title: Dangerous hitchhikers? Evidence for potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. on microplastic particles.
abstract: The taxonomic composition of biofilms on marine microplastics is widely unknown. Recent sequencing results indicate that potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. might be present on floating microplastics. Hence, these particles might function as vectors for the dispersal of pathogens. Microplastics and water samples collected in the North and Baltic Sea were subjected to selective enrichment for pathogenic Vibrio species. Bacterial colonies were isolated from CHROMagar™Vibrio and assigned to Vibrio spp. on the species level by MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry). Respective polymers were identified by ATR FT-IR (Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform - Infrared Spectroscopy). We discovered potentially pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus on a number of microplastic particles, e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene from North/Baltic Sea. This study confirms the indicated occurrence of potentially pathogenic bacteria on marine microplastics and highlights the urgent need for detailed biogeographical analyses of marine microplastics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research, Biological Station Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany. Electronic address: inga.kirstein@awi.de.
authors.forename: Inga V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Kirstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research, Biological Station Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany.
authors.forename: Sidika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirmizi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research, Biological Station Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany.
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wichels
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research, Biological Station Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany.
authors.forename: Ale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garin-Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research, Biological Station Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erler
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research, Biological Station Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany; Animal Ecology I, University of Bayreuth, NWI 5.0.01.43.1, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Löder
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research, Biological Station Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerdts
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009659:North Sea; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D020959:Polyethylene; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D014736:Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: Baltic Sea; North Sea; Pathogens; Synthetic polymers; Vector