Effect of polymer type on the colonization of plastic pellets by marine bacteria

Abstract Plastic is omnipresent in the oceans and serves as a surface for biofilm-forming microorganisms. Plastic debris comprises different polymers, which may influence microbial colonization; here, we evaluated whether polymer type affects bacterial biofilm formation. Quantifying the biofilm on p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology letters 2021-03, Vol.368 (5), p.1
Main Authors: Hansen, Josefine, Melchiorsen, Jette, Ciacotich, Nicole, Gram, Lone, Sonnenschein, Eva C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Bacteria
Biofilms
Colonization
Genetic aspects
Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria
Identification and classification
Inoculum
Marine bacteria
Methods
Microbial mats
Microbiology
Microbiota
Microorganisms
Oceans
Pellets
Plastic debris
Polyethylene
Polyethylenes
Polymers
Polypropylene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene resins
RNA sequencing
rRNA 16S
Seawater
Strains (organisms)
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Summary:Abstract Plastic is omnipresent in the oceans and serves as a surface for biofilm-forming microorganisms. Plastic debris comprises different polymers, which may influence microbial colonization; here, we evaluated whether polymer type affects bacterial biofilm formation. Quantifying the biofilm on polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS) pellets by six marine bacterial strains (Vibrio,Pseudoalteromonas,Phaeobacter) demonstrated that each strain had a unique colonization behavior with either a preference for PS or PP over the other polymer types or no preference for a specific plastic type. PE, PP and PS pellets were exposed to natural seawater microbiota using free-living or total communities as inoculum. Microbial assembly as determined by 16S rRNA (V4) amplicon sequencing was affected by the composition of the initial inoculum and also by the plastic type. Known polymer and hydrocarbon degraders such as Paraglaciecola, Oleibacter and Hydrogenophaga were found in the plastic biofilms. Thus, on a community level, bacterial colonization on plastic is influenced by the microorganisms as well as the polymer type, and also individual strains can demonstrate polymer-specific colonization. Comparing marine bacterial colonization on three plastic types showed that community biofilms are influenced by the inoculum as well as the polymer type, and individual strains can demonstrate polymer-specific colonization.
ISSN:1574-6968
0378-1097
1574-6968
DOI:10.1093/femsle/fnab026