Shan Yu
Xindi Lu
Hailong Lu
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- 1Beijing International Center for Gas Hydrate, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- 2National Engineering Research Center for Gas Hydrate Exploration and Development, Guangzhou, China
- 3Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
Marine biofilms are globally ubiquitous surface-associated microbial communities that have gained increasing attention due to their distinctive structure and functions. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current scientific understanding, with a specific focus on naturally occurring biofilms that develop on diverse marine abiotic surfaces, including microplastics, seafloor sediments, subsurface particles, and submerged artificial structures susceptible to biocorrosion and biofouling induced by marine biofilms. This article presents recent advancements and discoveries concerning the diversity, structure, function, and dynamics of these surface-associated microbial communities in the marine environment, highlighting their ecological and biogeochemical dimensions, while also serving as an inspiration for further investigations into marine biofilms.
1 Introduction
1.1 What are biofilms?
Microorganisms can live either as free cells or in a consortium, as a biofilm, consisting of the same or different species. Biofilms are surface-associated microbial communities encased in the self-secreted extracellular matrix (Costerton et al., 1995) (Figure 1). This matrix, known as the extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), mainly consisting of exopolysaccharides, secreted proteins, and extracellular DNA (eDNA), is believed to maintain the structural integrity of the biofilm by holding cells together as “molecular glue.” In aquatic environments, EPSs provide protection for biofilm cells against harsh environmental conditions and shear forces (Stoodley et al., 2002; Yu et al., 2015). It is widely acknowledged that biofilms represent one of the most successful and prevalent forms of life in natural habitats and industrial and hospital settings. It has been estimated that approximately 40%–80% of prokaryotes have the ability to form biofilms (Flemming and Wuertz, 2019).
Figure 1
Figure 1. Typical stages of biofilm formation and the regulatory role of quorum sensing that takes part in biofilm development.
1.2 Stages of biofilm development
The transition from free-swimming planktonic cells to biofilm-making sessile aggregates is a multi-step process called biofilm formation. Biofilm formation follows a five-stage multicellular cycle (Ma et al., 2009) (Figures 1, 2A). In the initial step, free-floating microbial cells loosely and reversibly attached to a surface mediated by cell surface structures such as flagella and pili. The intracellular signaling molecule bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is essential for the initial stage of biofilm formation, as it inhibits flagella-mediated swimming motility and promotes the production of biofilm matrix (Römling et al., 2013). The Pil-Chp surface-sensing system located in microbial surfaces increases the concentration of c-di-GMP with each attachment/detachment event. Therefore, the formation of biofilms begins with the conversion of surface-naive planktonic cells (bacteria that have not yet encountered surfaces and have a low concentration of c-di-GMP) to surface-sentient planktonic cells (bacteria that have encountered surfaces and have a high concentration of c-di-GMP), resulting in the irreversible attachment of cells to surfaces (Armbruster and Parsek, 2018). Following this, attached microorganisms begin to multiply and aggregate within the self-produced EPS matrix in the presence of a high concentration of c-di-GMP. Flagella and type IV pili-mediated motilities play essential roles in microbe-surface interactions and cell–cell aggregations, respectively, leading to the formation of microcolonies (Rabin et al., 2015). The subsequent biofilm maturation can result in the development of “mushroom”-shaped structure with multilayered cells (Figure 2B), depending on the species involved. EPS is essential for the maturation of biofilms, as it facilitates microbial attachment to surfaces; stabilizes the 3-D structure of the biofilm; groups cells together; protects from a variety of stressors, such as the host immune system response, antimicrobials, oxidative damage, and metallic cations; and encapsulates signaling molecules that are necessary for quorum sensing (QS), metabolic products, and enzymes (Toyofuku et al., 2016). During the final dispersion stage, biofilm ruptures either actively (motility and EPS degradation-dependent dispersion) or passively (physical causes such as liquid flow-dependent dispersion), and microbes are released as planktonic cells to colonize new sites (Chandki et al., 2011). External factors such as pH, temperature, gravitational forces, Brownian movements, hydrodynamic forces, signal molecules, and the nature of the inhabited surfaces all influence this complex formation process (Zhao et al., 2017). For instance, bacteria generally possess a net negative charge due to the carboxyl, amino, and phosphate groups on their cell wall surfaces, leading to more adhesion on positively charged surfaces (Kovačević et al., 2016; Guo et al., 2018). Moreover, according to a study by Hou et al. (2018), shear flow promotes biofilm formation by stimulating S. aureus’ EPS production and EPS-matrix strength. Their research supported earlier hypotheses regarding pressure-induced EPS production (Hou et al., 2018).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Photos of biofilms and marine corrosion formed on different surfaces. (A) Scanning electron micrographs of aggregates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells encased by the self-secreted EPS (Alain, 2021). (B) Confocal laser scanning microscopic images of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm that takes the form of mushroom-like structures (Haagensen et al., 2015). (C) Biocorrosion on the surfaces of the ship hull (Lewis, 2018). (D) Current measurement instrument biofouling with zebra mussels. (E) Scanning electron micrographs showing prokaryotic attachment on a microplastic surface sampled either immediately (left) or after 14 days of inoculation (right) (Harrison et al., 2014). (F) White bacterial mat on sediment located in an area where hydrothermal fluids are seeping through cracks in the seafloor (Fahy et al., 2017). (G) Aggregates of ANME and SRB cells in the subsurface sediments of the Sonora Margin cold seeps, Guaymas Basin (Vigneron et al., 2014).
1.3 Microbial quorum sensing in biofilm development
Despite their self-sufficiency, microorganisms communicate and coordinate with each other to accomplish the biofilm formation; the mechanism of this cell-to-cell communication process is referred to as “quorum sensing” (Fuqua et al., 1996). A typical QS system consists of microbial groups, signal molecules, and behavioral genes. It enables microbial cells to sense population density by monitoring the accumulation of a specific signal molecules (termed as the autoinducers, AIs) secreted and released by community members. The accumulation of these signal molecules in the surrounding environment is only adequate to activate the response with a sufficient quorum size. Once a minimal signal concentration is reached, signal molecules, known as the autoinducers, interacts with receptor proteins, leading to coordinated behavior through changes in gene expression. In this communication system, signal molecules serve as “a language” to help microorganisms to “make decisions” whether to conduct coordinative group behaviors such as biofilm formation, virulence production, enzymes secretion, and antibiotic release (Ruparell et al., 2016). Key processes involved in biofilm formation including initial bacteria–surface interactions, surface attachment, biofilm initiation, biofilm maturation, and biofilm differentiation are all believed to be regulated through this cell-density-dependent manner (Ng and Bassler, 2009). Chemical signals can be categorized into several groups. A majority of them were discovered through research on infection-causing bacteria. N-Acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs), commonly found in a number of Gram-negative bacteria, represent the first described class of QS signals. In this context, AHLs synthesized by synthase LuxI can freely diffuse across the membrane into the surrounding environment. Once their concentration reaches a certain threshold level, they bind to the receptor protein LuxR. Subsequently, LuxR dimerizes and gains the ability to act as a transcription factor by binding to the Lux box in DNA. Consequently, genes involved in biofilm formation, exotoxins production, etc. are activated while also promoting expression of both LuxI and LuxR (auto-induction) (Camilli and Bassler, 2006) (Figure 1). Two N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-based QS systems, las and rhl, and one alkylquinolone (AQ)-mediated QS have been discovered in P. aeruginosa (Jimenez et al., 2012). Different QS systems function hierarchically, regulating the virulence factors and biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa (Sharma et al., 2024). Complexes formed by the two QS systems induce expression of various virulence factors such as protease, elastase, alkaline protease, and HCN production (Brint and Ohman, 1995; Pessi and Haas, 2000; Miller and Bassler, 2001). QS promotes the production of biofilms by releasing extracellular DNA (eDNA), which is necessary for adhesion, cell-to-cell attachment, biofilm formation, stability, and defense against detergents and antibiotics (Das and Manefield, 2013). Moreover, Gram-positive systems utilize secreted oligopeptides and two-component systems, which are composed of cytoplasmic transcription factors and membrane-bound sensor kinase receptors that regulate gene expression (Novick and Geisinger, 2008). Genetic competence in B. subtilis and S. pneumoniae, virulence response and the production of antimicrobial peptides in S. aureus, and numerous other processes are reported to be regulated by QS in Gram-positive bacteria with similar fundamental objectives (Haque et al., 2019).
