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Metcalf, R.; Messer, L.; White, H.L.; Ormsby, M.; Matallana-Surget, S.; Quilliam, R.

Nurdle characteristics with associated bacterial concentrations and virulence of Klebsiella isolates from Scottish beaches, 2022

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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

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https://doi.org/10.5285/fdd72810-a57f-444f-83cf-f2351ef4c940
This dataset holds realistic environmental concentrations of potential pathogens colonising microplastic beads (nurdles) collected from ten Scottish beaches. Observed measures include concentrations and the present genes of Klebsiella bacteria isolated from the nurdles, as well as the salinity, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and polymer composition of the nurdles.

In addition, an infection experiment was conducted to measure the virulence of the Klebsiella bacteria. Galleria melonella larvae were infected with the isolated Klebsiella bacteria and the number of living larvae was recorded.
Publication date: 2024-08-09
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More information

View numbers valid from 09 August 2024 Download numbers valid from 09 August 2024 (information prior to this was not collected)

Format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

Spatial information

Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid

Temporal information

Temporal extent
2022-11-01    to    2022-11-30

Provenance & quality

Microplastic beads were collected from ten Scottish beaches (Erskine, Yellowcraig, Largs, Irvine, Ayr, Turnberry, Montrose, Broughty Ferry, Portobello and Eyemouth) and bacteria were removed for quantification of target bacteria. Bacteria were quantified using selective media and positive colony-forming units (CFU) were enumerated.

Water temperature and salinity at each site were also measured with a thermometer and a salinity refractometer (RGBS).

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) was conducted on a Thermo Scientific Nicolet is50 FTIR to identify the polymer composition of the nurdles.

The virulence of the isolated Klebsiella was studied for one of the sites, Brought Ferry. Galleria mellonella model of infection was used to determine the virulence of each of the selected Klebsiella strains following their isolation from the microplastic beads and sand. After injection, larvae were incubated at and inspected 24, 48 and 72 h post-injection; larvae were considered dead when they did not respond to touch stimuli.

Licensing and constraints

This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

Cite this dataset as:
Metcalf, R.; Messer, L.; White, H.L.; Ormsby, M.; Matallana-Surget, S.; Quilliam, R. (2024). Nurdle characteristics with associated bacterial concentrations and virulence of Klebsiella isolates from Scottish beaches, 2022. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/fdd72810-a57f-444f-83cf-f2351ef4c940

Supplemental information

Related omic data is stored on the National Center for Biotechnology Information

Correspondence/contact details

Metcalf, R.
University of Stirling
 rebecca.metcalf@stir.ac.uk

Authors

Metcalf, R.
University of Stirling
Messer, L.
University of Stirling
White, H.L.
University of Stirling
Ormsby, M.
University of Stirling
Matallana-Surget, S.
University of Stirling
Quilliam, R.
University of Stirling

Other contacts

Rights holder
University of Stirling
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
 info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
 info@eidc.ac.uk

Additional metadata

Topic categories
environment
INSPIRE theme
Environmental Monitoring Facilities
Keywords
antimicrobial resistance , Environmental survey , human pathogens , plastic pollution , plastisphere , Pollution , public health , virulence
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/S005196/1
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/V005847/1
Last updated
14 August 2024 07:22