We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
[Influence of Polystyrene Microplastics on the Formation and Structural Change of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm].
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments exposing Pseudomonas aeruginosa — a medically significant opportunistic pathogen — to polystyrene microplastics found that MPs inhibited biofilm formation, with smaller particles (0.1 µm) causing stronger inhibition by disrupting the quorum sensing communication system that bacteria use to coordinate behavior. Microplastics caused physical damage to bacterial cells and reduced the expression of virulence-related genes. These findings suggest that environmental microplastic contamination could alter the behavior of pathogenic bacteria in ways that are difficult to predict.
Microplastic pollution in the water environment is becoming increasingly serious, impacting the growth and development of aquatic organisms. There are limited studies on the mechanisms of microplastic effects on biofilm formation. Therefore, in this study, the effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) were investigated on the biofilm formation and development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Different concentrations and particle sizes of PS-MPs were selected for exposure tests to explore the effects on biofilm biomass, oxidative stress levels, biofilm structure, and population sensing system. The results showed that PS-MPs induced severe oxidative stress and inhibited biofilm formation and development, and the smaller the particle size, the stronger the inhibitory effect was. The inhibition effect was 0.1 μm>0.5 μm≈1 μm>5 μm. PS-MPs caused severe physical damage through contact with bacteria. The thickness of the biofilm was significantly reduced, damaging the structural stability. The bacteria in the biofilm secreted extracellular polymers to resist the stress of PS-MPs. Meanwhile, PS-MPs interfered with the QS system of P. aeruginosa; down-regulated the expression levels of key genes lasI, lasR, rhlI, and rhlR; inhibited the synthesis and secretion of signal molecules and related virulence factors; and ultimately affected the formation and structural stability of biofilms.
More Papers Like This
Polystyrene nanoparticles induce biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoparticles caused the common bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa to form thicker biofilms and become more resistant to antibiotics. The nanoplastics damaged bacterial cell membranes and triggered a stress response, prompting the bacteria to produce more protective biofilm as a defense mechanism. This is concerning for human health because it suggests nanoplastic pollution could make disease-causing bacteria harder to treat with existing antibiotics.
Distinct responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 exposed to different levels of polystyrene nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the molecular mechanisms by which polystyrene nanoplastics affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa, finding dose-dependent responses in growth, metabolism, and virulence gene expression that reveal how nanoplastics interact with environmentally relevant bacteria.
Nanoplastics induce prophage activation and quorum sensing to enhance biofilm mechanical and chemical resilience
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations promote the formation of more resilient bacterial biofilms by triggering viral activation and cell-to-cell communication within microbial communities. The nanoplastics caused oxidative stress that activated dormant viruses within bacteria, which in turn stimulated protective biofilm production with enhanced resistance to chlorine disinfection. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution could make harmful bacterial communities in water systems harder to eliminate through standard treatment methods.
Dose-Dependent Responses of Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter sp. to Micron-Sized Polystyrene Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed E. coli and Acinetobacter sp. to 1,040 nm polystyrene microplastics across a range of concentrations and assessed growth, oxidative stress, membrane integrity, and biofilm formation. Both species showed concentration-dependent decreases in growth and cell viability, increased oxidative stress markers, impaired membrane integrity, and enhanced biofilm formation, demonstrating microplastic toxicity to environmental and human-associated bacteria.
Interactions between bacteria and nano (micro)-sized polystyrene particles by bacterial responses and microscopy
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how bacteria interact with polystyrene particles ranging from 60 to 2,260 nanometers and found that the smallest particles entered bacterial cells while larger ones accumulated on surfaces. The 1,040-nanometer particles, similar in size to the bacteria themselves, inhibited growth most strongly, and bacteria responded by forming biofilm complexes around the microplastics.
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.