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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to It’s a matter of microbes: a perspective on the microbiological aspects of micro- and nanoplastics in human health
ClearThe ecology of the plastisphere: Microbial composition, function, assembly, and network in the freshwater and seawater ecosystems
Researchers studied the communities of bacteria and fungi that colonize microplastic surfaces in freshwater and seawater, forming what scientists call the plastisphere. These microplastic-associated communities were distinctly different from those in surrounding water, and included a higher proportion of disease-causing organisms and species involved in pollutant degradation. The findings suggest that microplastics create new habitats that can harbor pathogens and alter natural microbial ecosystems in ways that may affect water quality and human health.
Investigating the roles of microbes in biodegrading or colonizing microplastic surfaces
Researchers investigated the roles of microbes in biodegrading or colonizing microplastic surfaces, examining how microbial communities interact with plastic polymers in environmental settings. The study characterized the 'plastisphere' — the community of microorganisms that colonize microplastic surfaces — and assessed the extent to which microbial activity contributes to plastic degradation in natural environments.
The Importance of Biofilms to the Fate and Effects of Microplastics
This review examines how biofilms — communities of microorganisms that form on microplastic surfaces — affect the fate and ecological effects of plastic pollution. Biofilm formation alters how microplastics are transported, ingested, and degraded in the environment, and the plastisphere can harbor pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may pose risks to human health.
Surfing and dining on the “plastisphere”: Microbial life on plastic marine debris
This review examines the microbial communities — the "plastisphere" — that colonize floating plastic debris in the ocean, discussing how these biofilms form, who lives in them, and what risks they may pose to marine ecosystems and human health. The unique chemistry and buoyancy of plastic creates a novel habitat that can transport potentially harmful microbes across ocean basins.
The plastisphere ecology: Assessing the impact of different pollution sources on microbial community composition, function and assembly in aquatic ecosystems
Researchers studied the microbial communities living on microplastic surfaces (called the plastisphere) across four different aquatic sites and found that plastics host a distinctly different mix of microbes than the surrounding water, shaped by local pollution sources. These plastic-surface microbes also carry more antibiotic resistance genes and show greater potential for breaking down plastics, making the plastisphere both a health concern and a potential bioremediation resource.
Environmental impacts of microplastic and role of plastisphere microbes in the biodegradation and upcycling of microplastic
This review covers how microplastics in the environment interact with other pollutants and the microbes that colonize plastic surfaces, known as the "plastisphere." While some of these microbes can break down plastics, the biofilms also harbor harmful bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes that can spread to the surrounding environment. This means microplastics serve as floating platforms for dangerous germs, creating additional health risks beyond the plastic particles themselves.
Marine Microbial Assemblages on Microplastics: Diversity, Adaptation, and Role in Degradation
This review examines microbial communities that colonize microplastics in the ocean, collectively known as the plastisphere. Researchers found that these biofilms differ significantly from those on natural surfaces and may include pathogenic bacteria and species capable of partially degrading plastics. The study highlights both the ecological risks of microplastics as vectors for harmful microbes and the potential for harnessing plastic-degrading organisms.
Microplastic Microbiome Interactions: Emerging Threats and Bioremediation Potentials
This review examines the plastisphere — microbial communities that colonize plastic surfaces — covering how these biofilms influence the fate and toxicity of microplastics while acting as vectors for pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, and discussing their potential for bioremediation.
Microplastic Microbiome Interactions: Emerging Threats and Bioremediation Potentials
This review examines the plastisphere — microbial communities that colonize plastic surfaces — covering how these biofilms influence the fate and toxicity of microplastics while acting as vectors for pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, and discussing their potential for bioremediation.
What is the micro- and nanoplastics impact on pathogenic microorganisms?
This perspective piece reviewed emerging evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics interact with pathogenic microorganisms, potentially enhancing pathogen survival, antibiotic resistance gene transfer, and virulence. The authors highlight the plastisphere as a habitat that may selectively enrich and amplify microbial pathogens.
Foodborne pathogens in the plastisphere: Can microplastics in the food chain threaten microbial food safety?
This review examines whether microplastics in the food chain can serve as carriers for dangerous foodborne bacteria, potentially threatening food safety. Researchers found that pathogenic bacteria can colonize microplastic surfaces and that these "plastisphere" communities may survive food processing steps that would normally eliminate them. The study raises concerns that microplastic contamination in food and water could introduce a new route for foodborne illness transmission.
