Construction of an efficient polystyrene-degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non-degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debris

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) has caused significant pollution in marine environments, with potential EPS-degrading bacteria identified on long-term floating EPS biofilms. However, studies on bacterial interactions and consortium reconstruction based on in-situ bacterial diversity remain limited. Marin...

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Main Authors: Jiannan Wang, Renju Liu, Sufang Zhao, Benjuan Zhang, Zongze Shao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1569583/full
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author Jiannan Wang
Jiannan Wang
Renju Liu
Sufang Zhao
Sufang Zhao
Benjuan Zhang
Zongze Shao
Zongze Shao
author_facet Jiannan Wang
Jiannan Wang
Renju Liu
Sufang Zhao
Sufang Zhao
Benjuan Zhang
Zongze Shao
Zongze Shao
author_sort Jiannan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Expanded polystyrene (EPS) has caused significant pollution in marine environments, with potential EPS-degrading bacteria identified on long-term floating EPS biofilms. However, studies on bacterial interactions and consortium reconstruction based on in-situ bacterial diversity remain limited. Marine EPS wastes of different sizes were collected from subtropical coast of Xiamen island, and subjected to bacterial diversity analyses. Co-occurrence network and bacterial characterization revealed that Rhodobacterales and Rhizobiales play important roles in polystyrene (PS) degradation. Bacterial isolation characterization confirmed that Fulvimarina pelagi, Pseudosulfitobacter pseudonitzschiae, Devosia nitrariae, Cytobacillus kochii, and Cytobacillus oceanisediminis as novel PS-degraders. Based on their abundance in situ and PS degradation activity, a consortium was constructed, constituted of F. pelagi, P. halotolerans. and O. granulosus, showed a high degradation capability with PS weight loss by 18.9% in 45 days. These results contribute to marine plastic pollution remediation and resources recycling.
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issn 2296-7745
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Marine Science
spelling doaj-art-d857da8143f74db89c54f1d83812fc132025-08-20T02:08:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-04-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15695831569583Construction of an efficient polystyrene-degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non-degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debrisJiannan Wang0Jiannan Wang1Renju Liu2Sufang Zhao3Sufang Zhao4Benjuan Zhang5Zongze Shao6Zongze Shao7College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China; Fujian Marine Science and Technology Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China; Fujian Marine Science and Technology Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China; Fujian Marine Science and Technology Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, School of Environmental Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China; Fujian Marine Science and Technology Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China; Fujian Marine Science and Technology Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, School of Environmental Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, ChinaExpanded polystyrene (EPS) has caused significant pollution in marine environments, with potential EPS-degrading bacteria identified on long-term floating EPS biofilms. However, studies on bacterial interactions and consortium reconstruction based on in-situ bacterial diversity remain limited. Marine EPS wastes of different sizes were collected from subtropical coast of Xiamen island, and subjected to bacterial diversity analyses. Co-occurrence network and bacterial characterization revealed that Rhodobacterales and Rhizobiales play important roles in polystyrene (PS) degradation. Bacterial isolation characterization confirmed that Fulvimarina pelagi, Pseudosulfitobacter pseudonitzschiae, Devosia nitrariae, Cytobacillus kochii, and Cytobacillus oceanisediminis as novel PS-degraders. Based on their abundance in situ and PS degradation activity, a consortium was constructed, constituted of F. pelagi, P. halotolerans. and O. granulosus, showed a high degradation capability with PS weight loss by 18.9% in 45 days. These results contribute to marine plastic pollution remediation and resources recycling.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1569583/fullexpanded polystyrene (EPS)biodegradationconsortiummarine bacteriaconstruction
spellingShingle Jiannan Wang
Jiannan Wang
Renju Liu
Sufang Zhao
Sufang Zhao
Benjuan Zhang
Zongze Shao
Zongze Shao
Construction of an efficient polystyrene-degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non-degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debris
Frontiers in Marine Science
expanded polystyrene (EPS)
biodegradation
consortium
marine bacteria
construction
title Construction of an efficient polystyrene-degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non-degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debris
title_full Construction of an efficient polystyrene-degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non-degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debris
title_fullStr Construction of an efficient polystyrene-degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non-degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debris
title_full_unstemmed Construction of an efficient polystyrene-degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non-degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debris
title_short Construction of an efficient polystyrene-degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non-degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debris
title_sort construction of an efficient polystyrene degrading microbial consortium based on degrading and non degrading bacteria predominant in biofilms of marine plastic debris
topic expanded polystyrene (EPS)
biodegradation
consortium
marine bacteria
construction
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1569583/full
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