1.4 The potential ecological and industrial applications of biofilm polymers
The synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances is crucial for biofilm development. The production of biofilms characterizes many chronic illnesses, prompting extensive research into how bacterial biopolymers influence both pathogenesis and biofilm formation. Bacterial biopolymers, along with their production and biological roles, present targets for the development of innovative antibacterial agents (Qvortrup et al., 2019). In addition, the enhanced tolerance to harmful contaminants and increased breakdown capacities of bacterial biofilms are often ascribed to the EPS matrix (Mishra et al., 2022). Through ion exchange, precipitation, binding, emulsification, solubilization, and complexation, EPS layers interact with harmful environmental contaminants (Shukla et al., 2017). Various functional groups of EPS, including carboxyl, amide, phosphoryl, and hydroxyl, participate in the elimination of toxic substances from contaminated environments. Biofilm EPS is involved in several remedial processes, including the sorption and degradation of dyes and pesticides, the emulsification of petroleum hydrocarbons, the binding and solubilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the sequestration of heavy metals (Mahto et al., 2022). Therefore, bacterial biofilm and EPS offer an appealing approach for decontaminating highly contaminated areas.
On the other hand, substantial research has concentrated on utilizing the unique material features of bacterial polymers for industrial applications in medical and technical fields. On polysaccharides, the presence of hydrophilic groups—such as hydroxy and carboxyl groups—confer great water-binding capacity and enable intermolecular contacts and crosslinks (for example, polymer–polymer, polymer–drug, and polymer–host tissue and cell interactions). Porous hydrogels formed by polysaccharides can be employed for the controlled release of anticancer drugs (Li and Mooney, 2016), drug delivery, tissue engineering (Miao et al., 2018), immobilization of enzymes (Mohan et al., 2015), therapeutic cell entrapment, and protection of transplanted cells from the host immune system (Mitrousis et al., 2018). Polyamides or poly(amino acid) chains produced by bacteria can serve as capsules or biofilm matrix or as storage material (Yu et al., 2016) (Zhang and Yang, 2019). The biodegradability, non-toxicity, and modifiability of bacterial polyamides have made them viable alternatives to chemically produced polymers for use in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, biomedical, and industrial formulations (Lee et al., 2019). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bacterially produced bioplastics that can be chemically modified, bioengineered, and processed into low-value commodity bioplastics or high-value medical materials (e.g., tissue engineering scaffolds, drug carriers, sutures, and particle vaccinations) (Kai and Loh, 2014). The synthesis of polyphosphate (PolyP) is an evolutionarily ancient capability of bacteria. PolyPs not only serve as a reservoir for phosphate but also supply chemical energy for biosynthetic pathways, act as a buffer against alkalinity, function as a metal-chelating agent, and play a role in channel complexes for DNA uptake. Because of their superior energy storage properties, industry has increasingly investigated polyPs to drive energy-consuming enzyme-catalyzed reactions (Yoo et al., 2018). In regenerative medicine, they are also regarded as morphogenetically active biomaterials for bone regeneration and cartilage repair (Müller et al., 2017). Unlike other biopolymers, such as polysaccharides and polyesters, extracellular DNA, polypeptides, and proteins are fascinating programmable biomaterial platforms because of their genetic programmability and simplicity of engineering (Nguyen et al., 2018). The development of engineered living materials—that is, living cells that are designed to autonomously self-assemble entire materials with novel and tunable properties for a variety of applications, including microbial electrosynthesis, biosensors, electronic monitoring devices, and bioremediation—has attracted a lot of attention recently due to the straightforward genetic programmability of these polymers (Gilbert and Ellis, 2019).
1.5 Marine biofilms
In marine environments, a wide variety of surfaces can be colonized by diverse microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, diatoms, fungi, flagellates, ciliates, and multicellular eukaryotes, leading to the subsequent formation of highly complex biofilms. These surfaces include both biotic surfaces, such as algae and marine living animals, and abiotic surfaces like different types of particles, aggregates, immersed constructs, vessel surfaces, and inert or bio-reactive mineral substrata (Figure 3).
Figure 3
Figure 3. General formation model of the marine biofouling process.
The association with these surfaces provides microorganisms with numerous ecological advantages including increased access to nutritional resources, improved organism interactions, and enhanced environmental stability. These characteristics are particularly crucial in marine habitats, where nutrients are usually a restrictive factor of growth and ambient circumstances are highly dynamic and occasionally unfavorable (Dang and Lovell, 2016). The composition of the microbial community in marine biofilms is distinct from that of freshwater and plankton (Battin et al., 2016; Catão CP et al., 2021). For example, in freshwater biofilms, Pseudomonadota typically form the dominating phylum, while in marine biofilms, their abundance is lower (Battin et al., 2016). Furthermore, SAR11, Prochlorococcus, and Synechococcus are prevalent in seawater; however, pennate diatoms, Sphingomonadaceae of Alphaproteobacteria, Alteromonadaceae of Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacteroides are widespread bacterial species in marine biofilms (Harrison et al., 2018). The chemical composition of marine biofilms, such as EPS and metabolites, alters during community succession; qualitative and quantitative changes in the chemical profiles of marine biofilm extracts were observed at different stages of development (Chung et al., 2010). Moreover, the formation of marine biofilms and the associated microbial metabolic activities can also lead to deleterious outcomes such as biofouling, biocorrosion, the persistence of drug-resistant bacteria, and medical infections, resulting in significant costs and health threats (Watnick and Kolter, 2000; Cottingham et al., 2003).
