title: Colonization of Polystyrene Microparticles by Vibrio crassostreae: Light and Electron Microscopic Investigation.
abstract: Microplastics collected at sea harbor a high diversity of microorganisms, including some Vibrio genus members, raising questions about the role of microplastics as a novel ecological niche for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. In the present study, we investigated the adhesion dynamics of Vibrio crassostreae on polystyrene microparticles (micro-PS) using electronic and fluorescence microscopy techniques. Micro-PS were incubated with bacteria in different media (Zobell culture medium and artificial seawater) with or without natural marine aggregates. The highest percentage of colonized particles (38-100%) was observed in Zobell culture medium, which may be related to nutrient availability for production of pili and exopolysaccharide adhesion structures. A longer bacterial attachment (6 days) was observed on irregular micro-PS compared to smooth particles (<10 h), but complete decolonization of all particles eventually occurred. The presence of natural marine agreggates around micro-PS led to substantial and perennial colonization featuring monospecific biofilms at the surface of the aggregates. These exploratory results suggest that V. crassostreae may be a secondary colonizer of micro-PS, requiring a multispecies community to form a durable adhesion phenotype. Temporal assessment of microbial colonization on microplastics at sea using imaging and omics approaches are further indicated to better understand the microplastics colonization dynamics and species assemblages.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR), UMR 6539 CNRS UBO IRD Ifremer, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Technopôle Brest-Iroise , Rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Foulon
authors.affiliation: Ifremer, Unité Physiologie Fonctionnelle des Organismes Marins , ZI de la Pointe du Diable, CS 10070, F-29280 Plouzané, France.|Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models , Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, F-29688 Roscoff, France.
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Le Roux
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR), UMR 6539 CNRS UBO IRD Ifremer, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Technopôle Brest-Iroise , Rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Ifremer, Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR, UMR 6539 UBO/CNRS/IRD/Ifremer), Centre Bretagne , ZI de la Pointe du Diable, CS 10070, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huvet
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR), UMR 6539 CNRS UBO IRD Ifremer, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Technopôle Brest-Iroise , Rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soudant
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR), UMR 6539 CNRS UBO IRD Ifremer, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Technopôle Brest-Iroise , Rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Ika
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paul-Pont