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Microplastic-associated biofilms in lentic Italian ecosystems
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Researchers used high-throughput DNA sequencing and fluorescence microscopy to characterize biofilm communities growing on microplastics collected from Italian lake ecosystems. They found that the microbial communities on plastic surfaces differed significantly from those in surrounding water, forming distinct "plastisphere" assemblages. The study reveals that microplastics in freshwater lakes serve as novel habitats for specialized microbial communities, some of which may include potentially harmful species.
In this study, 16S rRNA gene high throughput sequencing and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to assess for the first time biodiversity and structure of microplastic-associated biofilms (plastisphere) collected from Italian lentic ecosystems. The analysis revealed clear differences in microbial community composition among biofilms and corresponding planktonic populations indicating a selective adhesion on microplastics (MP). Although geographical variations in taxa composition were observed, a plastisphere core microbiome, composed by known biofilm formers found in freshwater ecosystems (e.g. Sphingorhabdus, Sphingomonas, Rhodobacter, Aquabacterium and Acidovorax genera) was found. Species composition of plastisphere did not substantially differ between the diverse polymers, while a clear link with the MP exposure time was found by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. Generalist planktonic taxa (e.g. members of the families Sphingomonadaceae and Rhodobacteraceae) were found on MPs with the lowest degradation level whereas the biodiversity increased with the increase of MP degradation. FISH-CLSM analysis confirmed the Burkolderiaceae dominance in most of the analyzed plastisphere samples and revealed a patchy microbial colonization and a complex biofilm architecture with bacterial micro-colonies and cyanobacterial aggregates occurring together with microalgae assemblages.
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Plastisphere in Lakes: Biodiversity, Structure and Possible Implications for Freshwater Ecosystems
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Researchers characterized prokaryotic and eukaryotic plastisphere communities on microplastics from four lakes in Italy using 16S and 18S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Despite geographic variation among sites, plastisphere communities shared a core microbiome of known biofilm formers that was compositionally distinct from surrounding planktonic communities.
Plastisphere in lake waters: Microbial diversity, biofilm structure, and potential implications for freshwater ecosystems
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Using a combination of confocal microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and DNA sequencing, researchers characterized plastisphere biofilms on microplastics from lake water, finding distinct microbial communities on MPs compared to surrounding water including eukaryotic members not previously reported on lake plastispheres. The unique biofilm structure suggests freshwater MPs support specialized ecological niches.
Plastisphere and Planktonic Communities in Italian Lakes: Distribution of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Potential Pathogenic Taxa
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Researchers studied microbial communities living on microplastics (called the "plastisphere") in four Italian lakes, comparing them to communities in the surrounding water. Genes linked to antibiotic resistance were found more often on microplastics than in the water, though this varied by lake, while disease-causing bacteria were not consistently more common on the plastics.
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Researchers investigated how microbial communities colonize different types of microplastic polymers in freshwater lakes. The study found that bacteria and single-celled organisms follow distinct assembly patterns on microplastic surfaces, with colonization time, location, and polymer type all influencing community composition. These findings suggest microplastics serve as carriers that can promote microbial spread in aquatic environments.
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Researchers investigated plastic-associated bacterial communities on microplastic surfaces in a Hungarian freshwater lake, finding that the plastisphere harbored distinct microbial communities compared to surrounding water, including potential pathogens and plastic-degrading bacteria.
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