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Biofilm-associated microbial communities on microplastics in rural and urban aquatic environments of Tamil Nadu, India: Functional characterization and antibiotic resistance
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Tiny plastic bits floating in rivers and coastal waters near cities aren't just pollution—they're becoming floating homes for bacteria, and researchers found these bacterial communities are more abundant and active in urban waterways than rural ones. Concerningly, many of these microplastic-dwelling bacteria showed resistance to common antibiotics like ampicillin and erythromycin, especially in urban areas, meaning plastic pollution may be helping germs become harder to treat as it travels through waterways where fish and humans have contact.
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent aquatic pollutants that provide substrates for microbial colonization and biofilm development. This study investigated the functional characteristics of MP-associated microbial communities across coastal, estuarine, and freshwater environments in Tamil Nadu, India, providing a comparative assessment of plastisphere functionality under varying levels of anthropogenic influence. A total of 615 MPs were collected from water and sediment samples, of which 279 particles (45.4%) exhibited visible biofilms and were selected for further analysis. Biofilm-associated MPs showed higher abundance, biofilm formation, and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production in urban environments than in rural systems. Fragments (54.4%) and films (27.4%) were dominant, while polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the most prevalent polymers. A total of 71 bacterial isolates were recovered from MP-associated biofilms. Biofilm formation varied significantly among environments (OD₅₇₀: 0.58-1.12), with the highest values recorded in nutrient-enriched urban systems. EPS production was also elevated in urban sites, reaching 254 ± 15 µg g⁻¹ of carbohydrates and 172 ± 10 µg g⁻¹ of proteins. Correlation and principal component analyses demonstrated strong associations among nutrient concentrations, MP abundance, EPS production, and biofilm development. Enzyme assays revealed higher hydrolytic activity in EPS-rich isolates, particularly Pseudomonas spp. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed microbial colonization and biofilm development on MP surfaces. Antibiotic susceptibility testing indicated widespread resistance to ampicillin and erythromycin, with broader resistance profiles in urban environments. Overall, MPs function as microbial habitats supporting biofilm formation, microbial metabolism, and antibiotic resistance, with environmental conditions playing a key role in shaping plastisphere functionality.
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