We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Freshwater plastisphere: a review on biodiversity, risks, and biodegradation potential with implications for the aquatic ecosystem health
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the communities of microbes that colonize plastic debris in freshwater environments, known as the "plastisphere." These microbial communities include potentially dangerous bacteria and organisms that can carry antibiotic resistance genes, meaning plastic pollution may serve as a vehicle for spreading pathogens and drug-resistant infections through water systems that people rely on.
The plastisphere, a unique microbial biofilm community colonizing plastic debris and microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments, has attracted increasing attention owing to its ecological and public health implications. This review consolidates current state of knowledge on freshwater plastisphere, focussing on its biodiversity, community assembly, and interactions with environmental factors. Current biomolecular approaches revealed a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa associated with plastic surfaces. Despite their ecological importance, the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and mobile genetic elements (i.e., antibiotic resistance genes) raises concerns for ecosystem and human health. However, the extent of these risks and their implications remain unclear. Advanced sequencing technologies are promising for elucidating the functions of plastisphere, particularly in plastic biodegradation processes. Overall, this review emphasizes the need for comprehensive studies to understand plastisphere dynamics in freshwater and to support effective management strategies to mitigate the impact of plastic pollution on freshwater resources.
More Papers Like This
Plastisphere Community Assemblage in Freshwater
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes research on plastisphere communities in freshwater environments, where micro-, nano-, and macroplastic particles serve as artificial microhabitats for microbial colonization. The authors found that freshwater plastisphere communities differ markedly from those on natural substrates and pose elevated risks by harboring pathogens, antibiotic-resistant genes, and toxic pollutants that can enter organisms through plastic ingestion.
Microbial colonization of microplastic particles in aquatic systems
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined how microplastic particles become colonized by diverse microbial communities in aquatic environments, forming the so-called plastisphere. The research highlights that microplastics create novel ecological niches and may facilitate the spread of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater and marine systems.
Plastisphere in freshwaters: An emerging concern
AI summary Read the abstract
This review introduced the concept of the freshwater plastisphere - the microbial community colonizing plastic debris in rivers and lakes - and found that freshwater plastisphere communities are compositionally distinct from marine ones and from ambient water microbiomes, with implications for pathogen dispersal and plastic degradation in inland waters.
Mini review on plastisphere: exploring biodiversity, risks, and biodegradation potential and their impact on aquatic ecosystem health
AI summary Read the abstract
Floating bits of plastic in our oceans and rivers aren't just trash, they become tiny floating homes for bacteria, some of which can spread antibiotic resistance and make infections harder to treat. This review pulls together existing research showing that while this "plastisphere" poses real health risks, some of these same bacteria produce enzymes that can actually break down plastic, hinting at a possible eco-friendly cleanup tool for the future. Scientists still need better tools and more research before this potential can be turned into real solutions.
The aquatic plastisphere: ecology, pathogen dissemination and antimicrobial resistance
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the ecology of the aquatic plastisphere — the microbial biofilm community colonizing plastic debris — examining how its composition diverges from natural substrates, how it concentrates human pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes, and how climate-driven changes in temperature, UV, and salinity may further reshape its microbial makeup and public health risks.
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.