Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Adsorption abilities and mechanisms of Lactobacillus on various nanoplastics

Researchers tested whether Lactobacillus, a common probiotic bacterium, could adsorb nanoplastic particles made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. They found that the bacteria could efficiently bind all three types of nanoplastics through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding on their cell surfaces. The study suggests that lactic acid bacteria may have potential as a biological method for reducing nanoplastic contamination in food.

2023 Chemosphere 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Novel Approaches in Establishing Chemical Food Safety Based on the Detoxification Capacity of Probiotics and Postbiotics: A Critical Review

This review examines emerging evidence that probiotics and their metabolic byproducts (postbiotics) can help neutralize environmental contaminants in food, including bacterial toxins, mycotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals, and microplastics. Researchers found that various probiotic strains can bind to, transform, or break down these harmful substances through multiple mechanisms. The study highlights biological approaches using beneficial microorganisms as a practical and cost-effective strategy for improving food safety.

2025 Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient biosorption of nanoplastics by food-derived lactic acid bacterium

Researchers identified a food-derived lactic acid bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, that efficiently binds and removes nanoplastics across a wide range of conditions including varying pH, temperature, and concentrations. In animal experiments, the strain significantly enhanced fecal excretion of nanoplastics, suggesting it could serve as a promising microbial approach for reducing nanoplastic burden in intestinal environments.

2026 Bioresource Technology
Article Tier 2

Lactic acid bacteria reduce polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics-induced toxicity through their bio-binding capacity and gut environment repair ability

Researchers found that lactic acid bacteria, the kind used in yogurt and fermented foods, can reduce the toxic effects of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics in mice. The bacteria worked by physically binding to the plastic particles and by repairing damage to the gut lining and restoring healthy gut bacteria populations. This suggests that probiotics could be a practical way to help protect the digestive system from the harmful effects of microplastic exposure through food and water.

2024 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of the ability of native potential probiotic lactobacillus strains in nanoplastic bioremoval in an in-vitro Model

Researchers tested 88 native probiotic Lactobacillus strains for their ability to bind and remove polystyrene nanoplastics in laboratory conditions, finding that a cocktail of three strains achieved up to 77% removal. The most effective strain, L. plantarum RP13, showed strong nanoplastic adhesion confirmed by microscopy imaging. The study suggests that certain probiotic bacteria may have potential as a biological approach to reducing nanoplastic exposure in the gastrointestinal tract.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Individual and Collective Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria on Staphylococcus aureus

Researchers tested whether lactic acid bacteria probiotic strains could inhibit the growth of the foodborne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. The probiotic combination was more effective than individual strains, with potential applications in food safety. This type of research is relevant to gut health contexts where microplastic exposure may disrupt the protective microbiome.

2023 Journal of Bacteriology & Mycology Open Access
Article Tier 2

Pivotal Role of Microbes in Solid Waste Management

This review discusses the role of lactic acid bacteria in solid waste management, including their use as probiotics in food systems and their potential to produce polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic. Using microbes to produce bioplastics that break down naturally could help reduce persistent microplastic pollution.

2023 International Journal of Environment and Climate Change
Article Tier 2

Lactobacillus plantarum reduces polystyrene microplastic induced toxicity via multiple pathways: A potentially effective and safe dietary strategy to counteract microplastic harm

Researchers found that Lactobacillus plantarum, a probiotic bacterium commonly found in fermented foods, can reduce the harmful effects of polystyrene microplastics in mice through multiple pathways. The bacteria worked by binding directly to plastic particles to help remove them from the body, reducing oxidative damage, repairing the intestinal barrier, and regulating bile acid metabolism. This suggests that certain probiotics could be a safe dietary strategy to help counteract some of the negative health effects of microplastic exposure.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of biofilms on the adsorption behavior of nine organic emerging contaminants on microplastics in field-laboratory exposure experiments

Researchers studied how natural biofilms that form on microplastics in lake water affect the adsorption of nine emerging organic contaminants. The study found that biofilm colonization on microplastic surfaces can significantly alter how these particles interact with pollutants, in some cases increasing and in others decreasing contaminant uptake compared to clean microplastics.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Colonization characteristics and surface effects of microplastic biofilms: Implications for environmental behavior of typical pollutants

This review examines how bacteria colonize microplastic surfaces in water, forming biofilms that change how the plastics behave in the environment. These biofilms alter the surface properties of microplastics and affect how they absorb and transport heavy metals and other pollutants. Understanding biofilm formation on microplastics is important because it can make the particles more dangerous by concentrating toxic substances that could eventually enter the food chain.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Reviewing the role of microplastics as carriers for microorganisms in absorbing toxic trace elements

This review examines how microplastics serve as carriers for both harmful bacteria and toxic metals in the environment. Bacteria colonize microplastic surfaces and form biofilms, which can concentrate dangerous trace elements and help spread pathogens to new areas. This dual role as a transport vehicle for both chemical and biological contaminants increases the potential risk to human health through contaminated water and food.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics with adsorbed contaminants: Mechanisms and Treatment

This review examines how microplastics adsorb environmental contaminants including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens, and surveys treatment methods for removing contaminated microplastics from water. Researchers found that microplastics can act as vectors for hazardous substances, potentially increasing their bioavailability and toxicity in aquatic ecosystems. The study evaluates emerging remediation technologies and highlights the complex environmental risks posed by microplastics carrying adsorbed pollutants.

