis) gut microbiota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 745:141018. [PMID: 32758734 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), plastics with particles smaller than 5 mm, have been found almost in every corner of the world, especially in the ocean. Due to the small size, MPs can be ingested by animals and enter the marine trophic chain. MPs can affect animal health by physically causing damage to the digestive tract, leaking plastic chemical components, and carrying environmental pollutants and pathogens into animals. In this study, impacts of MPs ingestion on gut microbiota were investigated. Filter feeding mussels were exposed to "virgin" and "weathered" MPs at relatively realistic concentration 0.2 mg L-1 ("low") and exaggerated concentration 20 mg L-1 ("high") for 6 weeks. Influence in mussel gut microbiota was investigated with 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. As compared with non-exposed mussels, alteration of gut microbiota was observed after mussels were exposed to MPs for 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and even after 8-day post-exposure depuration. Potential human pathogens were found among operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with increased abundance induced by MP-exposure. Faecal pellets containing microorganisms from altered gut microbiota and MPs might further influence microbiota of surrounding environment. Our results have demonstrated impacts of MP-exposure on mussel gut microbiota and suggested possible consequent effects on food quality, food safety, and the well-being of marine food web in the ecosystem for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luen-Luen Li
- Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, CNRS, Univ. Lille, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F 62930 Wimereux, France; ANSES, Laboratoire de Sécurité des Aliments, Boulevard du Bassin Napoléon, 62200 Boulogne-sur-mer, France
| | - Rachid Amara
- Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, CNRS, Univ. Lille, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F 62930 Wimereux, France
| | - Sami Souissi
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Alexandre Dehaut
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Sécurité des Aliments, Boulevard du Bassin Napoléon, 62200 Boulogne-sur-mer, France
| | - Guillaume Duflos
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Sécurité des Aliments, Boulevard du Bassin Napoléon, 62200 Boulogne-sur-mer, France
| | - Sébastien Monchy
- Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, CNRS, Univ. Lille, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F 62930 Wimereux, France.
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10
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Yang Y, Liu W, Zhang Z, Grossart HP, Gadd GM. Microplastics provide new microbial niches in aquatic environments. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:6501-6511. [PMID: 32500269 PMCID: PMC7347703 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10704-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Microplastics in the biosphere are currently of great environmental concern because of their potential toxicity for aquatic biota and human health and association with pathogenic microbiota. Microplastics can occur in high abundance in all aquatic environments, including oceans, rivers and lakes. Recent findings have highlighted the role of microplastics as important vectors for microorganisms, which can form fully developed biofilms on this artificial substrate. Microplastics therefore provide new microbial niches in the aquatic environment, and the developing biofilms may significantly differ in microbial composition compared to natural free-living or particle-associated microbial populations in the surrounding water. In this article, we discuss the composition and ecological function of the microbial communities found in microplastic biofilms. The potential factors that influence the richness and diversity of such microbial microplastic communities are also evaluated. Microbe-microbe and microbe-substrate interactions in microplastic biofilms have been little studied and are not well understood. Multiomics tools together with morphological, physiological and biochemical analyses should be combined to provide a more comprehensive overview on the ecological role of microplastic biofilms. These new microbial niches have so far unknown consequences for microbial ecology and environmental processes in aquatic ecosystems. More knowledge is required on the microbial community composition of microplastic biofilms and their ecological functions in order to better evaluate consequences for the environment and animal health, including humans, especially since the worldwide abundance of microplastics is predicted to dramatically increase.Key Points • Bacteria are mainly studied in community analyses: fungi are neglected. • Microbial colonization of microplastics depends on substrate, location and time. • Community ecology is a promising approach to investigate microbial colonization. • Biodegradable plastics, and ecological roles of microplastic biofilms, need analysis. |
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wenzhi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zulin Zhang
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, Scotland, ABI5 8QH, UK
| | - Hans-Peter Grossart
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Alte Fischerhuette 2, 16775, Stechlin, Germany. .,Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Maulbeerallee 2, 14469, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Geoffrey Michael Gadd
- Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, DD1 5EH, UK. .,State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, College of Science and Environment, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China.
