Microplastic biofilms carry genes that could alter nutrient cycling in estuaries‎

A study led by William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS and published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology reveals that microbial communities growing on microplastics in the Chesapeake Bay carry the genetic potential to remove nitrogen from the water and break down petroleum-related compounds. The manuscript was selected as the journal's best paper of 2025, which recognizes researchers who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge in the field of microbiology.