Microplastics, microfibers and associated microbiota biofilm analysis in seawater, a case study from the Vesuvian Coast, southern Italy
Researchers analyzed microplastics and microfibers in seawater along the Vesuvian Coast in Italy and characterized the microorganisms growing on their surfaces, known as the plastisphere. They identified potentially harmful bacteria colonizing the plastic particles, including species that could threaten both marine ecosystems and human health. The study highlights that microplastics in the ocean are not just a pollution problem but also serve as vehicles for spreading disease-causing microorganisms.
(micro)Plastic biofilms: Keeping afloat by carving out a new niche
This review examined how microplastics accumulate microbial biofilms, creating a distinct ecological niche with unique community composition and metabolic activities. The microplastic biofilm, or plastisphere, can harbor pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, raising concerns about plastic particles as vectors of biological hazards.
Dynamic evolution of microbial colonization on indoor microplastics: polymer diversity-driven co-occurrence networks and health risks
Researchers simulated 90 days of indoor microplastic exposure to study how different polymer types, aging, and morphology influence microbial colonization on microplastic surfaces. They found that polymer diversity shaped microbial co-occurrence networks and that the resulting plastisphere communities harbored potential human pathogens.
Plastics and Microplastics as Vectors for Bacteria and Human Pathogens
This study reviewed how marine plastic debris serves as a surface for bacterial colonization, including human pathogens, and examined the novel communities forming on plastic surfaces. The research raises public health concerns about microplastics acting as rafts that transport harmful bacteria to new locations, including to seafood and coastal recreational areas.
Plastisphere - a new habitat of microbial community: Composition, structure and ecological consequences
This review examines the plastisphere — microbial communities colonizing microplastics — covering the composition and structure of plastisphere microbiomes across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments and discussing ecological consequences including pathogen dispersal.
Microbial Life on the Surface of Microplastics in Natural Waters
Researchers reviewed how microorganisms colonize the surface of microplastic particles floating in natural waters, forming biofilms that can include potentially harmful bacteria. These biofilm-coated microplastics concentrate near the water-air interface and are more readily consumed by aquatic animals than bare plastic particles. The study highlights that understanding microbial life on microplastics is essential for assessing their environmental and public health impacts.
Microbial Dynamics on Different Microplastics in Coastal Urban Aquatic Ecosystems: The Critical Roles of Extracellular Polymeric Substances
Researchers investigated how microbial communities colonize different types of microplastics in urban coastal waters, forming distinct ecosystems known as plastispheres. They found that the type of plastic significantly shaped which bacteria grew on it and how much sticky extracellular material they produced. Understanding these microbial communities on microplastics matters because they can harbor harmful bacteria and influence how pollutants move through aquatic environments.
Exploring the Microbiome of the Marine Microplastisphere
This review examines the microbiome associated with microplastic particles in marine environments, known as the microplastisphere, describing it as a dynamic and complex ecosystem with significant ecological implications. Researchers found that the microplastisphere harbors distinct microbial communities distinct from surrounding seawater, with potential consequences for marine biodiversity and pollutant transport.
Plastisphere microbiome: Methodology, diversity, and functionality
This review explores the plastisphere, the community of microorganisms that colonize plastic debris in the environment. The authors cover methods for studying these microbial communities, the diversity of organisms found living on plastics, and their functional roles including potential plastic degradation and pathogen harboring. Understanding the plastisphere is important because these microbial communities can influence how plastics break down and what health risks plastic pollution may pose.
Microbial colonization and degradation of marine microplastics in the plastisphere: A review
This review explores the "plastisphere" — the community of microorganisms that colonize microplastics floating in the ocean. Researchers found that bacteria, fungi, algae, and other microbes form unique biofilm communities on plastic surfaces, some of which can partially degrade the plastic while others include potentially harmful pathogens. Understanding these microbial communities is important for assessing both the ecological risks and possible bioremediation potential of marine microplastic pollution.
Microbial hitchhikers on marine plastic debris: Human exposure risks at bathing waters and beach environments.
This review examines how marine plastic debris serves as a habitat for microbial communities including potential pathogens, a phenomenon called the Plastisphere, and assesses the human health risks when plastic-associated microbes reach bathing waters and beaches. The authors conclude that plastic litter can amplify microbial hazards to public health in coastal recreation areas.
Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere
This study examined the planetary health implications of the airborne plastisphere—microbial communities colonizing airborne microplastic particles—noting that these communities harbor pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes, and other hazardous organisms. The airborne plastisphere may facilitate the long-distance dispersal of microbial threats across ecosystems.
Freshwater plastisphere: a review on biodiversity, risks, and biodegradation potential with implications for the aquatic ecosystem health
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.