Microplastic-Associated Biofilm Formation and Its Role in Harbouring Foodborne Pathogens in Aquatic Food Sources

References

[1] Ahmed, S., Khan, R., & Ali, M. (2025). Pathogen prevalence on microplastics from seafood processing wastewater. Journal of Environmental Microbiology, 12(2), 101–110.

[2] Amaral-Zettler, L. A., Zettler, E. R., & Mincer, T. J. (2020). Ecology of the plastisphere. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 18(3), 139–151.

[3] Bayat, H., Farahani, M., & Shirazi, R. (2023). Monitoring microplastics in commercial shrimp and associated pathogenic bacteria. Aquatic Food Safety Journal, 8(3), 45–56.

[4] Çelik, A., Yilmaz, O., & Demir, H. (2025). Seasonal variations in microplastic-associated biofilms in a river system: Metagenomic insights. River Research and Applications, 41(1), 78–92.

[5] Chen, X., Li, Y., & Zhang, J. (2019). Effects of salinity on Salmonella spp. viability on synthetic surfaces. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 127(5), 1452–1463.

[6] Cholewińska, A. (2024). Freshwater microplastic biofilms and pathogen abundance. Water Research and Safety, 19(2), 88–97.

[7] Gross, R. (2025). Particle size effects on bacterial adhesion to microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 59(3), 1234–1242.

[8] Harrison, J. P., Boardman, G. D., & O’Callaghan, C. (2014). Influence of surface roughness on microbial adhesion to microplastics. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 85(1), 46–53.

[9] Hoffman, M., Li, X., & Chen, Y. (2022). Microbial adhesion to microplastic surfaces assessed by atomic force microscopy. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 215, 112522.

[10] Hoffman, M., Schneider, K., & Liu, W. (2022). Atomic force microscopy analysis of microbial adhesion to microplastics. Biofilm Science Journal, 8(2), 77–88.

[11] Kesy, K., Oberbeckmann, S., & Labrenz, M. (2019). Persistence of E. coli and Salmonella spp. on freshwater microplastic surfaces. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 1342.

[12] Liu, H., Wang, J., & Li, Z. (2025). Virulence and antibiotic resistance gene clusters on riverine microplastics. Environmental Microbiology, 27(2), 900–912.

[13] Lo, C., Chen, P., & Huang, Y. (2025). Colonization dynamics of Listeria monocytogenes on PE microplastics in aquaculture ponds. Aquaculture Microbiology, 22(1), 11–22.

[14] McIlwraith, H. K., Rees, A., & Jones, T. (2021). Survival of E. coli O157:H7 on microplastic surfaces under simulated sunlight. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 131(4), 1785–1794.

[15] Mohammed, A., Hassan, S., & Ibrahim, F. (2025). Survival of E. coli on weathered PE microplastics in freshwater biofilm reactors. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 437, 129212.

[16] Nayebi, A., Tavakoli, P., & Ghaffari, H. (2025). Physicochemical influences on pathogen adhesion in microplastic biofilms. Environmental Biotechnology, 21(2), 87–99.

[17] Oliveira, L., & Santos, M. (2023). Gut colonization of tilapia larvae by microplastic-associated pathogens. Aquaculture Research, 54(11), 3452–3463.

[18] Patel, R., Singh, D., & Kumar, S. (2025). Transfer of Vibrio spp. from microplastics to oysters. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 22(1), 15–24.

[19] Rahman, M., Hossain, S., & Islam, T. (2025). Quantification of E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter spp. on microplastic biofilms in estuarine waters. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 17(1), 44–53.

[20] Reisoglu, M., Turan, A., & Kaya, H. (2024). Comparative microbial communities on microplastics and natural substrates. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 108(3), 1345–1358.

[21] Singh, P., & Verma, A. (2023). Effects of nutrient enrichment on pathogen abundance in microplastic biofilms. Water Research Advances, 11(2), 59–68.

[22] Tang, Y., Chen, H., & Zhao, X. (2024). Biofilm development on PE, PVC, and PP in aquaculture tanks. Aquaculture Microbial Ecology, 20(2), 101–113.

[23] Wright, S. L., Kelly, F. J., & Turner, A. (2020). Environmental drivers of pathogen dispersal on microplastics. Science of the Total Environment, 724, 138180.

[24] Zettler, E. R., Mincer, T. J., & Amaral-Zettler, L. A. (2013). Life in the “plastisphere”: Microbial communities on plastic marine debris. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(13), 7137–7146.

[25] Zhang, X., Li, W., & Chen, Q. (2025). Microbial community composition of biofilms on microplastics in coastal waters. Environmental Microbiology, 27(3), 1120–1135.

@article{1715341,
      author = {Thankyou Saturday Okpabi, Kilsi Nwinka Uchendu},
      title = {Microplastic-Associated Biofilm Formation and Its Role in Harbouring Foodborne Pathogens in Aquatic Food Sources},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {9},
      pages = {1680-1691},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1715341.pdf},
      abstract = {Microplastics are emerging vectors for microbial colonization in aquatic ecosystems, with potential implications for food safety. This study investigated microbial composition, biofilm characteristics, and pathogen survival on microplastics, as well as their capacity to transfer foodborne pathogens to aquatic organisms. Microplastic samples (PE, PP, PS, PET) were collected from rivers, lakes, and coastal waters using plankton nets and manual sampling. In the laboratory, biofilms were recovered from microplastic surfaces via vortexing and sonication, followed by microbial enumeration on selective and non-selective media. DNA was extracted for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analyzed using QIIME2 to determine bacterial composition and identify potential pathogens. Fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) assessed biofilm structure, thickness, and viability. Survival of pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes) was evaluated under varying temperatures (15–35 °C), salinity (0.5–30‰), and nutrient levels (0.1–1% glucose) over 7 days. Pathogen transfer experiments involved exposing tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), and mussels (Mytilus edulis) to microplastics under controlled aquaculture conditions, with CFU enumeration, qPCR, and microscopy confirming colonization. Results showed that microplastics harbored diverse microbial communities dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, with several potential pathogens present. Larger and fibrous particles supported higher pathogen loads, and environmental conditions influenced microbial persistence. Exposure experiments confirmed that microplastics facilitate pathogen transfer to aquatic organisms, particularly in mucus-rich tissues. These findings highlight microplastics as reservoirs and vectors of foodborne pathogens, posing ecological and public health risks. Effective monitoring and mitigation strategies are needed to reduce microplastic-mediated pathogen transfer in aquatic environments.},
      keywords = {Microplastics, Associated, Biofilm Formation, Harbouring, Foodborne Pathogens.},
      month = {March},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I9-1715341}
  }