Bacteria Release from Microplastics into New Aquatic Environments

Abstract

Microplastics are considered the most common waste in aquatic ecosystems, and studying them along with their interactions with biota are considered a priority. Here, results on the role of microplastics in the dispersion of microbes from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems are presented. Data were obtained from microcosm experiments in which microplastics (plastic bags (BA), polyethylene bottles (BO), acrylic beads (BE), and cigarette butts (BU)) with their attached natural bacterial communities were inoculated in filtered and autoclaved lake water. The bacterial abundance on microplastics was estimated before inoculation using a protocol for the enumeration of sediment bacteria and ranged between 1.63 (BA) and 203.92 (BE) × 103 cells mm−2. Bacteria were released in the new medium, and their growth rates reached 5.8 d−1. In the attached communities, Beta- (21.4%) and Alphaproteobacteria (18.6%) were the most abundant classes, while in the free-living communities Gammaproteobacteria dominated (48.07%). Abundant OTUs (≥1%) of the free-living communities were associated with the genera Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Ecidovorax, Delftia, Comamonas, Sphingopyxis, and Brevundimonas and members of the FCB group. Members of these genera are known to degrade natural or man-made organic compounds and have recently emerged as opportunistic pathogens. Thus, besides trophic transmission, microplastics can directly release bacteria in the environment, which could affect the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems.

Using the water pollution of Lake Pamvotis for science education in high school and college

“…Currently, steps are being taken to study the pollution from the lake (Nikolopoulou et al, 2023;Spiliotis et al, 2020). Scientists can analyze the concentration and types of pollution present by collecting water samples from different locations within the lake (Kagalou et al, 2008).…”

Freshwater plastisphere: a review on biodiversity, risks, and biodegradation potential with implications for the aquatic ecosystem health

“…Recent studies have shown that plastisphere is composed of microbial photoautotrophs, heterotrophs, protistan grazers and decomposers, most of which are known as biofilm formers and biofilm-associated microbes ( Du et al, 2022 ; Li W. et al, 2023 ; Nikolopoulou et al, 2023 ). Once in water, the plastic debris provides hard surfaces for rapid microbial colonization and a new pelagic habitat for benthonic species ( Yang Y. et al, 2020 ; Dąbrowska, 2021 ; Haram et al, 2021 ).…”

Ingested Microplastics Can Act as Microbial Vectors of Ichthyofauna

“…Members of the plastisphere are known to be released in the water column when MPs reach a new environment [39]; furthermore, it was recorded that all surfaces of MPs in the marine environment are rapidly colonized by bacteria [40], among which, fish pathogens such as Aeromonas have a particularly high affinity [41]. It is also worth mentioning that the biohazard aspect of MPs extends beyond natural environments, with MPs providing a stable and protective habitat for diverse wastewater bacteria, including pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant species [36,42].…”