Plastisphere as a vector for pathogens

There is growing evidence that plastic particles can accumulate
microorganisms that are pathogenic to humans or animals. In the current
study, the composition of the plastispheres that accumulated on
polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) pieces submerged in a river in the southeast Norway
was characterized by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Seasonal and
geographical effects on the bacterial composition of the plastispheres
were identified, in addition to the detection of potential foodborne
pathogenic bacteria and viruses as part of the plastisphere. The diversity
and taxonomic composition of the plastispheres were influenced by the
number of weeks in the river, the season, and the location. The bacterial
diversity differed significantly in the plastispheres from June and
September, with a generally higher diversity in June. Also, the community
composition of the plastispheres was significantly influenced by the
geographical location, while the type of plastic had less impact. Plastics
submerged in river water assembled a variety of microorganisms including
potentially pathogenic bacteria and viruses (noro- and adenovirus)
detected by qPCR. Cultivation methods detected viable bacteria such as E.
coli and L. monocytogenes. The results highlight the need for additional
research on the risk of contaminating food with plastic particles
colonized with human pathogens through irrigation water.