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. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/fdd72810-a57f-444f-83cf-f2351ef4c940

This dataset contains characterisation data, thermotolerance data, anti-fungal drug resistance data and virulence data of Candida isolates from different types of plastic pollution. Samples were collected from marine, estuarine and freshwater environments, and screened for pathogenic species of Candida. These Candida isolates were subsequently assessed for their thermotolerance, anti-fungal drug resistance, and their pathogenicity in a Galleria model of infection. Data were collected as part of grants NE/V005847/1, Sustainable Plastic Attitudes to benefit Communities and their Environments (SPACES), and NE/S005196/1, Microbial hitch-hikers of marine plastics: the survival, persistence & ecology of microbial communities in the 'Plastisphere'. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/4477f77c-c1c9-44e4-baeb-3353954c8355