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11
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Tagg AS, Oberbeckmann S, Fischer D, Kreikemeyer B, Labrenz M. Paint particles are a distinct and variable substrate for marine bacteria. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 146:117-124. [PMID: 31426139 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
While paint particles are an important part of the microplastic sphere, they have, as yet, received much less research coverage, particularly regarding microplastic-microbiological interactions. This study investigated the biofilm communities of a variety of paint particles from brackish sediment using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Paint particle biofilm communities appear to be distinct from natural (water and sediment), non-synthetic particle (cellulose) and common microplastic biofilm communities. Notably, there appears to be 1 group of sulphate-reducing bacteria from the Desulfobacteraceae family, Desulfatitalea tepidiphilia, that dominate certain paint biofilms. Of the 8 investigated paint-associated communities, four paints displayed this high Desulfobacteraceae presence. However, it is currently unclear from the chemical analysis performed of the paint surface chemistry (ATR FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, SEM-EDX) what the drivers behind this might be. As such, this study provides important insights as the first to analyse microplastic-paint biofilm communities and paves the way for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Tagg
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock 18119, Germany
| | - Sonja Oberbeckmann
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock 18119, Germany
| | - Dieter Fischer
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Dresden 01069, Germany
| | - Bernd Kreikemeyer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Matthias Labrenz
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock 18119, Germany.
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12
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Kesy K, Oberbeckmann S, Kreikemeyer B, Labrenz M. Spatial Environmental Heterogeneity Determines Young Biofilm Assemblages on Microplastics in Baltic Sea Mesocosms. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1665. [PMID: 31447791 PMCID: PMC6696623 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microplastics in aquatic environments provide novel habitats for surface-colonizing microorganisms. Given the continuing debate on whether substrate-specific properties or environmental factors prevail in shaping biofilm assemblages on microplastics, we examined the influence of substrate vs. spatial factors in the development of bacterial assemblages on polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), wood, and seston and in the free-living fraction. Further, the selective colonization of microplastics by potential pathogens was investigated because among the bacterial species found in microplastic-associated biofilms are potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. Due to their persistence and great dispersal potential, microplastics could act as vectors for these potential pathogens and for biofilm assemblages in general. Incubation experiments with these substrates were conducted for 7 days during a summer cruise along the eastern Baltic Sea coastline in waters covering a salinity gradient of 4.5-9 PSU. Bacterial assemblages were analyzed using 16S rRNA-gene amplicon sequencing, distance-based redundancy analyses, and the linear discriminant analysis effect size method to identify taxa that were significantly more abundant on the plastics. The results showed that the sample type was the most important factor structuring bacterial assemblages overall. Surface properties were less significant in differentiating attached biofilms on PE, PS, and wood; instead, environmental factors, mainly salinity, prevailed. A potential role for inorganic-nutrient limitations in surface-specific attachment was identified as well. Alphaproteobacteria (Sphingomonadaceae, Devosiaceae, and Rhodobacteraceae) and Gammaproteobacteria (Alteromonadaceae and Pseudomonas) were distinctive for the PE- and PS-associated biofilms. Vibrio was more abundant on the PE and PS biofilms than on seston, but its abundances were highest on wood and positively correlated with salinity. These results corroborate earlier findings that microplastics constitute a habitat for biofilm-forming microorganisms distinct from seston, but less from wood. In contrast to earlier reports of low Vibrio numbers on microplastics, these results also suggest that vibrios are early colonizers of surfaces in general. Spatial as well as temporal dynamics should therefore be considered when assessing the potential of microplastics to serve as vectors for bacterial assemblages and putative pathogens, as these parameters are major drivers of biofilm diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Kesy
- Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock, Germany
| | - Sonja Oberbeckmann
- Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock, Germany
| | - Bernd Kreikemeyer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Matthias Labrenz
- Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock, Germany
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13
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Franzellitti S, Canesi L, Auguste M, Wathsala RHGR, Fabbri E. Microplastic exposure and effects in aquatic organisms: A physiological perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2019; 68:37-51. [PMID: 30870694 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The impact of microplastics (MPs) on aquatic life, given their ubiquitous presence in the water compartment, represents a growing concern. Consistently, scientific knowledge is advancing rapidly, although evidence on actual adverse effects is still highly fragmented. This paper summarizes the recent literature on MP impacts on aquatic organisms in an attempt to link routes of uptake, possible alterations of physiological processes, and outcomes at different levels of biological organization. Animal feeding strategies and MP biodistribution is discussed, alongside with relevant effects at molecular, cellular, and systemic level. Pathways from animal exposure to apical physiological responses are examined to define the relevance of MPs for animal health, and to point out open questions and research gaps. Emphasis is given to emerging threats posed by leaching of plastic additives, many of which have endocrine disruption potential. The potential role of MPs as substrates for microorganism growth and vehicle for pathogen spreading is also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Franzellitti
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.
