Project

Microbial hitch-hikers of marine plastics: survival, persistence and ecology of microbial communities in the 'Plastisphere'.

Funded by Natural Environment Research Council.

Collaboration with Bangor University and University of Warwick.

"Quantifying and understanding the potential role of marine plastic debris for the persistence and dispersal of potentially pathogenic microorganisms is of pressing importance and global significance. This project will characterise the range of microbial colonisation dynamics on microplastics, from their source through to delivery at ocean receptors." See more on the project’s website http://www.plasticvectors.stir.ac.uk

Total award value £550,979.20

People (5)

Professor David Oliver

Professor David Oliver

Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences

Professor Peter Hunter

Professor Peter Hunter

Professor, Scotland's International Environment Centre

Dr Sabine Matallana-Surget

Dr Sabine Matallana-Surget

Associate Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences

Dr Sabine Matallana-Surget

Dr Sabine Matallana-Surget

Associate Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences

Outputs (18)

Article

Oliver DM, Metcalf R, Jones DL, Matallana-Surget S, Thomas DN, Robins P, Tulloch CL, Cotterell BM, Williams G, Christie-Oleza JA & Quilliam RS (2024) Plastic pollution and human pathogens: Towards a conceptual shift in risk management at bathing water and beach environments. Water Research, 261, Art. No.: 122028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122028


Article

Woodford L, Fellows R, White HL, Ormsby MJ, Pow CJ & Quilliam RS (2024) Survival and transfer potential of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium colonising polyethylene microplastics in contaminated agricultural soils. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31, pp. 51353-51363. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34491-4


Article

Metcalf R, White HL, Moresco V, Ormsby MJ, Oliver DM & Quilliam RS (2022) Sewage-associated plastic waste washed up on beaches can act as a reservoir for faecal bacteria, potential human pathogens, and genes for antimicrobial resistance. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 180, Art. No.: 113766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113766