Vibrio Colonization Is Highly Dynamic in Early Microplastic-Associated Biofilms as Well as on Field-Collected Microplastics

Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems and provide a habitat for biofilm-forming bacteria. The genus Vibrio, which includes potential pathogens, was detected irregularly on microplastics. Since then, the potential of microplastics to enrich (and serve as a vector for) Vibrio has been widely discussed. We investigated Vibrio abundance and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) composition on polyethylene and polystyrene within the first 10 h of colonization during an in situ incubation experiment, along with those found on particles collected from the Baltic Sea. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and co-occurrence networks to elaborate the role of Vibrio within biofilms. Colonization of plastics with Vibrio was detectable after one hour of incubation; however, Vibrio numbers and composition were very dynamic, with a more stable population at the site with highest nutrients and lowest salinity. Likewise, Vibrio abundances on field-collected particles were variable but correlated with proximity to major cities. Vibrio was poorly connected within biofilm networks. Taken together, this indicates that Vibrio is an early colonizer of plastics, but that the process is undirected and independent of the specific surface. Still, higher nutrients could enhance a faster establishment of Vibrio populations. These parameters should be considered when planning studies investigating Vibrio on microplastics.

Vibrio Species in an Urban Tropical Estuary: Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Interaction with Environmental Parameters, and Possible Public Health Outcomes

“…are colonizers of microplastics in the Baltic Sea, an environment that is also greatly impacted by anthropogenic pollution. In this same study, the authors also observed that the abundance of Vibrio on such particles was greater in areas closer to major cities [ 77 ]. Therefore, we hypothesize that Vibrio spp.…”

<em> </em>Current Research on Microbe-Plastic Interactions in the Marine Environment

“…Interestingly, Lee et al 32 found that, at the earliest time points (3 or 9 h incubation), the Gammaproteobacteria dominate, while their results from 24 or 36 h of incubation were consistent with that suggested above where the Alphaproteobacteria dominate. The other study including time points of less than one day, Kesy et al 61 , only reported on the Vibrio genus (Gammaproteobacteria), and while they did find colonisation by Vibrio spp. by 1 h of incubation, further studies (or re-analysis of the data obtained by Kesy et al) are needed to confirm the findings of Lee et al in different settings.…”

“…Whilst results fluctuate depending on the individual study, when looking at coarse time scales, current research suggests that the Alphaproteobacteria are generally more abundant at early (below one week) than late (above one week) time points, while the opposite is true for the Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria 16 . However, only 15 of the time series studies include these early time points, with only two studies including sequencing of the microbial community before one day of incubation, Lee et al (2008) and Kesy et al (2021) 32,61 . Interestingly, Lee et al 32 found that, at the earliest time points (3 or 9 h incubation), the Gammaproteobacteria dominate, while their results from 24 or 36 h of incubation were consistent with that suggested above where the Alphaproteobacteria dominate.…”

Assessing the Risks of Potential Bacterial Pathogens Attaching to Different Microplastics during the Summer–Autumn Period in a Mariculture Cage

“…While temperature is the major factor structuring the occurrence of pathogens on microplastics and its surrounding water, the high nutrient level caused by the accumulation of residual feed and excrement is another inescapable pathogen-associated factor in mariculture environments, when compared with other aquatic ecosystems. Higher nutrients could improve the survival of pathogens due to reduced competition for nutrients and lead to more rapid reproductions of the pathogenic community [17,26]. Additionally, higher nutrients could lead to a more rapid establishment of, and perhaps more consolidated, pathogenic population on microplastics [17].…”

“…Over the past decade, research effort has been undertaken on exploring the pathogen risk of microplastics in various aquatic ecosystems, such as coastal water [17], bays [18], estuaries [19], urban rivers [20]. Some studies have suggested that microplastics can serve as vectors to increase the survival of potential pathogens, and transfer pathogens to marine organisms or formerly unaffected ecosystems [21].…”