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Biofilm formation of food borne pathogens on plastic surfaces: An in situ and ex situ evaluation
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Scientists found that harmful gut bacteria, including E. coli, can easily stick to plastic surfaces and form protective colonies called biofilms—even when the plastic is just sitting in plain water. This matters because plastic waste in the environment, including tiny plastic fragments, could be acting as a floating breeding ground for foodborne germs, potentially spreading illness through waterways, oceans, and the food chain. The findings add another reason to reduce plastic pollution and improve waste management, both for environmental health and to limit human exposure to disease-causing bacteria.
Plastics have become an integral part of modern life, and their improper use and disposal are contributing to global environmental concerns. An emerging and less explored risk is the ability of plastics to act as novel substrates for clinically relevant human pathogens. This study investigated the biofilm-forming ability of food-borne pathogens on plastic polymers under both in situ and ex situ conditions. Plastic samples were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, and the biofilm-forming potential of human enteric bacteria on polymers was evaluated under varying temperature and salinity regimes. Biofilm development was examined using scanning electron microscopy and quantitatively assessed, with statistical significance determined by two-way ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05). The results demonstrated that enteric bacteria readily colonized polyethylene (PE) surfaces, forming dense biofilms even on polymers incubated in sterile water. Among the tested pathogens, Escherichia coli exhibited the highest biofilm-forming capacity on PE plastics. These findings indicate that plastic debris can function as an effective substrate for biofilm formation by food-borne pathogens, highlighting the potential public health and environmental risks associated with plastic pollution. The study underscores the importance of responsible plastic use and improved waste management strategies to mitigate threats to both human and marine ecosystems.
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[Enrichment Characteristics and Ecological Risk Prediction of Pathogens on Typical Microplastic Biofilms].
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This study investigated which pathogens preferentially colonize biofilms on different types of microplastic surfaces in aquatic environments and assessed the associated ecological and public health risks. Microplastic biofilms showed selective enrichment of specific pathogen groups compared to surrounding water, with biofilm-forming potential varying by polymer type.
Microplastic-Associated Biofilm Formation and Its Role in Harbouring Foodborne Pathogens in Aquatic Food Sources
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Microplastics from rivers, lakes, and coastal waters were found to harbor diverse biofilms — including viable foodborne pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria — with biofilm survival enhanced at moderate temperatures and salinity, and pathogens transferring to tilapia, shrimp, and mussels under aquaculture conditions. This is critical for microplastic health research because it establishes microplastics as a direct vector for foodborne pathogen transmission in seafood supply chains.
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