Decoding Microbial Plastic Colonisation: Multi-Omic Insights into the
Fast-Evolving Dynamics of Early-Stage Biofilms
Abstract
Marine plastispheres represent dynamic microhabitats where
microorganisms colonise plastic debris and interact. Metaproteomics has
provided novel insights into the metabolic processes within these
communities, however the early metabolic interactions driving the
plastisphere formation remain unclear. This study utilised metaproteomic
and metagenomic approaches to explore early plastisphere formation on
low-density polyethylene (LDPE) over three (D3) and seven (D7) days,
focusing on microbial diversity, metabolic activity, and biofilm
development. In total, 2,948 proteins were analysed, revealing dominant
proteomes from Pseudomonas and Marinomonas, with near-complete
metagenome-assembled genomes. Pseudomonas dominated at D3, while at D7,
Marinomonas, along with Acinetobacter, Vibrio, and other genera became
more prevalent. Pseudomonas and Marinomonas showed high expression of
reactive oxygen species (ROS) suppression proteins, associated with
oxidative stress regulation, while granule formation, and alternative
carbon utilisation enzymes, also indicated nutrient limitations.
Interestingly, 13 alkane and other xenobiotic degradation enzymes were
expressed by five genera. The expression of toxins, several type VI
secretion system (TVISS) proteins, and biofilm formation proteins by
Pseudomonas indicated their competitive advantage against other taxa.
Upregulated metabolic pathways, including those relating to substrate
transport also suggested enhanced nutrient cross-feeding within the
biofilm. These insights enhance our understanding of plastisphere
ecology and its potential for biotechnological applications.