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Adsorption and Protection of Environmental DNA (eDNA) on Polymer and Silica Surfaces
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Environmental DNA (eDNA) was found to adsorb onto and be protected by plastic particles in water, meaning microplastics can preserve genetic material shed by aquatic organisms. This has dual implications: microplastics may interfere with eDNA-based biodiversity monitoring while also potentially serving as DNA carriers in ecosystems.
The interactions of environmental DNA (eDNA) with microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems are influenced by water chemistry and the surface properties of plastics, impacting the fate of genetic material. While MPs' fate and transport have been studied extensively, the adsorption of eDNA onto polymer surfaces and its persistence remain less understood. Here, we systematically studied eDNA adsorption onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polyethylene (PE), and silica (Si) surfaces, where the latter material was used as a proxy for comparison to natural particles. Using quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), the impact of varying ionic conditions that mimic freshwater and seawater environments was analyzed for adsorption rate and extent. The role of cations, particularly divalent ions such as Ca2+, in promoting eDNA adsorption through cation bridging was particularly important. PET exhibited the highest adsorption rates, followed by those of PE and Si. Adsorption of eDNA in seawater led to thicker and more rigid adlayers compared with freshwater conditions. However, eDNA adlayers were susceptible to enzymatic degradation and replacement by DNase in both freshwater and seawater, suggesting limited protection from decay. Consequently, the longevity and potential for transfer of material over time and distance are brought into question. This study provides insights into the adsorption mechanisms and stability of eDNA on MPs, advancing our understanding of how MPs influence the transport and persistence of genetic material, including antibiotic-resistant genes, in aquatic environments.
More Papers Like This
Adsorption and Protectionof Environmental DNA (eDNA)on Polymer and Silica Surfaces
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring to systematically study how environmental DNA adsorbs onto polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and silica surfaces under freshwater and seawater ionic conditions. They found that adsorption rate and extent were strongly influenced by ion type and concentration, with cation identity playing a key role in eDNA-microplastic interactions relevant to aquatic ecosystem genetics monitoring.
eDNA Adsorption onto Microplastics: Impacts of Water Chemistry and Polymer Physiochemical Properties
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Researchers studied how environmental DNA, genetic material shed by organisms, attaches to different types of microplastics under varying water conditions. They found that DNA adsorption depends on the type of plastic polymer, water chemistry factors like pH and salt concentration, and the presence of natural organic matter. The findings suggest that microplastics could serve as carriers of genetic material in the environment, with implications for tracking both pollution sources and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.
Adsorption of Linear and Spherical DNA Oligonucleotides onto Microplastics
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Researchers investigated DNA adsorption onto common microplastics and found that DNA oligonucleotides bind to polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and PVC surfaces, suggesting microplastics could serve as carriers for environmental DNA in aquatic ecosystems.
Microplastics as genetic vectors for environmental DNA: A review on adsorption mechanisms, plastisphere genetics, and ecotoxicological implications
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics interact with environmental DNA in aquatic systems, finding that plastisphere biofilms act as genetic hotspots that concentrate antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements, and that small aromatic hydrophobic fragments pose the highest genetic risk—creating systematic biases in molecular ecological monitoring that current methods fail to account for.
Enhanced eDNA Recovery from Microplastic-Polluted Freshwater Systems Using Surfactant-Assisted Bead-Beating with Enzymatic Digestion
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Researchers developed an improved eDNA recovery method combining surfactant-assisted bead-beating with enzymatic digestion to overcome the interference caused by microplastic pollution in freshwater biodiversity monitoring. The approach significantly enhanced eDNA retrieval from contaminated water bodies where conventional methods underperform.
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