1
|
Vass M, Ramasamy KP, Andersson A. Microbial hitchhikers on microplastics: The exchange of aquatic microbes across distinct aquatic habitats. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16618. [PMID: 38561820 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have the potential to modify aquatic microbial communities and distribute microorganisms, including pathogens. This poses a potential risk to aquatic life and human health. Despite this, the fate of 'hitchhiking' microbes on MPs that traverse different aquatic habitats remains largely unknown. To address this, we conducted a 50-day microcosm experiment, manipulating estuarine conditions to study the exchange of bacteria and microeukaryotes between river, sea and plastisphere using a long-read metabarcoding approach. Our findings revealed a significant increase in bacteria on the plastisphere, including Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Hyphomonas, Brevundimonas, Aquabacterium and Thalassolituus, all of which are known for their pollutant degradation capabilities, specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We also observed a strong association of plastic-degrading fungi (i.e., Cladosporium and Plectosphaerella) and early-diverging fungi (Cryptomycota, also known as Rozellomycota) with the plastisphere. Sea MPs were primarily colonised by fungi (70%), with a small proportion of river-transported microbes (1%-4%). The mere presence of MPs in seawater increased the relative abundance of planktonic fungi from 2% to 25%, suggesting significant exchanges between planktonic and plastisphere communities. Using microbial source tracking, we discovered that MPs only dispersed 3.5% and 5.5% of river bacterial and microeukaryotic communities into the sea, respectively. Hence, although MPs select and facilitate the dispersal of ecologically significant microorganisms, drastic compositional changes across distinct aquatic habitats are unlikely.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Máté Vass
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kesava Priyan Ramasamy
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Agneta Andersson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Parida D, Katare K, Ganguly A, Chakraborty D, Konar O, Nogueira R, Bala K. Molecular docking and metagenomics assisted mitigation of microplastic pollution. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141271. [PMID: 38262490 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141271] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics, tiny, flimsy, and direct progenitors of principal and subsidiary plastics, cause environmental degradation in aquatic and terrestrial entities. Contamination concerns include irrevocable impacts, potential cytotoxicity, and negative health effects on mortals. The detection, recovery, and degradation strategies of these pollutants in various biota and ecosystems, as well as their impact on plants, animals, and humans, have been a topic of significant interest. But the natural environment is infested with several types of plastics, all having different chemical makeup, structure, shape, and origin. Plastic trash acts as a substrate for microbial growth, creating biofilms on the plastisphere surface. This colonizing microbial diversity can be glimpsed with meta-genomics, a culture-independent approach. Owing to its comprehensive description of microbial communities, genealogical evidence on unconventional biocatalysts or enzymes, genomic correlations, evolutionary profile, and function, it is being touted as one of the promising tools in identifying novel enzymes for the degradation of polymers. Additionally, computational tools such as molecular docking can predict the binding of these novel enzymes to the polymer substrate, which can be validated through in vitro conditions for its environmentally feasible applications. This review mainly deals with the exploration of metagenomics along with computational tools to provide a clearer perspective into the microbial potential in the biodegradation of microplastics. The computational tools due to their polymathic nature will be quintessential in identifying the enzyme structure, binding affinities of the prospective enzymes to the substrates, and foretelling of degradation pathways involved which can be quite instrumental in the furtherance of the plastic degradation studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Parida
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, 453552, India.
| | - Konica Katare
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, 453552, India.
| | - Atmaadeep Ganguly
- Department of Microbiology, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, West Bengal State University, Kolkata, 700118, India.
| | - Disha Chakraborty
- Department of Botany, Shri Shikshayatan College, University of Calcutta, Lord Sinha Road, Kolkata, 700071, India.
| | - Oisi Konar
- Department of Botany, Shri Shikshayatan College, University of Calcutta, Lord Sinha Road, Kolkata, 700071, India.
