Please note that Systems Microbiology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles, unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation, and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied.
Plastic and microplastics (MPs) have been identified as emerging environmental threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health and activities. Although attention and efforts have been made to elucidate the direct effects of plastic and MPs on animal and plant life, the indirect effects of plastic pollution, including the effects of plastics as a vehicle for microbial dispersal among environments, remain unclear. Whilst being transported by water flow, plastic debris and MPs provide a durable solid surface that can be colonized by planktonic microorganisms and transported long distances, supporting the growth of microbial biofilms. This human-made ecosystem is referred to as the ‘plastisphere’ and numerous studies have found that these plastic-specific microbial communities are composed of primary producers, grazers, predators, and decomposers, with the biodiversity of these communities consistently differing from those found in the surrounding waters.
Recently, the use of molecular technologies has expanded our knowledge of the diversity and structure of biofilm communities thriving on plastics and MPs in aquatic environments, however, important questions remain unanswered. Different factors, including location (e.g., biogeography and anthropogenic influences) and time of year (e.g., seasons), appear to influence the microbial community that develops on plastic surfaces in aquatic environments. Less clear is the role of polymer type and properties on the structure and biodiversity of plastic-associated biofilms. Therefore, unfolding the composition and diversity of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their possible interactions is crucial to furthering our understanding of the role of the plastisphere in the aquatic systems exposed to plastic and MP contamination.
Research has found that plastisphere communities play a role in the transport of harmful, parasitic, and pathogenic organisms, in addition to antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacteria (ARBs), enabling their long-range dispersal in aquatic ecosystems. However, ARGs and pathogenic species associated with MPs are rarely studied, and so further research is needed to assess their impact on ecosystems and human health. At the same time, it has been supposed that some microbial species associated with plastic debris and MPs may be involved in the biodegradation of polymers. Although the degradation of different plastic types by several microbial strains has been demonstrated, there is a consistent lack of knowledge of the genes and/or enzymes responsible for this degradation activity. Therefore, further investigations are needed to elucidate the role of plastisphere in plastic biodegradation processes and to evaluate the possible use of microbial plastisphere communities as a possible solution for the end-of-life management of plastics.
This Research Topic aims to provide a platform to present the latest advancements in plastisphere knowledge, and we welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, and Mini Review articles on the following, but not limited to, subtopics:
1.) Plastisphere microbiome biodiversity and structure in different aquatic systems.
2.) Factors driving the colonization patterns and biofilm structure on plastic debris and MPs.
3.) Community interactions and gene transfer in plastic-associated biofilms.
4.) Possible implications of floating plastic and MPs microbial colonization for aquatic ecosystems.
5.) Potential risk to public and ecosystem health as a consequence of the possible dispersal of harmful, parasitic, and pathogenic organisms, as well as ARGs.
6.) Factors affecting the enrichment and selection of microbial taxonomic groups of ecological and human concern and ARGs of clinical relevance.
7.) Role and extent of plastisphere contribution to plastic biodegradation processes of different plastic types and identifying the involved microbial species and genes.
8.) Studies focused on microbial plastisphere isolates that provide further insight into the mechanisms, enzymes, and genes involved in plastic biodegradation.
Please note that Systems Microbiology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles, unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation, and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied.
Plastic and microplastics (MPs) have been identified as emerging environmental threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health and activities. Although attention and efforts have been made to elucidate the direct effects of plastic and MPs on animal and plant life, the indirect effects of plastic pollution, including the effects of plastics as a vehicle for microbial dispersal among environments, remain unclear. Whilst being transported by water flow, plastic debris and MPs provide a durable solid surface that can be colonized by planktonic microorganisms and transported long distances, supporting the growth of microbial biofilms. This human-made ecosystem is referred to as the ‘plastisphere’ and numerous studies have found that these plastic-specific microbial communities are composed of primary producers, grazers, predators, and decomposers, with the biodiversity of these communities consistently differing from those found in the surrounding waters.
Recently, the use of molecular technologies has expanded our knowledge of the diversity and structure of biofilm communities thriving on plastics and MPs in aquatic environments, however, important questions remain unanswered. Different factors, including location (e.g., biogeography and anthropogenic influences) and time of year (e.g., seasons), appear to influence the microbial community that develops on plastic surfaces in aquatic environments. Less clear is the role of polymer type and properties on the structure and biodiversity of plastic-associated biofilms. Therefore, unfolding the composition and diversity of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their possible interactions is crucial to furthering our understanding of the role of the plastisphere in the aquatic systems exposed to plastic and MP contamination.
Research has found that plastisphere communities play a role in the transport of harmful, parasitic, and pathogenic organisms, in addition to antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacteria (ARBs), enabling their long-range dispersal in aquatic ecosystems. However, ARGs and pathogenic species associated with MPs are rarely studied, and so further research is needed to assess their impact on ecosystems and human health. At the same time, it has been supposed that some microbial species associated with plastic debris and MPs may be involved in the biodegradation of polymers. Although the degradation of different plastic types by several microbial strains has been demonstrated, there is a consistent lack of knowledge of the genes and/or enzymes responsible for this degradation activity. Therefore, further investigations are needed to elucidate the role of plastisphere in plastic biodegradation processes and to evaluate the possible use of microbial plastisphere communities as a possible solution for the end-of-life management of plastics.
This Research Topic aims to provide a platform to present the latest advancements in plastisphere knowledge, and we welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, and Mini Review articles on the following, but not limited to, subtopics:
1.) Plastisphere microbiome biodiversity and structure in different aquatic systems.
2.) Factors driving the colonization patterns and biofilm structure on plastic debris and MPs.
3.) Community interactions and gene transfer in plastic-associated biofilms.
4.) Possible implications of floating plastic and MPs microbial colonization for aquatic ecosystems.
5.) Potential risk to public and ecosystem health as a consequence of the possible dispersal of harmful, parasitic, and pathogenic organisms, as well as ARGs.
6.) Factors affecting the enrichment and selection of microbial taxonomic groups of ecological and human concern and ARGs of clinical relevance.
7.) Role and extent of plastisphere contribution to plastic biodegradation processes of different plastic types and identifying the involved microbial species and genes.
8.) Studies focused on microbial plastisphere isolates that provide further insight into the mechanisms, enzymes, and genes involved in plastic biodegradation.