Marine biofilms are primarily composed of prokaryotes in oceans (Antunes et al., 2019). Globally, more than 25,000 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of the 16S rRNA genes of marine biofilm prokaryotes have been clustered (97% identity) (Zhang W. et al., 2019). According to an empirical study, marine biofilms are estimated to harbor a diverse assemblage of over 25,000 species, with the majority of strains exhibiting a sequence similarity exceeding 97% based on the analysis of 16 S rRNA gene (Konstantinidis and Tiedje, 2005). As the most diverse and dynamic species, microorganisms are widely recognized for their crucial role in marine environments by driving biogeochemical cycles (Paerl and Pinckney, 1996; Hawley et al., 2017) and providing substances and energy to higher trophic levels (Azam et al., 1983; de Carvalho, 2012). Moreover, they are the primary residents on marine surfaces, forming ubiquitous biofilms whose configuration, dynamics, and function may be determined by early colonizers (Dang et al., 2008, 2011). According to an empirical study, marine biofilms are estimated to harbor over 25,000 species. These prokaryotic communities encompass a diverse range of phyla including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Actinomycetota, and Crenarchaeota, among which Proteobacteria stands out as the predominant group (Zhang et al., 2019). The microbial community composition of marine biofilms is distinct, as demonstrated by a metagenomic survey that revealed 7,300 OTUs exclusively found in marine biofilms (Zhang et al., 2019). Although viral predation is restricted in biofilms due to the survival advantage of biofilm microorganisms over their planktonic counterparts (De Carvalho, 2018), it has been demonstrated that viruses confined within a biofilm matrix can remain active and infect colonizing cells, as evidenced by T7 phages (Bond et al., 2021). In a recent study, a total of 2,446 connections between viruses and prokaryotes were identified within 84 marine biofilms. The predominant connections observed were between bacteriophages in the Uroviricota phylum and bacteria belonging to the Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteriota, and Bacteroidota taxa (Zhou et al., 2023).
Our understanding of the social behaviors and interactions of microorganisms in natural biofilms is limited. According to the hypothesis of species sorting, certain microbial species may assemble into a community as a result of selective pressures exerted by local abiotic and biotic environmental factors (Zhang et al., 2014). Moreover, the spatial architecture of biofilms is primarily shaped by microbial interactions among neighboring cells. Consequently, the cooperative and competitive dynamics within marine biofilms are significantly influenced by the spatial distribution of microbial cells (Nadell et al., 2016). The findings of a recent study on signal transduction in natural biofilm development indicate that signaling molecules have the potential to modify the composition of marine biofilms (Wang et al., 2020). The expression levels of signaling-related genes, including several QS gene families (e.g., QS in Vibrio, QS in Yersinia, QS regulation in Pseudomonas, AI-2 transporters, and AHL inducers), two-component regulator families (e.g., two-component regulatory systems in Campylobacter, mazE-mazF system, and oxygen and light sensor PpaA-PpsR), virulence (e.g., Streptococcus pyogenes virulence regulators), and unknown regulatory genes associated with biofilm formation (e.g., biofilm formation in Staphylococcus) were markedly elevated in biofilm samples compared to planktonic cells, as demonstrated through an analysis of signal transduction systems within 101 marine biofilms formed on diverse surfaces and across multiple oceanic regions (Wang et al., 2022). In addition, the taxonomic affiliation of signal transduction genes in marine biofilms was found to be distinct from that observed in seawater samples, with the potential for inter-phyla interactions between bacteria residing in marine biofilms and those present in the seawater (Wang et al., 2022). The interaction and communication among microorganisms within marine biofilms and their response to environmental changes remain poorly understood due to the limited investigation conducted on natural marine biofilms.
Given the significant impacts of marine biofilms on the marine industry and biogeochemical cycles, it is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of the key participants, assembly mechanisms, and functional roles. Biofilms formed on biotic surfaces differ from those formed on abiotic surfaces due to differences in selective forces. The focus of this review is only on the microbial diversity, functions, microbial interactions, spatial and temporal variations in microbial community structures of marine biofilms formed on abiotic natural or manufactured surfaces, and their impacts on maritime industries.
2 Marine biofilms on artificial surfaces
Marine biofilm formation on manmade surfaces and involved microbial metabolic processes can have macroscale negative effects including biofouling, biocorrosion, persistence, and transmission of harmful or pathogenic bacteria and virulence determinants. The following is a summary of the main types of adverse biofilms formed on artificial marine surfaces, including major characteristics, community composition, influence factor, ecological roles, and impacts on human lives.
2.1 Microplastic biofilms
Oceans serve as a repository for plastic particles, hosting an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris within the marine system. Of these, 229,000 tons float on the surface, while 4 billion microplastics per square kilometer are globally distributed in the deep sea (Parker, 2015). Plastics, therefore, provide a distinctive and enduring habitat that can be colonized by microbes and transported over vast distances. This community of plastic-debris-associated microorganisms is generally referred to as “the plastisphere” (Zettler et al., 2013) (Figure 2E). In terms of open ocean waters, the known biomass of plastisphere has been previously estimated to be 0.01%–0.2% of total microbial biomass (Amaral-Zettler et al., 2020).
Several studies suggest that microbial diversity and richness may be highly influenced by environmental factors and niche partitioning (Dussud et al., 2018; Frere et al., 2018). Biogeographical and environmental parameters such as salinity and nutrient content have a strong influence on the structure of marine microplastic biofilms (Amaral-Zettler et al., 2015; Oberbeckmann et al., 2018). The microbial colonization of MP surfaces is also significantly influenced by the unique structural characteristics of the colonizing microorganisms and the properties of the microplastics (Pompilio et al., 2008; Gong et al., 2019; Feng et al., 2020). Electrostatic interactions governed by surface charge in plastics and microbial communities result in chemical adsorption, while the adhesion of microbial cells to substrates with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) leads to physical adsorption (Kor and Mehdinia, 2020; Kumar et al., 2019). Bacteria possess a negative charge and attach more rapidly to surfaces with a positive charge. Compared to other microplastics, polyethylene and polystyrene are less favorable to bacterial attachment due to their negative charges (He et al., 2022). The polymer type of microplastics has been extensively investigated (Lozano et al., 2021; McGivney et al., 2020; Meng et al., 2022). The varying composition of microplastics regulates their explicit buoyancy and superficial rugosities, which influence biofilm formation, microbial colonization, and the capacity for long-distance dispersion of microorganisms (Hossain et al., 2019). A monitoring investigation of biofilms on four distinct microplastics revealed that polyolefins had the highest total suspended solids and organic matter content due to their low surface energy (Artham et al., 2009). Xie et al. indicated that the predominant bacteria on the surfaces of four microplastics were associated with particular groups on the microplastic molecules (Xie et al., 2021). It is intriguing to note that the chemical components of the plastic debris collected from a Mediterranean Sea beach affected the functions expressed by the microbial communities rather than their structure (Delacuvellerie et al., 2022). Moreover, Sooriyakumar et al. determined that surface roughness influences the types of microorganisms that inhabit the plastic surface (Sooriyakumar et al., 2022). Aged microplastics exhibited an enhanced microbial community composition, attributed to their high surface area, roughness, and polarity (Rai et al., 2021). Goldstein et al. (2014) demonstrated a positive correlation between the diversity of fouling microorganisms in the North Pacific and the size of microplastic fragments (Goldstein et al., 2014). Carson et al. (2013) observed that an increase in the size of MP fragments corresponded with a rise in the abundance of microbial taxa, while diversity remained unchanged (Carson et al., 2013). According to Gong et al., microplastics with varying particle sizes had surface biofilms with different microbial-community compositions (Gong et al., 2023). Yao et al. proposed that the maintenance of biomass in the biofilm may be compromised by the more incompact biofilm formed on the surface that larger microplastics (Yao et al., 2019). Smaller microplastics have a larger surface area and potential surface chemical interactions, which could have an impact on the adsorption capacity (Horton et al., 2017). Furthermore, the particle size and surface modification of plastics greatly influenced their potential toxic effects on aquatic biofilms (Miao et al., 2019).
