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Abstract

Microplastics and Associated Microorganisms in the Sea Sediment of the Sentina Regional Natural Reserve (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy) †

by
Angela Piersanti
1,
Anna-Rita Attili
1,
Monika Mortimer
2,
Signe Vahur
3,
Francesco Alessandro Palermo
1,
Paolo Cocci
1 and
Cristina Miceli
1,*
1
School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cell Biology and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
2
Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
3
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the International Conference EcoBalt 2023 “Chemicals & Environment”, Tallinn, Estonia, 9–11 October 2023.
Proceedings 2023, 92(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023092078
Published: 28 December 2023
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International Conference EcoBalt 2023 "Chemicals & Environment")
Versions Notes

(1) Background: The large dispersion of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment has effects on the health of living organisms [1,2,3]. The aim of this study was to identify MPs and their associated microorganisms in Adriatic Sea sediments and to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the microbial communities. (2) Methods: A beach transect, parallel to the shoreline where the waves break, was identified for the samplings. A protocol to perform MP isolation from sandy sediments at different seasons, suitable for biological sample upkeeping, and based on plastic floating in high salinity water, was optimized. From floating MPs, aerobic and anaerobic cultivable microorganisms were isolated and total DNA extraction was performed for the shotgun metagenomic analysis. Susceptibility to a panel of 14 antibiotics, belonging to 12 different categories, was assessed [4,5]. Chemical characteristics of the isolated MPs were analysed using a Thermo Nicolet 6700 FT-IR Spectrometer with “Smart Orbit” diamond micro-ATR accessory and Thermo Nicolet iN10 MX FT-IR microscope. (3) Results: Via chemical analysis, polypropylene microplastics were estimated in the highest percentage, followed by polyethylene, poly-methyl acrylate, and poly-vinyl chloride. Metagenomics data revealed differences in bacterial abundances during seasons and in floating MPs with respect to total sand. The differential gene analysis showed specific metabolic pathways in MP-associated microorganisms, including antibiotic resistance. Via microbial cultivation and MALDI-TOF MS identification, bacteria that are promising for plastic degradation, such as Lysinobacillus fusiformis, Exiguobacterium sp., and Pseudomonas oleovorans, were also found, as well as potential pathogens, like Clostridium septicum, Clostridium novyi, and Shewanella putrefaciens. Only 17.2% were found to be susceptible to all the tested antibiotics. High percentages of resistance were observed for penicillins (85.7%), monobactams (80.9%), and tetracyclines (64.3%). (4) Conclusions: MPs work as a vehicle for potential pathogens and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the Central Adriatic Sea.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, C.M., F.A.P. and M.M.; methodology, A.P., A.-R.A., M.M. and S.V.; formal analysis and data curation, A.P., A.-R.A. and P.C.; writing—review and editing, A.P., M.M. and C.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the Fondazione CRUI GoForIT project to support A.P.’s fellowship and Far BVI000068 to C.M.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The metagenomic data (sequenced DNA reads) mentioned in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available yet, since they need a deeper investigation.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Ogonowski, M.; Motiei, A.; Ininbergs, K.; Hell, E.; Gerdes, Z.; Udekwu, K.I.; Bacsik, Z.; Gorokhova, E. Evidence for selective bacterial community structuring on microplastics. Environ. Microbiol. 2018, 20, 2796–2808. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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  3. Silva, A.B.; Bastos, A.S.; Justino, C.I.; da Costa, J.P.; Duarte, A.C.; Rocha-Santos, T.A. Microplastics in the environment: Challenges in analytical chemistry—A review. Anal. Chim. Acta 2018, 1017, 1–19. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Zhang, Y.; Lu, J.; Wu, J.; Wang, J.; Luo, Y. Potential risks of microplastics combined with superbugs: Enrichment of antibiotic resistant bacteria on the surface of microplastics in mariculture system. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 2022, 187, 109852. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Su, Y.; Zhang, Z.; Zhu, J.; Shi, J.; Wei, H.; Xie, B.; Shi, H. Microplastics act as vectors for antibiotic resistance genes in landfill leachate: The enhanced roles of the long-term aging process. Environ. Pollut. 2021, 270, 116278. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Piersanti, A.; Attili, A.-R.; Mortimer, M.; Vahur, S.; Palermo, F.A.; Cocci, P.; Miceli, C. Microplastics and Associated Microorganisms in the Sea Sediment of the Sentina Regional Natural Reserve (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy). Proceedings 2023, 92, 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023092078

AMA Style

Piersanti A, Attili A-R, Mortimer M, Vahur S, Palermo FA, Cocci P, Miceli C. Microplastics and Associated Microorganisms in the Sea Sediment of the Sentina Regional Natural Reserve (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy). Proceedings. 2023; 92(1):78. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023092078

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piersanti, Angela, Anna-Rita Attili, Monika Mortimer, Signe Vahur, Francesco Alessandro Palermo, Paolo Cocci, and Cristina Miceli. 2023. "Microplastics and Associated Microorganisms in the Sea Sediment of the Sentina Regional Natural Reserve (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy)" Proceedings 92, no. 1: 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023092078

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