The Deadly Combination: Bacteria Adapting to Plastic and Sargassum Debris

Vibrio bacteria, which can cause deadly human diseases, can quickly stick to and potentially adapt to plastic marine debris and Sargassum, a rapidly expanding type of seaweed found in the Sargasso Sea and beyond. This study emphasizes the potential health risks associated with increased human interaction with Sargassum and plastic marine debris, and the researchers urge caution regarding the harvest and processing of Sargassum biomass until the risks are thoroughly investigated. Vibrio bacteria are the leading cause of marine-related human fatalities, and the study highlights the potential for these bacteria to infect humans through plastic and Sargassum.