A core bacterial community comprising Cyanobacteriota, Bacteriodota, and Proteobacteria typically represents the dominant groups of microbial assemblages inhabiting microplastics in various marine ecosystems (Oberbeckmann et al., 2014; Dussud et al., 2018; Jiang et al., 2018; Xu et al., 2019; Li et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2021). Among these groups, Bacteroidia and Alpha-, and Gamma-proteobacteria are the most abundant classes (Delacuvellerie et al., 2019; Kirstein et al., 2019; Xu et al., 2019; Dudek et al., 2020). Additionally, archaeal communities could also potentially be present in plastic-associated biofilms. In a study, Crenarchaeota were found in all deep ocean-collected micro- and mesoplastic biofilms (Woodall et al., 2018). Moreover, using next-generation sequencing, De Tender et al. (2017) investigated the biofilm ecosystems on polyethylene microplastics cultured in marine environments. Their findings revealed a variety of microorganisms belonging to the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla, with a lesser presence of Zygomycota (De Tender et al., 2017).
Paints used to coat surfaces in aquatic environments often contain biocides to prevent biofouling, and as these coatings degrade, antifouling paint particles (APPs) end up in aquatic, and especially marine, sediments. Paint particles in the marine environment are often overlooked in microplastic pools (Turner, 2021). APPs release biocides and other chemicals that reduce the formation of biofilms, inhibiting the proliferation of organisms on submerged surfaces like ship hulls. Consequently, although microplastics are rapidly inhabited by microbial communities similar to those found on other inert substrates such as glass, rock, or wood (Wright et al., 2020), antifouling surfaces offer a niche that favors specific, albeit occasionally diverse, bacterial populations that exhibit resistance to active biocides (Chen et al., 2013; Flach et al., 2017). Tagg et al. (2019) investigated and compared biofilm communities on microplastics and paint particles collected from sediment grabs in the coastal Baltic. Researchers discovered that alkyd- and epoxy-based paints, presumably containing antifouling components, sustained unique and more stable communities than biofilms on polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics and on natural particles. The prevalence of the Desulfobacteraceae family on certain paint particles indicates that their presence in sediment may influence the sulfur metabolism cycle (Tagg et al., 2019). A recent study revealed that sediment microcosms contaminated with spiking APPs exhibit a distinct and consistent alteration in their microbial community, 71 indicator taxa associated with antifouling presence and 454 associated with antifouling absence were identified (Tagg et al., 2024).
Recently, the potential impacts of microplastics on the ecological functions in coastal environments have attracted increasing attention. For instance, the leaching of dissolved organic carbon from microplastics has been shown to significantly influence the oceanic carbon cycle by increasing microbial activity (Romera-Castillo et al., 2018). The nitrification and denitrification of salt marsh sediments were facilitated by polyurethane foam and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) microplastics treatments, as demonstrated by Seeley et al.; conversely, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) inhibited both processes (Seeley et al., 2020). In addition, biodegradable microplastics were observed to promote the microbial-mediated reduction of sulfate to chromium-reducible sulfides in coastal sediments, demonstrating their substantial effects on the coastal biogeochemical S cycle (Wang et al., 2023).
It is reasonable to assume that QS has the potential to influence the formation and composition of the plastisphere, despite the fact that the pertinent research has not yet been conducted. Rhodobacteraceae were found to comprise 16.4% of the bacterial biofilms of marine microplastics in the Yangtze River Estuary, China (Jiang et al., 2018) and to occupy core populations in the plastisphere (Debroas et al., 2017; Dussud et al., 2018). According to Zhang et al. (2014), a significant percentage of Rhodobacteraceae in the plastisphere was ascribed to the conserved and ubiquitous QS signaling molecules involved in a number of metabolic processes, particularly flagellum movement and biofilm formation on plastic particles (Zan et al., 2014). QS may facilitate the attachment and aggregation of Rhodobacteraceae to the surface of marine microplastics and the inhibition of other bacteria, such as Gammaproteobacteria. Furthermore, QS bacteria isolated from marine microplastics demonstrated a strong capacity to form biofilms and showed the ideal conditions for epiphytic growth. Consequently, Oceanicola sp. strain D3, exhibiting QS capability, was isolated from a PVC biofilm (Li et al., 2019). It is noteworthy that bacteriostasis, algae inhibition, and the degradation ability of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) by QS bacteria could influence the pollution of microplastics in the marine environment (Gagné, 2017). Additionally, QS has the potential to serve as an innovative approach to investigate the degradation of marine microplastic biofilms. For instance, AHLs have the potential to alter the activity of extracellular hydrolases (Jatt et al., 2015). Consequently, a QS system that utilizes AHLs could play a significant role in the degradation of microplastic biofilms. Furthermore, QS bacteria may serve as effective indicators for monitoring MP contamination in the marine environment due to their rapid sensitivity to organic substances and dominant colonization.
It is believed that microbial communities present in microplastics play a potential role in the degradation of plastic polymers (Jacquin et al., 2019). Due to their hydrocarbon-clastic nature, microbial biofilms could also change the physical properties of microplastics, such as size and buoyancy, therefore allowing them to utilize microplastics as a source of energy by breaking down petroleum derivatives and complex biopolymers (Zettler et al., 2013; Ogonowski et al., 2018). Alteromonadaceae and Burkholderiales, Erythrobacter spp., and Alcanivorax borkumensis in microplastic biofilms were demonstrated to be capable of degrading poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate (PHBH), hydrocarbons, and low-density polyethylene, respectively (Morohoshi et al., 2018; Curren and Leong, 2019; Delacuvellerie et al., 2019). Moreover, the ratio of microplastics microbiological communities to free microbes in the oceans is expected to increase over time, thereby potentially impacting environmental ecological dynamics due to the presence of dense biofilms on these microplastics. The formerly less active or inactive species of the marine ecosystem can be selectively enriched on the newly introduced surface plastics in oceans. In addition, the leachate from microplastics can significantly enhance the levels of dissolved organic matter, thereby elevating microbial biomass in the ocean (Romera-Castillo et al., 2018). Wang et al. discovered that biofilms formed on microplastics act as viable carriers for aquatic contaminants, facilitating their trophic transmission across the food web to higher organisms (Wang et al., 2021).
