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Enriched microplastic-associated biofilms exacerbate gut microbial dysbiosis and metabolic disruption in mice

Shan Li1, Tingqin Chen1, Jiajia Liu1

  • 1Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan, Kunming, 650500, China.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|August 3, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Microplastics (MPs) can harbor harmful biofilms. Exposure in mice altered gut bacteria, inflammation, and intestinal barrier function, indicating potential health risks for mammals.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Microplastics (MPs) and opportunistic pathogens are emerging environmental concerns.
  • The health risks of mammalian exposure to MP-associated biofilms are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize microbial biofilms on MPs over 12 weeks.
  • To assess the health impacts of MP-associated biofilms in a murine model.

Main Methods:

  • Biofilm characterization from aquatic and sediment MPs.
  • Metagenomic and metabolomic profiling of biofilms and host responses.
  • Murine model for dietary exposure assessment.

Main Results:

  • Biofilms showed altered community composition with genes for antibiotic resistance and virulence.
  • MP-biofilm exposure in mice led to gut microbiota shifts and increased intestinal inflammation.
  • Synchronous metabolic alterations and downregulated intestinal barrier markers were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental biofilms on MPs can induce complex physiological responses in mammals.
  • This study offers a framework for evaluating mammalian health risks from plastisphere-associated microbes.
Keywords:
Bacterial biofilmsExposure experimentGut microbiotaIntestinal inflammationMicroplastic

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