| | - Laura Canesi
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Manon Auguste
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Rajapaksha H G R Wathsala
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
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Klaeger F, Tagg AS, Otto S, Bienmüller M, Sartorius I, Labrenz M. Residual Monomer Content Affects the Interpretation of Plastic Degradation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2120. [PMID: 30765870 PMCID: PMC6375983 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38685-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastic degradation rates in the marine environment are essential to understand. This study demonstrates that in plastic-microbial interaction experiments, residual monomeric and oligomeric content of PA6 significantly influences the development of dissolved organic carbon. While it is well recognized that additives in plastics should be considered during the inception of plastic-exposure experiments, residual monomers have yet to be prominently considered in the same light. As such, in degradation studies where residual contents of monomers and/or oligomers are not considered, degradation of synthetic polymers could be significantly overestimated. The substantial conversion of these monomeric and oligomeric leachates also has implications for plastic-biofilm development studies and microplastic-biota-based ingestion experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Klaeger
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock, 18119, Germany
| | - Alexander S Tagg
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock, 18119, Germany
| | - Stefan Otto
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock, 18119, Germany
| | | | - Ingo Sartorius
- PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V., Frankfurt am Main, 60329, Germany
| | - Matthias Labrenz
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Rostock, 18119, Germany.
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15
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Oberbeckmann S, Kreikemeyer B, Labrenz M. Environmental Factors Support the Formation of Specific Bacterial Assemblages on Microplastics. Front Microbiol 2018; 8:2709. [PMID: 29403454 PMCID: PMC5785724 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
While the global distribution of microplastics (MP) in the marine environment is currently being critically evaluated, the potential role of MP as a vector for distinct microbial assemblages or even pathogenic bacteria is hardly understood. To gain a deeper understanding, we investigated how different in situ conditions contribute to the composition and specificity of MP-associated bacterial communities in relation to communities on natural particles. Polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and wooden pellets were incubated for 2 weeks along an environmental gradient, ranging from marine (coastal Baltic Sea) to freshwater (waste water treatment plant, WWTP) conditions. The associated assemblages as well as the water communities were investigated applying high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our setup allowed for the first time to determine MP-dependent and -independent assemblage factors as subject to different environmental conditions in one system. Most importantly, plastic-specific assemblages were found to develop solely under certain conditions, such as lower nutrient concentration and higher salinity, while the bacterial genus Erythrobacter, known for the ability to utilize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), was found specifically on MP across a broader section of the gradient. We discovered no enrichment of potential pathogens on PE or PS; however, the abundant colonization of MP in a WWTP by certain bacteria commonly associated with antibiotic resistance suggests MP as a possible hotspot for horizontal gene transfer. Taken together, our study clarifies that the surrounding environment prevailingly shapes the biofilm communities, but that MP-specific assemblage factors exist. These findings point to the ecological significance of specific MP-promoted bacterial populations in aquatic environments and particularly in plastic accumulation zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Oberbeckmann
- Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemuende (IOW), Rostock, Germany
| | - Bernd Kreikemeyer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Matthias Labrenz
- Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemuende (IOW), Rostock, Germany
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