The growing concern about microplastics arises from their potential to harm organisms and aquatic environments (Amaral-Zettler et al., 2020). An especially significant issue is that microplastics might act as substrates, facilitating the proliferation and dissemination of diseases (Barros and Seena, 2021). Some pathogenic bacteria were more prevalent on microplastics than on natural substrates (Sabatino et al., 2024; Stevenson et al., 2024); some pathogens were exclusively detected on microplastics (Hu et al., 2021). Opportunistic pathogens, including Vibrio (Kesy et al., 2021), Acinetobacter (Shi et al., 2021), and Mycobacterium (Zhao et al., 2021), have a substantial tendency to adhere to microplastics, as demonstrated by the most recent research. Moreover, microplastics play an important role in the proliferation, harboring, and dissemination of ARGs, hence exacerbating the difficulty of managing and treating infections (Liu et al., 2021).
Moreover, in comparison to planktonic cells, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is believed to occur more frequently and be more widespread in microplastic biofilms through type IV secretion systems and conjugation (Arias-Andres et al., 2018). Although the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown, a high frequency of exchange of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has been observed, which is postulated to contribute to the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) (Arias-Andres et al., 2018; Donlan, 2000). The functionality of biofilms and the prevalence and types of gene exchange taking place on marine microplastic particles are both intriguing areas that continue to be subjects of ongoing research.
2.2 Biofilms causing marine corrosion
Marine corrosion is a complex process that refers to the electrochemical degradation of materials, typically metals, under the influence of prolonged contact of marine structures with seawater (Lawal et al., 2024). The seawater itself acts as an electrolyte with high corrosive properties. Chemical corrosion is predominantly initiated by pure chemical activity. Corrosion occurs when metal materials are exposed to the marine environment and interact directly with it. Gases such as SO3, SO2, and CO2 can dissolve in the liquid layer interacting with the metal surface, resulting in an acidic environment that erodes the metal (Sun et al., 2016). Additionally, the oceanic environment is intricate due to the influence of marine organisms and their metabolites, which collectively contribute to corrosion (Li et al., 2019). Upon submergence in seawater, surfaces quickly become colonized by microorganisms, leading to the formation of highly heterogeneous and dynamic three-dimensional structures. This deleterious biofilm formation has a significant impact on maritime engineering, resulting in considerable damage and financial losses worldwide (Enning and Garrelfs, 2014).
MIC is the corrosion of materials that is promoted directly by the living activities of microbes or indirectly by their metabolites, while marine biofouling is the result of the unfavorable settlement and accumulation of marine microorganisms and macro-foulers on submerged surfaces of materials (Li et al., 2019). Thus, MIC is a corrosion process that takes place at the microscopic level, involving interactions between microorganisms and material surfaces, while biofouling is a macro-level process characterized by the deposition and accumulation of fouling substances on surfaces. Both MIC and biofouling are closely associated with biofilms that are formed by marine microorganisms that are sorted by the initial film (KoChina et al., 2022). Organisms associated with MIC are simply a variety of microbes. Organisms associated with biofouling comprise different microorganisms, plants, and animals. Microorganisms are the cause of biofouling creation because they generate appropriate settling sites and circumstances and nutrients that attract additional organisms (Li et al., 2019).
Metal corrosion could be accelerated either directly or indirectly by microbiological activities or their metabolites, known as microbiologically influenced corrosion (Liu et al., 2017) (Figure 2C). A prominent example of this phenomenon occurs in the oil and gas industry, including storage and transportation processes. While microbes play a crucial role in oil bioremediation, the microbial contamination in oil and natural gas facilities is undesirable because they can metabolize hydrocarbons, alter sulfur content, and affect oil density and viscosity. The anaerobic conditions common in the oil sector, together with the abundance of microbe substrates, such as hydrocarbons and organosulfur compounds, stimulate the biofilm formation, which causes microbial-influenced corrosion (Vigneron et al., 2016; Abu Bakar et al., 2017; Li et al., 2017).
Biofilm formation and development, which are influenced by microbial metabolisms and corrosion, play a critical role in MIC. Several studies have revealed that different stages in biofilm formation exert varying impacts on corrosion. The formation of heterogeneous biofilms due to the detachment of unstable ones can result in localized corrosion, thereby accelerating the overall corrosion rate (Xia et al., 2015; Lenhart et al., 2014).
There are two primary theories explaining the mechanism by which microbial biofilms induce corrosion. According to the oxygen concentration cell theory, when heterogeneous biofilms form on a material surface, regions covered by dense biofilms experience oxygen deprivation due to prevention of biofilm formation and consumption by aerobic bacteria. Consequently, these areas serve as anodic sites in the corrosion process. Conversely, locations without biofilm or covered by thin biofilms act as cathodic sites for electron consumption and oxygen reaction (Jia et al., 2019). On the other hand, the bio-catalytic cathodic sulfate reaction (BCSR) theory posits that sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)-formed biofilms function as barriers to mass transfer, hindering carbon source diffusion. As a result of limited external carbon and electron availability, starved SRB near the metal surface utilize iron as an electron donor leading to iron corrosion. The released electrons are subsequently utilized by SRB for sulfate reduction (Skovhus et al., 2017). Dinh et al. (2004) found that unique marine deltaproteobacterial SRB enriched and isolated using metallic iron as the only electron donor reduced sulfate faster than traditional strains and were more corrosive. Furthermore, they generated a large amount of H2 rather than scavenging it, probably due to an initial excess of iron-derived reducing power (Dinh et al., 2004). Accordingly, direct electron intake from iron has been proposed as a kinetically more effective way to employ Fe0 for sulfate respiration than through the slowly generated abiotic H2, i.e., through a faster bypass (Dinh et al., 2004). Under laboratory conditions, sulfate- and iron-reducing bacteria were found in different layers of anaerobic biofilm on carbon steel in seawater, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) capacitance changes could indicate corrosion product alterations. The primary mechanism of corrosion inhibition is the formation of green rust, which is induced by biofilms. The change in capacitance in EIS can be used to indicate the change in corrosion products (Duan et al., 2008). It is further discovered that two SRB strains, Desulfopila corrodens strain IS4 and Desulfovibrio ferrophilus strain IS5, which were isolated from marine sediment, rapidly reduced sulfate while oxidizing metallic iron (as the only electron donor) (Enning et al., 2012). Moreover, recent research has shown that outer-membrane cytochromes (OMCs) are extensively conserved in sediment oxidized sulfur species (OSS)-respiring bacteria and allow cells to directly utilize electrons from insoluble minerals through extracellular electron transport (Deng et al., 2018).