| | - Regina Nogueira
- Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management, Leibniz Universität, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Kiran Bala
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, 453552, India.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Stevenson EM, Buckling A, Cole M, Lindeque PK, Murray AK. Selection for antimicrobial resistance in the plastisphere. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168234. [PMID: 37924893 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168234] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics and antimicrobials are widespread contaminants that threaten global systems and frequently co-exist in the presence of human or animal pathogens. Whilst the impact of each of these contaminants has been studied in isolation, the influence of this co-occurrence in driving antimicrobial resistance (AMR)1 in microplastic-adhered microbial communities, known as 'the Plastisphere', is not well understood. This review proposes the mechanisms by which interactions between antimicrobials and microplastics may drive selection for AMR in the Plastisphere. These include: 1) increased rates of horizontal gene transfer in the Plastisphere compared with free-living counterparts and natural substrate controls due to the proximity of cells, co-occurrence of environmental microplastics with AMR selective compounds and the sequestering of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes in the biofilm matrix. 2) An elevated AMR selection pressure in the Plastisphere due to the adsorbing of AMR selective or co-selective compounds to microplastics at concentrations greater than those found in surrounding mediums and potentially those adsorbed to comparator particles. 3) AMR selection pressure may be further elevated in the Plastisphere due to the incorporation of antimicrobial or AMR co-selective chemicals in the plastic matrix during manufacture. Implications for both ecological functioning and environmental risk assessments are discussed, alongside recommendations for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Stevenson
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter Medical School, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, UK; Marine Ecology & Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK; Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Angus Buckling
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Matthew Cole
- Marine Ecology & Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Penelope K Lindeque
- Marine Ecology & Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK; Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Aimee K Murray
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter Medical School, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li C, Gillings MR, Zhang C, Chen Q, Zhu D, Wang J, Zhao K, Xu Q, Leung PH, Li X, Liu J, Jin L. Ecology and risks of the global plastisphere as a newly expanding microbial habitat. Innovation (N Y) 2024; 5:100543. [PMID: 38111463 PMCID: PMC10726253 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2023.100543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic offers a new niche for microorganisms, the plastisphere. The ever-increasing emission of plastic waste makes it critical to understand the microbial ecology of the plastisphere and associated effects. Here, we present a global fingerprint of the plastisphere, analyzing samples collected from freshwater, seawater, and terrestrial ecosystems. The plastisphere assembles a distinct microbial community that has a clearly higher heterogeneity and a more deterministically dominated assembly compared to natural habitats. New coexistence patterns-loose and fragile networks with mostly specialist linkages among microorganisms that are rarely found in natural habitats-are seen in the plastisphere. Plastisphere microbiomes generally have a great potential to metabolize organic compounds, which could accelerate carbon turnover. Microorganisms involved in the nitrogen cycle are also altered in the plastisphere, especially in freshwater plastispheres, where a high abundance of denitrifiers may increase the release of nitrite (aquatic toxicant) and nitrous oxide (greenhouse gas). Enrichment of animal, plant, and human pathogens means that the plastisphere could become an increasingly mobile reservoir of harmful microorganisms. Our findings highlight that if the trajectory of plastic emissions is not reversed, the expanding plastisphere could pose critical planetary health challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changchao Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Michael R. Gillings
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Chao Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Qinglin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, 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, 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
| | - Kankan Zhao
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qicheng Xu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Polly Hangmei Leung
