We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The aquatic plastisphere: ecology, pathogen dissemination and antimicrobial resistance
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the ecology of the aquatic plastisphere — the microbial biofilm community colonizing plastic debris — examining how its composition diverges from natural substrates, how it concentrates human pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes, and how climate-driven changes in temperature, UV, and salinity may further reshape its microbial makeup and public health risks.
The escalating volume of plastic debris in the aquatic environment has created a novel ecological niche for microorganisms. This habitat, known as the plastisphere, hosts ecologically diverse microbial communities, yet its degree of divergence in composition and function from natural substrates remains a key topic of debate. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the aquatic plastisphere, highlighting its community composition, assembly dynamics and key functional traits, such as degradation pathways and nutrient cycling. We explore how this novel environment acts as a critical hub for the persistence and dissemination of human pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. We discuss how dynamic environmental factors, together with complex inter-kingdom metabolic interactions, can reshape community composition, accelerate the evolution of resistant pathotypes and influence pathogen virulence. We conclude by emphasizing that climate-induced changes in temperature, ultraviolet light radiation, salinity and hydrodynamic patterns are likely to further influence the microbial composition and phenotypic expression of pathogens within the aquatic plastisphere. Finally, we underscore the need for a One Health approach to study the plastisphere and advocate moving the field from descriptive ecology towards a mechanistic, policy-relevant framework to address the growing public health threat amid accelerating plastic pollution and climate-driven shifts.
More Papers Like This
Dynamics and implications of biofilm formation and community succession on floating marine plastic debris
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how biofilms form on plastic debris in aquatic environments and how the resulting microbial communities evolve over time, finding that the plastisphere hosts distinct microbial assemblages including potential pathogens. The study has implications for understanding plastic debris as a vector for microbial dispersal.
From rivers to marine environments: A constantly evolving microbial community within the plastisphere
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled 107 plastic pieces across four aquatic ecosystems in southern France and found that the sampling location and polymer chemistry were the strongest drivers of plastisphere microbial community composition, while only 11% of samples showed elevated Vibrio pathogen levels compared to surrounding water.
Freshwater plastisphere: a review on biodiversity, risks, and biodegradation potential with implications for the aquatic ecosystem health
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the communities of microbes that colonize plastic debris in freshwater environments, known as the "plastisphere." These microbial communities include potentially dangerous bacteria and organisms that can carry antibiotic resistance genes, meaning plastic pollution may serve as a vehicle for spreading pathogens and drug-resistant infections through water systems that people rely on.
Aquatic Biofilms and Plastisphere
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined aquatic biofilms and plastisphere communities that colonize microplastic surfaces, discussing how plastic substrates select for distinct microbial assemblages and may harbor pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes.
Microbial colonization of microplastic particles in aquatic systems
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined how microplastic particles become colonized by diverse microbial communities in aquatic environments, forming the so-called plastisphere. The research highlights that microplastics create novel ecological niches and may facilitate the spread of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater and marine systems.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.