Assorted bacteria, including sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB), SRB belonging to the Delta-proteobacteria, non-cultivable iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB) belonging to the Zeta-proteobacteria, iron-reducing bacteria (IRB), slime-producing bacteria (SPB), and acid-producing bacteria (APB), are known to be involved in bio-corrosion (Enning and Garrelfs, 2014). The growth of biofilm was found to be essential for electron uptake on a cathodic surface by Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5, an iron-corroding strain. However, the mechanism of electron uptake from the cathode may differ from that involved in iron corrosion (McCully and Spormann, 2020). Unlike hydrogenase-positive bacteria that typically utilize H2 as an electron carrier, anaerobic microbial iron corrosion involves a more direct acquisition of electrons from metallic iron rather than through hydrogen consumption (Enning et al., 2012). The corrosion process typically involves sulfate reduction, nitrate reduction, metal reduction, sulfur oxidation, metal oxidation, and fermentation processes. In natural biofilms, a diverse range of species initiates a cascade of metabolic activities that result in more severe corrosion compared to the effects caused by a single species (Kip and Van Veen, 2015). SRB and IOB often cooperate within biofilms formed on metal substrates, mediating this process as the main culprits. IOB depletes oxygen, creating a favorable environment for the growth of anaerobic SRBs, which subsequently promotes corrosion by the matrix (Dong et al., 2011; Belkaid et al., 2011; Jones and Amy, 2002). The coexistence of iron-oxidizing bacteria (which directly contribute to corrosion) and iron-reducing bacteria facilitates the continuous progression of the corrosion process (Videla and Herrera, 2009). The formation and maintenance of biofilm structures are crucial in the process of marine biocorrosion. The biofilms contain high concentrations of organic acids, which exhibit corrosive properties towards metals and concrete (Procópio, 2019). Moreover, by selectively chelating cations, the EPS of biofilms can serve as efficient electron transporters between biofilms and metals (Ma et al., 2020). Bacteria account for over 98% of the microbial population assessed by qPCR in samples from three anaerobic biofilms inside a severely corroded steel pipe at an offshore oil facility in the Gulf of Mexico; however, archaea species were also detected (Vigneron et al., 2016). The findings of various studies have consistently shown that sulfur oxidizers and methanogens are the predominant archaeal groups associated with marine microbial corrosion (Usher et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2019).
Biofilm formation on metal surfaces, however, can hinder corrosion through various mechanisms, such as bacterial aerobic respiration that neutralizes corrosive agents, the creation of protective films, and the inhibition of corrosion-inducing bacteria growth via antimicrobial secretion (Videla and Herrera, 2009). Adequate evidence exists in the literature that molecules that disrupt quorum sensing have been employed to mitigate biocorrosion. These molecules function by either inhibiting the release of signaling proteins or degrading them. These quorum quenchers (QQ) or QS inhibitors (QSI), which were recommended as a means of preventing the corrosion caused by multiple microorganisms, consist of a variety of synthetic and natural biocides, such as surfactin, magnesium peroxide, capsaicin, penicillic acid, gramicidin, patulin, cinnamaldehyde, vanillin, hexadecanoic acid, isonaamidine, phenolics, saponins, quinones, tannins, terpenoids, AHL acylases, and AHL lactonases (Scarascia et al., 2016). There is still much to be explored regarding biofilm growth and surface corrosion in the maritime environment.
2.3 Marine biofouling biofilms
The undesired settlement and aggregation of marine microbes, plants, and animals on submerged material surfaces are referred to as marine biofouling (Lindholdt et al., 2015). Marine substrates such as aquaculture equipment, oil and gas installations, and ship hulls often exhibit diverse accumulations of micro- and macro-foulers (Blackwood et al., 2017). On a single ship’s hull, for instance, there exists various materials and structures that provide distinct fouling niches favored by different organisms. The formation of marine biofouling biofilms increases frictional resistance leading to higher fuel consumption. Additionally, it initiates or accelerates the corrosion of metals and concrete, which elevates the risk of failure in marine facilities and equipment (Blackwood et al., 2017) (Figure 2D).
Marine biofouling is a microbial biofilm-related process that encompasses the following sequential steps, as depicted in Figure 4. First, surfaces undergo rapid physicochemical alterations within seconds to minutes due to the deposition of an organic conditioning film composed of various organic molecules. Subsequently, bacteria adhere to this film and develop into a biofilm as primary colonizers. The biofilm communities colonizing artificial surfaces in Mauritian coastal waters were predominantly composed of Proteobacteria, specifically Gamma-proteobacteria (Rampadarath et al., 2017). Third, secondary colonizers such as larvae, diatoms, and microalgae spores accumulate on these surfaces to exploit the nutrients provided by the pre-existing biofilm matrix. Finally, macro-planktonic communities such as mussels and barnacles subsequently settle and proliferate on material surfaces over time (Roberts et al., 1991). As pivotal initiators of biofouling processes, microbial biofilms create favorable settlement sites with optimal conditions while also serving as nutrient sources for attracting new species. The production of macro-foulers may be regulated by bacterial activities, while the presence of macro-foulers can offer protection for bacteria and their biofilms against eradication.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Marine biofilms on various abiotic surfaces in the ocean. Microbial coverage is present on various surfaces in marine environments, including seafloor microbial mats that are formed by multiple biofilms of microorganisms embedded in a matrix of exopolysaccharides, in a vertical fashion, multispecies biofilm formation on the surface of microplastic particles, MIC biofilm formed on submerged ship hulls, microbial biofilms in fractured suboceanic sediments, and biofilms coating sand particles.
Marine biofilms play a crucial role in facilitating the settlement and morphogenesis of macro-fouling organisms (Agostini et al., 2021). Model studies have demonstrated that specific bacterial strains can induce morphogenesis in marine invertebrates by extracellular phage-like structures or the released vesicles (Dobretsov and Rittschof, 2020). The morphogenic development of brown and green algae, in contrast, requires the co-cultivation of distinct strains (Tapia et al., 2016; Wichard, 2023). This symbiotic relationship appears to be validated by model testing of anti-fouling strategies. A study investigating various cementitious materials for biofouling prevention demonstrated that surfaces with biofilms exhibiting lower total cell counts exhibited a correspondingly reduced total biomass of macrofouling organisms (Hayek et al., 2021). Similarly, a study on the development of Shewanella marisflavi biofilms and their impact on mussel settlement revealed that enzymatic inhibition of total bacterial protein count significantly reduced both the bacterial cell count and the settlement of mussels (Hayek et al., 2021).
Marine biofouling is a significant international challenge that has a substantial impact on global economies and ecosystems. It manifests as the widespread and costly colonization of submerged surfaces by marine organisms, and the global transportation of invasive, harmful species (Byers et al., 2023). The utilization of antifouling coatings has emerged as the predominant method for preventing fouling, owing to their efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and ease of maintenance (Liu et al., 2023). Currently, long-term effective anti-fouling coatings are non-passive. These systems predominantly depend on the exfoliation of surface layers (self-polishing), which consistently release deleterious metallic ions and accompanying booster biocides into the surrounding environment. In spite of the stringent environmental regulations in Europe, the 11 antifouling biocides that have been approved continue to pose a danger to the marine environment (de Campos et al., 2022). While these coatings can greatly reduce adherent organisms on exposed surfaces, their toxic effects on nearby marine ecosystems and indiscriminate targeting of all proximate marine species have depleted essential marine-based human food sources (Ali et al., 2024).