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics and Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiangdong Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Ling Jin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics and Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Garrison CE, Pachiadaki MG, Soliman S, Helfrich A, Taylor GT. Microbes and microplastics: Community shifts along an urban coastal contaminant gradient. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16563. [PMID: 38151777 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Plastic substrates introduced to the environment during the Anthropocene have introduced new pathways for microbial selection and dispersal. Some plastic-colonising microorganisms have adapted phenotypes for plastic degradation (selection), while the spatial transport (dispersal) potential of plastic colonisers remains controlled by polymer-specific density, hydrography and currents. Plastic-degrading enzyme abundances have recently been correlated with concentrations of plastic debris in open ocean environments, making it critical to better understand colonisation of hydrocarbon degraders with plastic degradation potential in urbanised watersheds where plastic pollution often originates. We found that microbial colonisation by reputed hydrocarbon degraders on microplastics (MPs) correlated with a spatial contaminant gradient (New York City/Long Island waterways), polymer types, temporal scales, microbial domains and putative cell activity (DNA vs. RNA). Hydrocarbon-degrading taxa enriched on polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride substrates relative to other polymers and were more commonly recovered in samples proximal to New York City. These differences in MP colonisation could indicate phenotypic adaptation processes resulting from increased exposure to urban plastic runoff as well as differences in carbon bioavailability across polymer types. Shifts in MP community potential across urban coastal contaminant gradients and polymer types improve our understanding of environmental plastic discharge impacts toward biogeochemical cycling across the global ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cody E Garrison
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Anthony Helfrich
- School of Professional Development, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Gordon T Taylor
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bos RP, Kaul D, Zettler ER, Hoffman JM, Dupont CL, Amaral-Zettler LA, Mincer TJ. Plastics select for distinct early colonizing microbial populations with reproducible traits across environmental gradients. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2761-2775. [PMID: 37132662 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about early plastic biofilm assemblage dynamics and successional changes over time. By incubating virgin microplastics along oceanic transects and comparing adhered microbial communities with those of naturally occurring plastic litter at the same locations, we constructed gene catalogues to contrast the metabolic differences between early and mature biofilm communities. Early colonization incubations were reproducibly dominated by Alteromonadaceae and harboured significantly higher proportions of genes associated with adhesion, biofilm formation, chemotaxis, hydrocarbon degradation and motility. Comparative genomic analyses among the Alteromonadaceae metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) highlighted the importance of the mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA) operon, recognized as a key factor for intestinal colonization, for early colonization of hydrophobic plastic surfaces. Synteny alignments of MSHA also demonstrated positive selection for mshA alleles across all MAGs, suggesting that mshA provides a competitive advantage for surface colonization and nutrient acquisition. Large-scale genomic characteristics of early colonizers varied little, despite environmental variability. Mature plastic biofilms were composed of predominantly Rhodobacteraceae and displayed significantly higher proportions of carbohydrate hydrolysis enzymes and genes for photosynthesis and secondary metabolism. Our metagenomic analyses provide insight into early biofilm formation on plastics in the ocean and how early colonizers self-assemble, compared to mature, phylogenetically and metabolically diverse biofilms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P Bos
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - Drishti Kaul
- Environmental Sustainability, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Erik R Zettler
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey M Hoffman
- Environmental Sustainability, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Christopher L Dupont
- Environmental Sustainability, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Linda A Amaral-Zettler
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, The Netherlands
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tracy J Mincer
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
- Department of Biology, Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhang X, Niu Z, Zhang Y, Guan S, Jing M, Wu N, Ma Y. Role of traveling microplastics as bacterial carriers based on spatial and temporal dynamics of bacterial communities. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120832. [PMID: 37976625 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120832] [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: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are considered as distinct substrates for bacterial colonization, they can carry bacterial communities to travel around environments. The bacterial communities on traveling MPs prefer to be gradually consistent with those on local MPs that were always in the same environment, and this process of change in the bacterial communities on traveling MPs was called 'localization'. However, the dynamics of localization process and their influencing factors are still unclear. Therefore, we simulated the MPs migration process along the water flow direction in the estuary. We used quantitative analysis to study the dynamics of bacterial communities on the migrated MPs. We found the localization characteristics depended on the differences between the former and latter environments, as well as the preexisting bacteria. The localization degree was higher when the former and latter environments were similar. In most cases, compared with the first cultivation of pristine MPs, the time for localization was shorter. Moreover, although the entire bacterial communities tended to be localized, the preexisting bacteria on the migrated MPs had selective effects on subsequent bacterial colonization. Furthermore, the preexisting bacteria on MPs could set up the connections with the bacteria that existed at the latter site, and the stability of the entire bacterial communities on the migrated MPs increased with time. Overall, our findings indicated that the localization characteristics of bacterial communities on traveling MPs were related to the precultured time and environmental differences, which were helpful to understand the colonized bacteria transportation and MPs ecological effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zhiguang Niu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; International Joint Institute of Tianjin University, Fuzhou, Fuzhou 350205, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Shijia Guan