2021 Environmental Challenges 321 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the environment: Interactions with microbes and chemical contaminants

This review covers what is known about microplastic interactions with microbes and co-occurring chemical contaminants in the environment, examining how biofilms on microplastics alter pollutant transport and the ecological consequences for soil, water, and atmospheric systems.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 417 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of Bioremediation in Achieving Environmental Sustainability

This review discusses the role of bioremediation in environmental sustainability, examining how biological agents including bacteria, fungi, and plants can be used to address soil and water contamination from heavy metals, microplastics, and other persistent pollutants.

2025 International journal of engineering science and advanced technology.
Article Tier 2

Microbial mechanisms as tools for monitoring and treating emerging contaminants in urban pollution: an overview

This review examines the role of microorganisms in detecting, monitoring, and degrading emerging contaminants including microplastics in urban environments. The study highlights that bacteria and fungi can serve as both sensitive bioindicators of pollution and active agents for biodegradation, suggesting that microbial-based strategies hold promise for sustainable environmental remediation.

2026 Archives of Microbiology
Article Tier 2

Foodborne pathogens in the plastisphere: Can microplastics in the food chain threaten microbial food safety?

This review examines the potential for microplastics to act as vectors for foodborne pathogens in the food chain, synthesizing current evidence on pathogen attachment to the plastisphere, the effects of microplastics on bacterial virulence and evolution, and the implications for simultaneous uptake of microplastics and pathogens in the human gut.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The role of marine bacteria in modulating the environmental impact of heavy metals, microplastics, and pesticides: a comprehensive review

This comprehensive review covers how marine bacteria mitigate environmental impacts of heavy metals, microplastics, and pesticides through processes including biosorption, biotransformation, biofilm colonization of microplastics, and enzymatic pesticide degradation.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Biofilm–microplastic interactions in food safety: mechanisms, risks, and control strategies

This review investigates how microplastics in the food industry serve as surfaces where bacterial biofilms can form, creating complexes that resist cleaning and disinfection. Researchers found that these biofilm-microplastic combinations can shield harmful bacteria and promote the spread of antibiotic-resistance genes. The study evaluates strategies for preventing and controlling this form of contamination in food systems.

2025 Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Unlocking secrets of microbial ecotoxicology: recent achievements and future challenges

This review explores how microorganisms interact with environmental pollutants, including microplastics, covering how bacteria can break down pollutants but are also harmed by them. The authors highlight that microplastics create new surfaces in the environment where bacteria form communities, potentially spreading harmful species or antibiotic resistance. Understanding these microbial interactions is critical for developing nature-based solutions to reduce pollution and protect human health.

2023 FEMS Microbiology Ecology 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioactive compound and chemical characterization of lactic acid bacteria from fermented food as bio-preservative agents to control food-borne pathogens

Thai researchers screened lactic acid bacteria from fermented foods and identified four Lactobacillus species with antibacterial activity against common food pathogens including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The best-performing strain showed promising properties for use as a natural food preservative.

2023 Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Trends in Food Science & Technology 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as vectors of contaminants

This review highlights the emerging role of microplastics as carriers of biological and chemical contaminants in water environments. Researchers note that while microplastic pollution is increasingly well-documented, the interactions between contaminants adsorbed onto microplastic surfaces and aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. The study stresses the need for further investigation into how microplastics may facilitate the transport and bioavailability of pollutants.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 331 citations
Article Tier 2

Biofilm on microplastics in aqueous environment: Physicochemical properties and environmental implications

This review examines how bacteria and other microorganisms form sticky films called biofilms on microplastic surfaces in water. These biofilms change how microplastics move through the environment and increase their ability to absorb pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, and antibiotics. Biofilm-coated microplastics may also carry harmful bacteria, making them a greater potential health risk than clean microplastic particles.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 353 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential influence of food additives and contaminants on the gut microbiota: A comprehensive review

This comprehensive review examines how food additives and contaminants, including pesticides, heavy metals, microplastics, and antibiotics, affect the gut microbiota. Researchers found that these substances can disrupt the balance of gut microbes, leading to inflammation, gastrointestinal injury, and altered production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids. The study emphasizes the need for further research into the mechanisms by which dietary contaminants affect gut health and overall wellbeing.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology 1 citations