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Peer-reviewedCC BYENGINEERING Environment

The plastisphere: from microbial pollution to biodegradable solution

  • Wenfang Lin1
  • Kai Yang1
  • Tao Lu2
  • Xiaoxi Kang3
  • Xinyu Xing1,4
  • Ewa Korzeniewska5
  • Natalia P. Ivleva6
  • Feng Ju3
  • Haifeng Qian7
  • Li Cui1
  • Y C Zhu8
8 affiliations
  1. 1State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
  2. 2College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, China
  3. 3Research Center for Industries of the Future, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310030, China
  4. 4University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
  5. 5Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
  6. 6Institute of Water Chemistry, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, 85748, Germany
  7. 7Institute for Advanced Study, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, China
  8. 8State Key Lab of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
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Abstract

Microplastic pollution is threatening planetary health and sustainable development. The microbiota colonizing microplastic surfaces, termed the plastisphere, has emerged as artificial niches that harbor both microbial risks and novel biodegradation potential. However, these two aspects of the plastisphere have often been investigated in isolation. In this review, we first elaborate on how microplastics act as vectors in facilitating the enrichment and dissemination of pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and even virus, thereby causing serious microbial and ecological risks, and eventually impacting human health. To address the potential risks, the key plastic-degrading resources, the underlying mechanisms, and recent advances in biodegradation technologies are synthesized. Given the dual roles of plastisphere microbes, we therefore propose a two-dimensional screening framework to identify safer and more efficient degraders. This review aims to guide the selection or synthesis of safe and highly efficient degrading microbial consortia, thereby providing sustainable and eco-friendly strategies for mitigating plastic pollution.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{lin2026plastisphere,
  title = {{The plastisphere: from microbial pollution to biodegradable solution}},
  author = {Wenfang Lin and Kai Yang and Tao Lu and Xiaoxi Kang and Xinyu Xing and Ewa Korzeniewska and Natalia P. Ivleva and Feng Ju and Haifeng Qian and Li Cui and Y C Zhu},
  journal = {ENGINEERING Environment},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1007/s11783-026-2234-5},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-026-2234-5},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The plastisphere: from microbial pollution to biodegradable solution
AU  - Wenfang Lin
AU  - Kai Yang
AU  - Tao Lu
AU  - Xiaoxi Kang
AU  - Xinyu Xing
AU  - Ewa Korzeniewska
AU  - Natalia P. Ivleva
AU  - Feng Ju
AU  - Haifeng Qian
AU  - Li Cui
AU  - Y C Zhu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/15
JO  - ENGINEERING Environment
DO  - 10.1007/s11783-026-2234-5
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-026-2234-5
AB  - Microplastic pollution is threatening planetary health and sustainable development. The microbiota colonizing microplastic surfaces, termed the plastisphere, has emerged as artificial niches that harbor both microbial risks and novel biodegradation potential. However, these two aspects of the plastisphere have often been investigated in isolation. In this review, we first elaborate on how microplastics act as vectors in facilitating the enrichment and dissemination of pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and even virus, thereby causing serious microbial and ecological risks, and eventually impacting human health. To address the potential risks, the key plastic-degrading resources, the underlying mechanisms, and recent advances in biodegradation technologies are synthesized. Given the dual roles of plastisphere microbes, we therefore propose a two-dimensional screening framework to identify safer and more efficient degraders. This review aims to guide the selection or synthesis of safe and highly efficient degrading microbial consortia, thereby providing sustainable and eco-friendly strategies for mitigating plastic pollution.
SN  - 3091-5058
SN  - 3091-5066
ER  -