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Meiqi Jing
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Nan Wu
- School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Yongzheng Ma
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang Y, Suyamud B, Liang S, Liang X, Wan W, Zhang W. Distinct spatiotemporal succession of bacterial generalists and specialists in the lacustrine plastisphere. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2746-2760. [PMID: 37190986 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The assembly processes of generalists and specialists and their driving mechanisms during spatiotemporal succession is a central issue in microbial ecology but a poorly researched subject in the plastisphere. We investigated the composition variation, spatiotemporal succession, and assembly processes of bacterial generalists and specialists in the plastisphere, including non-biodegradable (NBMPs) and biodegradable microplastics (BMPs). Although the composition of generalists and specialists on NBMPs differed from that of BMPs, colonization time mainly mediated the composition variation. The relative abundance of generalists and the relative contribution of species replacement were initially increased and then decreased with colonization time, while the specialists initially decreased and then increased. Besides, the richness differences also affected the composition variation of generalists and specialists in the plastisphere, and the generalists were more susceptible to richness differences than corresponding specialists. Furthermore, the assembly of generalists in the plastisphere was dominated by deterministic processes, while stochastic processes dominated the assembly of specialists. The network stability test showed that the community stability of generalists on NBMPs and BMPs was lower than corresponding specialists. Our results suggested that different ecological assembly processes shaped the spatiotemporal succession of bacterial generalists and specialists in the plastisphere, but were less influenced by polymer types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuyi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Danjiangkou Wetland Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Bongkotrat Suyamud
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shuxin Liang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Science, Tibet University, Lhasa, China
| | - Xinjin Liang
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Wenjie Wan
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Danjiangkou Wetland Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Weihong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Danjiangkou Wetland Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Portas A, Carriot N, Ortalo-Magné A, Damblans G, Thiébaut M, Culioli G, Quillien N, Briand JF. Impact of hydrodynamics on community structure and metabolic production of marine biofouling formed in a highly energetic estuary. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 192:106241. [PMID: 37922705 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106241] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Biofouling is a specific lifestyle including both marine prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. Hydrodynamics are poorly studied parameters affecting biofouling formation. This study aimed to investigate how water dynamics in the Etel Estuary (Northwest Atlantic coasts of France) influences the colonization of artificial substrates. Hydrodynamic conditions, mainly identified as shear stress, were characterized by measuring current velocity, turbulence intensity and energy using Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). One-month biofouling was analyzed by coupling metabarcoding (16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and COI genes), untargeted metabolomics (liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry, LC-HRMS) and characterization of the main biochemical components of the microbial exopolymeric matrix. A higher richness was observed for biofouling communities (prokaryotes and eukaryotes) exposed to the strongest currents. Ectopleura (Cnidaria) and its putative symbionts Endozoicomonas (Gammaproteobacteria) were dominant in the less dynamic conditions. Eukaryotes assemblages were specifically shaped by shear stress, leading to drastic changes in metabolite profiles. Under high hydrodynamic conditions, the exopolymeric matrix increased and was composed of 6 times more polysaccharides than proteins, these latter playing a crucial role in the adhesion and cohesion properties of biofilms. This original multidisciplinary approach demonstrated the importance of shear stress on both the structure of marine biofouling and the metabolic response of these complex communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Portas
- France Energies Marines, Plouzané, France; MAPIEM, EA 4323, Université de Toulon, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Gérald Culioli
