We have known for more than 45 years that microplastics in the ocean are carriers of microbially dominated assemblages. However, only recently has the role of microbial interactions with microplastics in marine ecosystems been investigated in detail. Research in this field has focused on three main areas: (a) the establishment of plastic-specific biofilms (the so-called plastisphere); (b) enrichment of pathogenic bacteria, particularly members of the genus Vibrio, coupled to a vector function of microplastics; and (c) the microbial degradation of microplastics in the marine environment. Nevertheless, the relationships between marine microorganisms and microplastics remain unclear. In this review, we deduce from the current literature, new comparative analyses, and considerations of microbial adaptation concerning plastic degradation that interactions between microorganisms and microplastic particles should have rather limited effects on the ocean ecosystems. The majority of microorganisms growing on microplastics seem to belong to opportunistic colonists that do not distinguish between natural and artificial surfaces. Thus, microplastics do not pose a higher risk than natural particles to higher life forms by potentially harboring pathogenic bacteria. On the other hand, microplastics in the ocean represent recalcitrant substances for microorganisms that are insufficient to support prokaryotic metabolism and will probably not be microbially degraded in any period of time relevant to human society. Because we cannot remove microplastics from the ocean, proactive action regarding research on plastic alternatives and strategies to prevent plastic entering the environment should be taken promptly.

中文翻译：

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海洋微生物组合物中的微塑料：多样性，适应性和降解中的作用。

超过45年以来，我们已经知道海洋中的微塑料是微生物主导的组合的载体。但是，直到最近才详细研究了海洋生态系统中微生物与微塑料的相互作用。该领域的研究集中在三个主要领域：（a）建立塑料专用生物膜（所谓的塑料膜）；（b）致病细菌，特别是弧菌属成员的富集，与微塑料的载体功能相结合；（c）海洋环境中微塑料的微生物降解。然而，海洋微生物和微塑料之间的关系仍然不清楚。在这篇评论中，我们从当前的文献中得出了新的比较分析，以及与塑料降解有关的微生物适应性考虑，微生物与塑料微粒之间的相互作用对海洋生态系统的影响应相当有限。在微塑料上生长的大多数微生物似乎属于机会性殖民者，他们无法区分自然表面和人造表面。因此，通过潜在地携带病原细菌，微塑料不会比天然颗粒具有更高的生命形式，从而具有更高的生命形式。另一方面，海洋中的微塑料代表了不足以支持原核生物代谢的微生物的顽固性物质，并且在与人类社会有关的任何时间段内都不会被微生物降解。因为我们无法从海洋中去除微塑料，