Fungal communities differ with microplastic types in deep sea sediment enrichments of the Eastern Pacific

Microbial Relationship of Marine Microplastics

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Researchers examined how microplastics in the ocean interact with microbial communities, finding that plastic surfaces attract and harbor unique assemblages of bacteria — a concern because these 'plastisphere' microbes can spread pathogens and antibiotic-resistant genes through marine food chains.

Impact of microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on microbial community in marine sediments

Temporal dynamics of bacterial and fungal colonization on polystyrene microplastics in floodplain soils

Bacterial communities on microplastics in a wetland ecosystem

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Analysis of bacterial communities on microplastics in Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, found that MP surfaces host distinct microbial assemblages with lower diversity but unique taxa enriched with Pseudomonas, and that MPs facilitate bacterial exchange between water and sediment. The plastisphere — the microbial community colonizing MP surfaces — may serve as a vector for pathogens and disease-associated microbes, raising concerns about ecological disruption and indirect human health risks through contaminated freshwater.

Identification of Microorganisms Related to Microplastics

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Plastic debris in aquatic environments attracts diverse microbial communities that differ from those in surrounding water, with these plastisphere microorganisms influencing both the degradation fate of plastics and the dispersal of potentially pathogenic or plastic-degrading microbes. Identifying which microorganisms colonize microplastics is essential for understanding both environmental risks and potential bioremediation opportunities.