A multi-OMIC characterisation of biodegradation and microbial community succession within the PET plastisphere

Abstract Background Plastics now pollute marine environments across the globe. On entering these environments, plastics are rapidly colonised by a diverse community of microorganisms termed plastisphere. Members plastisphere have myriad functions typically found in any biofilm but, additionally, number studies claimed presence plastic-biodegrading organisms, although with little mechanistic verification. Here, we obtained microbial from plastic debris and analysed succession 6 weeks incubation different polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products as sole carbon source, further characterised mechanisms involved PET degradation two bacterial isolates Results We that all communities differed significantly inoculum were dominated Gammaproteobacteria, i.e. Alteromonadaceae Thalassospiraceae at early time points, Alcanivoraceae later points Vibrionaceae throughout. The large encoded enzymes predicted metagenomes observation polymer oxidation FTIR analyses both suggested was occurring. However, unable to detect intermediates hydrolysis metabolomic analyses, which may be attributed their rapid depletion complex community. To confirm biodegrading potential within debris, used combined proteogenomic approach characterise amorphous novel isolates, Thioclava sp. BHET1 Bacillus BHET2. identification hydrolytic metabolomics confirmed able degrade PET. High-throughput proteomics revealed whilst pathway identified terrestrial environment counterparts, absent BHET2, indicating either this bacterium share homology those previously, or uses for degradation. Conclusions Overall, results our multi-OMIC characterisation provide significant step forwards understanding evidences extant debris.