Plastic debris has been accumulating in the marine realm since the start of plastic mass production in the 1950s. Due to the adverse effects on ocean life, the fate of plastics in the marine environment is an increasingly important environmental issue. Microbial degradation, in addition to weathering, has been identified as a potentially relevant breakdown route for marine plastic debris. Although many studies have focused on microbial colonization and the potential role of microorganisms in breaking down marine plastic debris, little is known about fungi-plastic interactions. Marine fungi are a generally understudied group of microorganisms but the ability of terrestrial and lacustrine fungal taxa to metabolize recalcitrant compounds, pollutants, and some plastic types (e.g., lignin, solvents, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polyurethane, and polyethylene) indicates that marine fungi could be important degraders of complex organic matter in the marine realm, too. Indeed, recent studies demonstrated that some fungal strains from the ocean, such as Zalerion maritimum have the ability to degrade polyethylene. This mini-review summarizes the available information on plastic-fungi interactions in marine environments. We address (i) the currently known diversity of fungi colonizing marine plastic debris and provide (ii) an overview of methods applied to investigate the role of fungi in plastic degradation, highlighting their advantages and drawbacks. We also highlight (iii) the underestimated role of fungi as plastic degraders in marine habitats.

Advancements in chemical, medical, cosmetic, and plastic producing industries have improved agricultural yields, health and human life in general. As a negative consequence, a plethora of chemicals are intentionally and unintentionally released to terrestrial and aquatic environments with sometimes devastating effects for entire ecosystems. One mitigation strategy to counteract this pollution is bioremediation. Bioremediation is an umbrella term for biologically mediated processes during which an undesired compound is transformed, degraded, sequestered and/or entirely removed from the ecosystem. Organisms across all domains of life may mediate bioremediation; yet, fungi are particularly promising candidates. They possess metabolic capabilities to break down complex molecules which make fungi the ultimate degraders of recalcitrant organic matter in nature. Bioremediation by fungi, also termed mycoremediation, has been more frequently investigated in terrestrial than aquatic ecosystems, although fungi also thrive in lacustrine and marine environments. Here, we focus on mycoremediation of emerging pollutants in aquatic environments. In this context, we draw parallels between terrestrial and aquatic fungal taxa, and their role in mycoremediation. We discuss the ability of fungi to break-down (i) pesticides, (ii) pharmaceuticals and personal care products, (iii) plastics, both conventional types and (iv) bioplastics, and fungal role, (v) mitigation of heavy metal pollution. Furthermore, we (vi) discuss possible mycoremediation strategies in applied settings and highlight novel enzyme based mycoremediation strategies.

Rock-hosted subseafloor habitats are very challenging for life, and current knowledge about microorganisms inhabiting such lithic environments is still limited. This study explored the cultivable microbial diversity in anaerobic enrichment cultures from cores recovered during the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 357 from the Atlantis Massif (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N). 16S rRNA gene survey of enrichment cultures grown at 10–25°C and pH 8.5 showed that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were generally dominant. However, cultivable microbial diversity significantly differed depending on incubation at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa), or hydrostatic pressures (HP) mimicking the in situ pressure conditions (8.2 or 14.0 MPa). An original, strictly anaerobic bacterium designated 70B-A T was isolated from core M0070C-3R1 (1150 meter below sea level; 3.5 m below seafloor) only from cultures performed at 14.0 MPa. This strain named Petrocella atlantisensis is a novel species of a new genus within the newly described family Vallitaleaceae (order Clostridiales , phylum Firmicutes ). It is a mesophilic, moderately halotolerant and piezophilic chemoorganotroph, able to grow by fermentation of carbohydrates and proteinaceous compounds. Its 3.5 Mb genome contains numerous genes for ABC transporters of sugars and amino acids, and pathways for fermentation of mono- and di-saccharides and amino acids were identified. Genes encoding multimeric [FeFe] hydrogenases and a Rnf complex form the basis to explain hydrogen and energy production in strain 70B-A T . This study outlines the importance of using hydrostatic pressure in culture experiments for isolation and characterization of autochthonous piezophilic microorganisms from subseafloor rocks.