- MAPIEM, EA 4323, Université de Toulon, France; IMBE, Aix-Marseille Université, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Xu L, Li K, Zhang M, Guo J, Jia W, Bai X, Tian X, Huang Y. Plastic substrate and residual time of microplastics in the urban river shape the composition and structure of bacterial communities in plastisphere. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118710. [PMID: 37536136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The widespread secondary microplastics (MPs) in urban freshwater, originating from plastic wastes, have created a new habitat called plastisphere for microorganisms. The factors influencing the structure and ecological risks of the microbial community within the plastisphere are not yet fully understood. We conducted an in-site incubation experiment in an urban river, using MPs from garbage bags (GB), shopping bags (SB), and plastic bottles (PB). Bacterial communities in water and plastisphere incubated for 2 and 4 weeks were analyzed by 16S high-throughput sequencing. The results showed the bacterial composition of the plastisphere, especially the PB, exhibited enrichment of plastic-degrading and photoautotrophic taxa. Diversity declined in GB and PB but increased in SB plastisphere. Abundance analysis revealed distinct bacterial species that were enriched or depleted in each type of plastisphere. As the succession progressed, the differences in community structure was more pronounced, and the decline in the complexity of bacterial community within each plastisphere suggested increasing specialization. All the plastisphere exhibited elevated pathogenicity at the second or forth week, compared to bacterial communities related to natural particles. These findings highlighted the continually evolving plastisphere in urban rivers was influenced by the plastic substrates, and attention should be paid to fragile plastic wastes due to the rapidly increasing pathogenicity of the bacterial community attached to them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Libo Xu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Kang Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Mengjun Zhang
- Peking University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518057, China; PKU-HKUST Shenzhen-Hongkong Institution, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518057, China
| | - Jiabao Guo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Weiqian Jia
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xinyi Bai
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xudong Tian
- Key Laboratory of Ecological and Environmental Monitoring, Forewarning and Quality Control of Zhejiang, Zhejiang Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Hangzhou, 310012, China.
| | - Yi Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chen C, Yin G, Li Q, Gu Y, Sun D, An S, Liang X, Li X, Zheng Y, Hou L, Liu M. Effects of microplastics on denitrification and associated N 2O emission in estuarine and coastal sediments: insights from interactions between sulfate reducers and denitrifiers. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120590. [PMID: 37703755 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Global estuarine and coastal zones are facing severe microplastics (MPs) pollution. Sulfate reducers (SRB) and denitrifiers (DNB) are two key functional microorganisms in these zones, exhibiting intricate interactions. However, whether and how MPs modulate the interactions between SRB and DNB, with implications for denitrification and associated N2O emissions, remains poorly understood. Here, we simultaneously investigated the spatial response patterns of SRB-DNB interactions and denitrification and associated N2O emissions to different MPs exposure along an estuarine gradient in the Yangtze Estuary. Spatial responses of denitrification to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyadipate/butylene terephthalate (PBAT) MPs exposure were heterogeneous, while those of N2O emissions were not. Gradient-boosted regression tree and multiple regression model analyses showed that sulfide, followed by nitrate (NO3-), controlled the response patterns of denitrification to MPs exposure. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that exposure to MPs resulted in a competitive and toxic (sulfide accumulation) inhibition of SRB on DNB, ultimately inhibiting denitrification at upstream zones with high sulfide but low NO3- levels. Conversely, MPs exposure induced a competitive inhibition of DNB on SRB, generally promoting denitrification at downstream zones with low sulfide but high NO3- levels. These findings advance the current understanding of the impacts of MPs on nitrogen cycle in estuarine and coastal zones, and provide a novel insight for future studies exploring the response of biogeochemical cycles to MPs in various ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Key Laboratory of Spatial-temporal Big Data Analysis and Application of Natural Resources in Megacities, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Guoyu Yin
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Key Laboratory of Spatial-temporal Big Data Analysis and Application of Natural Resources in Megacities, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Qiuxuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Key Laboratory of Spatial-temporal Big Data Analysis and Application of Natural Resources in Megacities, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Youran Gu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Key Laboratory of Spatial-temporal Big Data Analysis and Application of Natural Resources in Megacities, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Dongyao Sun
- School of Geography Science and Geomatics Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Soonmo An
