Plastic Spheres & Biofilms  – Viruses Survive Better & Spread More Around Microplastics

New research by Vanessa Moresco and her team from natural sciences dept at University Of Stirling, UK reveals another reason microplastics are dangerous.

The team found that the presence of microplastics increased the stability of viruses in microbial biofilm.

They also found that biofilms developed rapidly in the environment of microplastics and wastewater or surface water.

This increases the hardiness and survivability of the virus in what is termed the “plastisphere”

A plastisphere is an ecosystem which has adapted to living in human-made plastics.

Plastispheres & Biofilms  – Viruses Survive Better & Spread More Around Microplastics, Not only did they find increased survivability but also faster dissemination of the virus.

These environments which support biofilms are liable to act as vectors for viruses, especially in sewage, where they will be exposed to pathogens.

Let’s break down the research and what it means for us.

According to Particle3d, “Biofilms are clusters of one or more living microorganisms, or microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are attached to a surface and embedded in a self-produced matrix designed for the survival of organisms.”

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