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Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
Published on: October 31, 2019
Marine plastisphere selectively enriches microbial assemblages and antibiotic resistance genes during long-term
1Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea; Interdisciplinary Major of Ocean Renewable Energy Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea.
Abstract:
Several studies have focused on identifying and quantifying suspended plastics in surface and subsurface seawater. Microplastics (MPs) have attracted attention as carriers of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the marine environment. Plastispheres, specific biofilms on MP, can provide an ideal niche to spread more widely through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), thereby increasing risks to ecosystems and human health. However, the microbial communities formed on different plastic types and ARG abundances during exposure time in natural marine environments remain unclear. Four types of commonly used MPs (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) were periodically cultured (46, 63, and 102 d) in a field-based marine environment to study the co-selection of ARGs and microbial communities in marine plastispheres. After the first 63 d of incubation (p < 0.05), the initial 16S rRNA gene abundance of microorganisms in the plastisphere increased significantly, and the biomass subsequently decreased. These results suggest that MPs can serve as vehicles for various microorganisms to travel to different environments and eventually provide a niche for a variety of microorganisms. Additionally, the qPCR results showed that MPs selectively enriched ARGs. In particular, tetA, tetQ, sul1, and qnrS were selectively enriched in the PVC-MPs. The abundances of intl1, a mobile genetic element, was measured in all MP types for 46 d (5.22 × 10-5 ± 8.21 × 10-6 copies/16s rRNA gene copies), 63 d (5.90 × 10-5 ± 2.49 × 10-6 copies/16s rRNA gene copies), and 102 d (4.00 × 10-5 ± 5.11 × 10-6 copies/16s rRNA gene copies). Network analysis indicated that ARG profiles co-occurred with key biofilm-forming bacteria. This study suggests that the selection of ARGs and their co-occurring bacteria in MPs could potentially accelerate their transmission through HGT in natural marine plastics.
Insights
Marine microplastics (MPs) act as vehicles for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with specific plastic types selectively enriching ARGs and associated bacteria. This study highlights the potential for MPs to accelerate ARG transmission via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in marine environments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent in marine environments and are known to harbor microbial communities, termed plastispheres.
- These plastispheres can act as vectors for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), posing risks to ecosystems and human health.
- The specific microbial communities and ARG profiles associated with different plastic types and exposure times in natural settings remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microbial community composition and ARG abundance on four common MP types (PE, PP, PS, PVC) over time in a marine environment.
- To determine if MPs selectively enrich specific ARGs and if these enrichments correlate with microbial community structure.
- To assess the role of mobile genetic elements, like intl1, in the potential spread of ARGs.
Main Methods:
- Four types of MPs were incubated in a natural marine environment for 46, 63, and 102 days.
- Microbial community analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to quantify the abundance of specific ARGs (tetA, tetQ, sul1, qnrS) and the mobile genetic element intl1.
- Network analysis was employed to explore co-occurrence patterns between ARGs and bacterial taxa.
Main Results:
- Microbial gene abundance in plastispheres increased significantly after 63 days, followed by a decrease in biomass, indicating MPs serve as microbial transport vehicles.
- MPs selectively enriched ARGs, with PVC showing particular enrichment of tetA, tetQ, sul1, and qnrS.
- The mobile genetic element intl1 was detected across all MP types, suggesting its involvement in ARG mobility.
- Network analysis revealed a strong co-occurrence between ARG profiles and key biofilm-forming bacteria.
Conclusions:
- MPs facilitate microbial colonization and act as vectors for the dissemination of microorganisms in marine ecosystems.
- Specific plastic types can selectively enrich ARGs, with PVC demonstrating a notable capacity for this.
- The co-selection of ARGs with specific bacteria on MPs suggests a potential mechanism for accelerated ARG transmission through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in marine environments.
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