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Data Sheet 1_Plastisphere-isolated Stutzerimonas balearica SP-H sustains stable sulfur-autotrophic denitrification under microplastic stress.docx
Summary
Scientists found that tiny plastic bits (microplastics) can disrupt the helpful bacteria used in wastewater treatment systems to remove nitrogen pollution—but not all bacteria are equally vulnerable. A special bacterial strain that naturally lives on plastic debris ("SP-H") kept working efficiently even when exposed to microplastics, while a typical wastewater bacterium struggled and produced more pollution byproducts. This matters because as microplastic contamination grows worldwide, using these naturally plastic-resistant bacteria could help keep our wastewater treatment plants effective, protecting wa
Microplastic (MP) accumulation in constructed wetlands potentially threatens sulfur-autotrophic denitrification under low C/N conditions, yet the resilience of plastisphere-derived denitrifiers remains poorly understood. Here, we isolated and compared two denitrifying strains, a plastisphere isolate, Stutzerimonas balearica SP-H, and a conventional wetland isolate, Castellaniella denitrificans S0-H, under polyamide (PA) and polyethylene (PE) MP exposure. MPs severely impaired strain S0-H, causing nitrate removal inhibition (50.40–74.42%), nitrite accumulation (93.54–95.79%), elevated N2O production (57.24–94.32%), and reduced sulfate generation (38.94–66.95%). In contrast, strain SP-H maintained efficient nitrate depletion and stable sulfur oxidation under MP stress. Mechanistically, strain SP-H's superior tolerance involved a coordinated multi-layered defense: higher activities of Nar, Nir, and Sox, upregulated c-di-GMP, enhanced polysaccharide-rich extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production, and preserved ATP levels. Collectively, habitat origin may determine MP resistance, and plastisphere-isolated strains like SP-H represent promising bioaugmentation agents to stabilize sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification in MP-impacted wastewater systems.