Phototrophs as the central components of the plastisphere microbiome in coastal environments.

Upon entering the marine environment, plastics are colonized by a plethora of microorganisms to form a plastisphere, influencing the fate and transport of the plastic debris and the health of marine ecosystems. The assembly of marine plastisphere is generally believed to be dominated by stochastic processes. However, it remains elusive whether microbial interaction in the assembly of plastisphere microbial communities is conserved or not.

Establishment of plastic-associated microbial community from superworm gut microbiome.

Gut microbial communities of plastic-munching worms provide novel insights for the development of plastic-processing biotechnologies. Considering the complexity of worm maintenance and the gut microbial communities, it is challenging to apply the worms directly in plastic processing. Harnessing the power of microbial communities derived from the worm gut microbiomes in vitro may enable a promising bioprocess for plastic degradation.

Sediment-driven plastisphere community assembly on plastic debris in tropical coastal and marine environments.

Coastal habitats have been suggested to serve as a sink for unaccounted plastic debris, i.e., "missing plastic" in the sea, and hence, a hotspot of plastic pollution in the marine and coastal environments.

Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities.

Approximately 9 million metric tons of plastics enters the ocean annually, and once in the marine environment, plastic surfaces can be quickly colonised by marine microorganisms, forming a biofilm. Studies on plastic debris-biofilm associations, known as plastisphere, have increased exponentially within the last few years. In this review, we first briefly summarise methods and techniques used in exploring plastic-microbe interactions.

Monochloramine Induces Release of DNA and RNA from Bacterial Cells: Quantification, Sequencing Analyses, and Implications.

Monochloramine (MCA) is a widely used secondary disinfectant to suppress microbial growth in drinking water distribution systems. In monochloraminated drinking water, a significant amount of extracellular DNA (eDNA) has been reported, which has many implications ranging from obscuring DNA-based drinking water microbiome analyses to posing potential health concerns. To address this, it is imperative for us to know the origin of the eDNA in drinking water.

The Dark Side of Microbial Processes: Accumulation of Nitrate During Storage of Surface Water in the Dark and the Underlying Mechanism.

In densely populated cities with limited land, storage of surface water in underground spaces is a potential solution to meet the rising demand of clean water. In addition, due to the imperative need of renewable solar energy and limited land resources, the deployment of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems over water has risen exponentially. In both scenarios, microbial communities in the water do not have access to sunlight.

Extracellular DNA in Environmental Samples: Occurrence, Extraction, Quantification, and Impact on Microbial Biodiversity Assessment.

Environmental DNA, i.e., DNA extracted directly from environmental samples, has been used to understand microbial communities in the environment and to monitor contemporary biodiversity in the conservation context.

Laboratory preparation of monochloramine for environmental research: A comparison of four commonly used protocols.

Monochloramine (MCA) is often used as a secondary disinfectant in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) for controlling the regrowth of microorganisms. Laboratory experiments to study the efficacy of MCA and formation of disinfection byproducts in DWDS all require the preparation of MCA. Different protocols for the preparation of MCA have been used in the literature.

Differential toxicity of Al2O3 particles on Gram-positive and Gram-negative sediment bacterial isolates from freshwater.

The current study was aimed to explore the differential effects on Gram-positive and Gram-negative freshwater sediment bacterial isolates upon exposure to nano-particles and bulk particles of Al2O3 at low concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/L).