The Galvanic Anode Cathodic Protection system (GACP) is extensively employed to protect submerged metallic structures from corrosion. Due to their low mass consumption, high efficiency, negative corrosion potential, and, of course, affordability, aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), and magnesium (Mg) are the main metals that compose galvanic anodes (Levallois et al., 2023). Because the galvanic anode has a lower electrochemical potential than the metal to be protected, the metal oxidizes and releases toxicologically significant components into the marine environment as ions or oxyhydroxides (Reese et al., 2020). In addition, electroactive bacteria are naturally present in marine environments. These bacteria spontaneously colonize anodes to form biofilms and maintain electrooxidation processes on their surface (Flemming et al., 2016). As more immerged metallic structures are and will be protected by galvanic anodes, such as the growing number of offshore wind farms, the potential effects of metals released by galvanic anodes on marine ecosystems are critical. Nevertheless, the coatings industry appears to be very conservative, primarily as a result of economic and technical constraints. Passive technology development is now beyond critical. The majority of current research on the synthesis of alternative passive anti-fouling solutions has concentrated on natural-occurring interfacial derivations (Ali et al., 2024). The development of environmentally benign, high-performance, and broad-spectrum surfaces has been facilitated by evolutionary processes in nature. Current research is focused on the adaptation of these innovative structures (Ali et al., 2024). Furthermore, an ambitious and comprehensive regulatory framework is essential to facilitate the necessary green technological revolution while balancing economic sustainability, global trade interests, conservation initiatives, and inspiring future innovations.
3 Marine biofilms formed on inert natural surfaces
3.1 Seafloor microbial mats
Despite the functional importance of mediating biogeochemical cycles, research on biofilms in their natural settings, particularly at the sediment–water interface, has received limited attention. Microbial mats are a specialized type of biofilm that typically consist of one to several cell layers and vary in thickness from a few millimeters to a centimeter (Bolhuis and Stal, 2011). Another defining feature of microbial mats is that the vast majority of them is autotrophic; in other words, they utilize inorganic carbons as carbon sources photosynthetically or chemosynthetically (Zammit et al., 2021; Nakagawa and Takai, 2008).
The seafloor mats are vertically stratified benthic microbial communities that thrive at the seawater–seabed interface. Depending on the environmental circumstances, these mats can cover entire basins or span a few thousand square meters (Valentine et al., 2016). Functional groups of marine microorganisms are densely compacted into a thin mat laterally where varying amounts of minerals such as silicates and carbonates may also be embedded (Stal et al., 1984). The formation of mat is primarily driven by microbial activities, interactions between microorganisms and their grazers, and the viral shunt (i.e., viral lysis that converts microbial biomass into a pool of dissolved organic matter; Rastelli et al., 2017). The development of the mat is facilitated by the mat-associated microbiota, which produces EPS and encases organic sheaths (Flood et al., 2021). The hyphae of fungi can enhance the stability of microbial mats and serve a structural function by traversing the physicochemical gradients present in the layers (Pasulka et al., 2019; Velázquez et al., 2016). Seafloor mat residents, specialized consortia of bacteria and archaea, interact closely with each other in spatial and temporal physiological couplings (Allen et al., 2009; Spring et al., 2015). Diverse metabolic activities can occur in close proximity due to rapid nutrient cycling across microgradients and potential niche diversification within mat layers. As a result, these conditions create an excellent setting for cross-genera communication and the formation of unique community symbioses.
The processes of denitrification, metal reduction, and sulfate reduction are prevalent and essential in microbial mats. Photosynthesis is the primary energy source for microbial mats at shallow depths. The Cyanobacteria in shallow-water mats utilize solar energy to assimilate inorganic carbon, synthesize sugars, and release oxygen; many of them also possess the ability to fix N2, resulting in intricate patterns of nitrogenase activity (Prieto-Barajas et al., 2018). The SRBs also play a crucial role in microbial mats by facilitating the conversion of sulfates into sulfur and the oxidation of organic materials (Bolhuis et al., 2014). At deeper depth, marine microbial mats are typically supported by chemosynthetic processes (Kato et al., 2018). Microbial mats formed on the benthic–planktonic interface of deep-sea vents and cold seeps are predominantly self-sustaining, as they support most of the major biogeochemical cycles. Seafloor-associated bacteria that establish close symbiotic relationships with metazoans form the foundation of the food chain, resulting in highly specialized and diversified metazoan vent communities (Dubilier et al., 2008).
In the oligotrophic deep sea, hydrothermal vents and seeps function as oases of life with exceptional biodiversity and productivity, owing to the elevated concentration of metals contained in the expelled fluids that can be utilized by chemoautotrophs. Commonly, SRBs from the Delta-proteobacteria are consistently found in hydrothermal sites (Houghton et al., 2007; Frank et al., 2013). Additionally, SOBs typically dominate the chemosynthetic microbial communities in many hydrothermal vents (Huegler et al., 2010; Flores et al., 2011; Jaeschke et al., 2012). At cold seeps, microbial mats support a diverse community of methane- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (Crepeau et al., 2011). Mat-forming, sulfur-oxidizing Gamma-proteobacteria and Epsilon-proteobacteria (e.g., Sulfurovum and Sulfurimonas), particularly filamentous forms such as Beggiatoa and Thiothrix, are responsible for the visually noticeable white-colored microbial mats (Crepeau et al., 2011; Yamamoto and Takai, 2011; Kato et al., 2012) (Figure 2F). Depending on the environmental condition, Beggiatoa oxidize sulfide to elemental sulfur and usually further to sulfate-utilizing oxygen or nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor in cold seeps (Grünke et al., 2011). The reverse tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle is utilized by other microbial mat formers, such as Sulfurovum (Campylobacterota), for carbon fixation. These organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic adaptability, including the ability to oxidize hydrogen and sulfur while reducing oxygen, nitrates, and sulfur compounds (Stokke et al., 2015).
The production of a variety of extractable QS signals by mats has been demonstrated (Charlesworth et al., 2019; Decho et al., 2009). It has been proposed that QS could be in charge of the coordination of metabolic processes in these closely linked ecosystems reflecting strongly coupled microbial interactions (Prescott and Decho, 2020). Particularly, QS-mediated S transformations may play a particularly significant role in microbial mats. Sivakumar et al. (2019) identified a relationship between QS and sulfate reduction in two SRB: the marine bacterium Desulfobacterium corrodens and the soil bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Their results showed that QSI addition dramatically reduced the growth rates, biofilm formation, and sulfate reduction capacities of these strains, even at subinhibitory concentrations (Sivakumar et al., 2019).