- Department of Oceanography, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Xia Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xiaofei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yanling Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Key Laboratory of Spatial-temporal Big Data Analysis and Application of Natural Resources in Megacities, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Lijun Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Key Laboratory of Spatial-temporal Big Data Analysis and Application of Natural Resources in Megacities, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Dong X, Zhu L, He Y, Li C, Li D. Salinity significantly reduces plastic-degrading bacteria from rivers to oceans. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 451:131125. [PMID: 36889079 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are found in rivers and offshore areas. However, there is a lack of detailed research on the changes of surface microbial species attached to MPs when MPs enter the sea. Moreover, no study has been conducted on changes to plastic-degrading bacteria during this process. In this study, using rivers and offshore in Macau, China as examples, bacterial diversity and bacterial species composition attached to surface water and MPs at four river sampling stations and four offshore sampling stations around Macau were studied. Plastic-degrading bacteria, plastic-related metabolic processes, and plastic-related enzymes were analyzed. The results showed that MPs-attached bacteria in rivers and offshore were different with the planktonic bacteria (PB). The proportion of major families on the surface of MPs continued to increase from rivers to estuaries. MPs could significantly enrich plastic-degrading bacteria both in rivers and offshore. The proportion of plastic-related metabolic pathways on the surface bacteria of MPs in rivers was higher than that in offshore waters. Bacteria on the surface of MPs in rivers may induce higher plastic degradation than offshore. Salinity significantly alters the distribution of plastic-degrading bacteria. MPs may degrade more slowly in the oceans, posing a long-term threat to marine life and human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuri Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Region Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 200241, China
| | - Lixin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Region Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 200241, China
| | - Yanru He
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Changjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Region Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 200241, China
| | - Daoji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Region Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 200241, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Shiravani G, Oberrecht D, Roscher L, Kernchen S, Halbach M, Gerriets M, Scholz-Böttcher BM, Gerdts G, Badewien TH, Wurpts A. Numerical modeling of microplastic interaction with fine sediment under estuarine conditions. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 231:119564. [PMID: 36680823 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution is an important challenge for human life which has consequently affected the natural system of other organisms. Mismanagement and also careless handling of plastics in daily life has led to an accelerating contamination of air, water and soil compartments with MP. Under estuarine conditions, interactions with suspended particulate matter (SPM) like fine sediment in the water column play an important role on the fate of MP. Further studies to better understand the corresponding transport and accumulation mechanisms are required. This paper aims at providing a new modeling approach improving the MP settling velocity formulation based on higher suspended fine sediment concentrations, as i.e. existent in estuarine turbidity zones (ETZ). The capability of the suggested approach is examined through the modeling of released MP transport in water and their interactions with fine sediment (cohesive sediment/fluid mud). The model results suggest higher concentrations of MP in ETZ, both in the water column as well as the bed sediment, which is also supported by measurements. The key process in the modeling approach is the integration of small MP particles into estuarine fine sediment aggregates. This is realized by means of a threshold sediment concentration, above which the effective MP settling velocity increasingly approaches that of the sediment aggregates. The model results are in good agreement with measured MP mass concentrations. Moreover, the model results also show that lighter small MP particles can easier escape the ETZ towards the open sea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Shiravani
- Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Protection and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN), D-26506, Norden, Germany.
| | - D Oberrecht
- Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Protection and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN), D-26506, Norden, Germany
| | - L Roscher
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, D-27483, Helgoland, Germany
| | - S Kernchen
- University of Bayreuth, Department of Atmospheric Chemistry, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - M Halbach
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, D-26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - M Gerriets
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, D-26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - B M Scholz-Böttcher
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, D-26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - G Gerdts
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, D-27483, Helgoland, Germany
| | - T H Badewien
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, D-26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - A Wurpts
- Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Protection and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN), D-26506, Norden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|