We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
UV328 Promotes Plastisphere Formation on Microplastics through Quorum-Sensing-Associated Signaling Interference
AI summary Read the abstract
Lab tests found that UV328, a common plastic additive, sped up microbial community formation on polystyrene and polylactic acid microplastics by interfering with bacterial chemical signaling. Genes linked to biofilm formation increased, and this effect was reversed when the signaling was chemically blocked, suggesting plastic additives may actively influence microbial life on plastics in water environments.
Abstract Microplastics have created an expanding anthropogenic microbial niche known as the plastisphere, yet the mechanisms by which plastic additives influence these microbial assemblies remain poorly understood. Here, we show that UV328, a ubiquitous benzotriazole stabilizer recently listed in the Stockholm Convention, may be associated with quorum sensing signaling that accelerates plastisphere formation, biomass accumulation, and extracellular polymeric substance production on microplastics. In UV328-exposed polystyrene and polylactic acid plastisphere, the total expression levels of biofilm formation genes are upregulated by 1.38- to 2.94-fold compared to the control and quorum quenching manipulations. Molecular dynamics simulations predict that UV328 structurally mimics N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) and may plausibly occupy ligand-binding domains of the quorum sensing receptor SdiA and CciR with favorable energetics. UV328 exposure was further associated with the upregulation of genes involved in bacterial chemotaxis, flagellar assembly, and central carbon metabolism. This physiological reprogramming alters community assembly trajectories and leads to a protein-rich plastisphere phenotype that was reversible by enzymatic quorum quenching, potentially supporting the involvement of AHL-sensitive processes. Our findings suggest that UV328 can alter plastisphere development through signaling-associated ecological processes, raising the possibility that microplastics may function as chemically active interfaces and highlighting microbial signaling interference as an overlooked dimension of the ecological risks associated with plastic additives in aquatic ecosystems.
More Papers Like This
Exogenous quorum sensing signal enhances central energy metabolism to fuel biofilm formation and denitrification on microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that a chemical "communication signal" used by bacteria can boost how well certain microbes cluster together and grow on microplastic surfaces floating in water, making them nearly three times better at removing nitrate pollution. This matters because microplastics are everywhere in our waterways, and the bacterial communities that build up on them (called the "plastisphere") can influence water quality — understanding what makes these microbial colonies thrive helps scientists predict how microplastic pollution affects ecosystems we depend on for clean water.
Additives in microplastics shape biofilm composition during aging and favour antibiotic-resistant microorganisms
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics often contain additives like UV filters and fillers, and this study found that these added chemicals change how quickly plastic breaks down in water and what kinds of microbes grow on its surface. Instead of helpful algae-like organisms, the plastic became coated with tougher bacteria, including some carrying antibiotic-resistance genes. This suggests that common plastic additives may not just affect how long microplastics stick around in the environment, but could also help breed drug-resistant bacteria, a growing concern for human health.
Quorum sensing bacteria in microplastics epiphytic biofilms and their biological characteristics which potentially impact marine ecosystem
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected microplastics from the ocean and characterised the quorum-sensing bacteria living in their biofilms — microbes that communicate chemically to coordinate group behaviours like biofilm formation and antibiotic production. Eight different quorum-sensing bacterial strains were isolated from polypropylene and PVC microplastics, and their signalling molecules (AHLs) were profiled. The findings show that microplastics act as rafts dispersing complex microbial communities, including potentially harmful antibiotic-producing and biofilm-forming bacteria, across the global ocean.
Additives and biofilm formation on microplastics : insights from benzophenone-3 in polyethylene
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how the UV-filter additive benzophenone-3 (BP-3) embedded in polyethylene microplastics affects biofilm formation and environmental aging in freshwater. BP-3-containing MPs developed different biofilm communities and aged differently compared to pristine MPs, demonstrating that additives significantly shape the environmental behavior of microplastics.
UV stabilizers can foster early development of biofilms on freshwater microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered that UV stabilizer additives in low-density polyethylene significantly foster early biofilm development on freshwater microplastics, with up to 159% higher biovolume than pristine plastic, though initial biomass was mostly dead due to additive toxicity.
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.