Microbial mats play an important role in regulating the erosive reaction of sediment particles to hydrodynamic forces (Paterson et al., 2000; Gerbersdorf et al., 2008; Vardy et al., 2007). Upon settling at the sediment surfaces, microbial-secreted EPS glue the sediment particles together in the matrix (Decho, 1990; Flemming, 2011), effectively covering and shielding excessive portions of the sedimentary surfaces from erosion (Noffke and Paterson, 2008), a process known as “bio-stabilization” (Paterson, 1989). Furthermore, mineral precipitation is closely associated with the development of microbial mats (Sanz-Montero and Rodriguez-Aranda, 2013). Initial mats can further evolve into solid, typically reef-like structures like stromatolites, by retaining sediment particles and facilitating mineral precipitation (“biomineralization”) under favorable conditions (Noffke and Paterson, 2008; Phoenix and Konhauser, 2008). When the by-products of microbial reactions disrupt the chemical balance of the micro-environment, substances such as carbonate, iron sulfide, iron oxide, or silica precipitate. For example, microbial mats can facilitate biological carbonate precipitation through processes like photosynthesis, biological oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis (Grotzinger and Knoll, 1999). In addition, when mineral elements (such as iron) are concentrated by complexing (binding) with organic molecules produced by mats communities, mineral precipitation can be triggered (Baskar et al., 2008). Moreover, in certain seafloor environments, such as thermal springs, abiotic precipitation can occur. In such cases, mat microbes may act as templates for precipitation when fluid saturation level is sufficiently high for spontaneous precipitation (Dupraz et al., 2009). As stromatolite analogs, microbial mats are widely recognized as the oldest ecosystem on Earth, with their fossils dating back nearly 3.5 billion years (Margulis et al., 1980).
3.2 Deep suboceanic sedimentary biofilms
Over geological timeframes, the deep biosphere serves as a vital component of biogeochemical fluxes and processes in the Earth’s system (Parkes et al., 2014). Despite typically low level of activity, with generation durations spanning thousands of years, comprehensive calculations indicate that subsurface sediments contribute significantly to sediment activity, establishing their global biogeochemical relevance (Colwell and D’Hondt, 2013). It has been confirmed that the deep marine biosphere is actively populated by microbial cells, which gradually form clusters (Teske, 2005). The deep oceanic subsurface represents a habitat predominantly dominated by biofilms, particularly in regions exhibiting high biogeochemical activity.
The estimated range of the habitable deep suboceanic zone extends from 0.5 km to 5 km crust depth (from 1 million year old to 180 million year old), based on modeled 120°C isotherms (with 120°C as the temperature limit for microbial life) (Bar-On et al., 2018; Heberling et al., 2010). Despite concerns about its validity, lipid analysis reveals that the deep suboceanic biosphere harbors approximately 90% of the suboceanic biomass, with archaea accounting for up to 35% of the biomass in marine subsurface sediments (Danovaro et al., 2015). The basaltic layer with significant porosity serves as the main layer that provides space for microbial residence and activities (Schrenk et al., 2010). Crustal communities act as a conduit for critical elements transfer from the mantle to surface water (Menez et al., 2012).
The acquisition of samples and separation of sessile cells pose challenges in studying subsurface biofilms, with key aspects of their ecology remaining unclear. Homogenization of sediment samples, followed by separation and enrichment of microbial cells contained within, which are subsequently counted using fluorescence microscopy (Morono and Inagaki, 2016), has been established as a direct approach for the quantification of sessile cells. However, both direct and indirect approaches fail to distinguish between single cells, aggregates, and mature biofilms.
Under energy constraints, adhesion to surfaces has been regarded as a survival strategy (Marshall, 1985). Substrates such as fatty acids can adhere to the particles surfaces and accumulate locally (Lever et al., 2015), providing a plausible explanation. Sediment particles serve as excellent colonization substrates for biofilms, offering nutrients and different types of electron acceptors and donors (Battin et al., 2016). The marine sediments harbor the largest methane reservoir on Earth (Liu et al., 2022). Sessile bacteria in the subsurface reduce carbon dioxide or low-molecular-weight organic compounds, forming the biotic proportion (Thorseth et al., 2001). Boetius et al. demonstrated that marine microbial consortia performed anaerobic oxidation of methane in anoxic sediments (Boetius et al., 2000). The oxidation primarily takes place in biofilms formed by anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME), generally together with SRB partners (Knittel and Boetius, 2009; Yang et al., 2021) (Figure 2G).
The sedimentary biofilm microbiota is affected by physical and chemical parameters in its surrounding environments, which in turn exerts influences on the intricate nature of sediments. Therefore, a thorough understanding of both deep-sea microbial life and marine sediment dynamics relies heavily on comprehending the critical process of microbial biofilm formation on particle surfaces. Several studies conducted on natural sediments have demonstrated that sand and silt particles are preferred habitats, while clay particles are rarely colonized due to their small size (Weise and Rheinheimer, 1978; Deflaun and Mayer, 1983). Additionally, the degree of roundness of particles plays a significant role in microbial colonization: as particle roundness (and age) increases, microbial colonization decreases. Moreover, it is observed that microbial biofilms tend to form within low-relief areas on particles, such as crevices, depressions, and surface fissures where cells are better protected from external mechanical damage (Meadows and Anderson, 1966; Weise and Rheinheimer, 1978). Furthermore, subsurface sediment layers can be stabilized by biofilm-associated activity during fluid eruption events. In pelagic environments, these pervasive biofilms can alter the characteristics of eroded sediment flocs including size, shape, density, and settling velocity. Consequently, sediment transport and deposition processes are influenced (Droppo, 2001, 2004).
4 Conclusions
Various marine surfaces harbor diverse, distinct microbial communities that remain poorly explored. In this review, the recent advancements in understanding marine surface colonization and biofilm formation on multiple abiotic surfaces are synthesized and discussed (Figure 4). However, there are still significant knowledge gaps regarding community diversity, metabolites, ecological functions, and their response and influence on the changing marine environment. Testing and applying new bioinformatics pipelines with reduced cost and errors, techniques with high spatial and temporal resolution targeting cell phenotype, metabolism, and response to environmental fluctuations, and sensitive in situ measurements are essential for investigating natural marine biofilms. Integrating ecological findings combined with metabolic network reconstructions and biogeochemical modeling would provide valuable insights into higher-level properties of the biofilm-associated populations such as cooperative and other socio-microbial functions and biogeochemical roles.
Author contributions
SY: Conceptualization, Resources, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Investigation, Methodology, Software. XL: Writing – review & editing. HL: Funding acquisition, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was financially supported by China Geological Survey (grant number DD20221703 and DD20230063) and Guangdong Major project of Basic and Applied Basic Research Program (grant number 2020B0301030003).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
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Keywords: marine biofilms, microplastic biofilms, biofouling, biocorrosion, subsurface mats, sedimentary biofilms
Citation: Yu S, Lu X and Lu H (2025) Marine microbial biofilms on diverse abiotic surfaces. Front. Mar. Sci. 12:1482946. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2025.1482946
Received: 19 August 2024; Accepted: 31 January 2025;
Published: 26 February 2025.
Edited by:
Jin Zhou, Tsinghua University, ChinaReviewed by:
Yan-Hua Zeng, Hainan University, ChinaSujata Dabolkar, Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, India
Samira Benali, University of Mons, Belgium
Copyright © 2025 Yu, Lu and Lu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Shan Yu, c2hhbnl1QHBrdS5lZHUuY24=
‡ORCID: Xindi Lu, orcid.org/0000-0003-0094-4397