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The Plastisphere Paradigm
Summary
Tiny plastic bits (microplastics) floating around in water, soil, and even our environment don't stay bare—bacteria and other microbes quickly coat them in a slimy layer called a "plastisphere," turning each plastic fragment into a floating home for germs. This matters because these colonized microplastics have been linked to gut problems, immune reactions, and other health issues when ingested, and the microbial coating can make plastics stickier and potentially help harmful bacteria travel further into our food and water systems. This chapter reviews existing research on how these microbial communities form on plastics across oceans, lakes, and land, rather than pres
Microplastics (MPs), which first showed effects as early as the late 1960s and can cause problems in the gastrointestinal tract, are especially reduced fitness, systemic immunological responses, occurrence of severe toxicological effects, reduced fecundity and increased mortality, among many others. MP is a plastic fragment with a diameter of less than 5 mm and is classified as primary or secondary. Primary MPs are found in toothpaste as well as certain cosmetics, and cause direct MP pollution after discarded to the environment. An extracellular polymeric matrix surrounds an array of microorganisms, forming biofilms. In addition to offering many advantages for competition and survival, biofilms can protect against toxic substances and desiccation. A “plastisphere” is a biofilm formed by bacteria and fungi that attaches to and colonizes MP surfaces as soon as the material enters the system. In addition to providing physical support and nutrient supply, MPs can also provide habitats that aid microorganism survival in harsh environments. By forming biofilms on MPs surfaces, they become stickier and dense, primarily by producing extracellular polymeric substances, which encourage aggregate formation and higher-density complexes. Microorganisms can form microbial assemblages in the early colonization stage and cover as much plastic as possible. EPS facilitates adhesion to surfaces and assists in cell-cell interactions by adhering to proteins and producing pili. A plastisphere is commonly enriched in bacteria like Proteobacteria , Bacteroidetes , Firmicutes , and Cyanobacteria. On plastic debris, diatoms are often reported to be the first and even dominant colonizers. Among MPs, Bacillus has shown a wide-spread and powerful biodegradation potential. This chapter will focus on how the biofilms formed with the help of microbial communities on providing insights into how microbial biofilms interact with MPs in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, including the types of MPs and their sources.