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Vehicle transmission of antibiotic-resistant pathogens mediated by plastic debris in aquatic ecosystems
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This study investigated pathogen dispersal via plastics in Lake Bracciano, Italy, finding that artificial plastic substrates accumulated higher diversity and abundance of pathogenic bacteria with greater antibiotic resistance compared to raw water samples. Results reinforce the role of plastics as reservoirs for superbugs and antibiotic resistance gene dissemination in freshwater ecosystems.
Plastic materials are emerging environmental pollutants acting as potential vehicles for accumulation and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The current study investigates the role of plastics in favoring the dispersal of specific pathogens and their associated antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs). Artificial plastic substrates (APSs) were submerged in seven sampling points of Lake Bracciano (Italy), and after one-month both APSs and raw water (RW) samples were collected. Through the combination of standard microbiological and biochemical techniques, 272 bacterial strains were identified and characterized for antibiotic resistant profiling. Our results revealed a notable difference in terms of diversity and abundance of pathogenic bacteria recovered from APSs, compared to RW. In addition, higher resistance patterns were detected in APSs isolates, with frequent appearance of relevant ARGs and class 1 integrons. These findings reinforce the idea that plastic materials in aquatic ecosystems serve as a reservoir for superbugs, significantly contributing to the dissemination of ARGs.
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Emerging Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Aquatic Ecosystems: a Review
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A review of 30 studies found antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) widely distributed across aquatic ecosystems — in surface water, groundwater, wastewater, and notably on plastic and microplastic debris in these environments. Microplastics appear to provide favorable surfaces for the growth and exchange of resistant bacteria, making plastic pollution a potential vector for spreading antibiotic resistance. The findings highlight an understudied intersection between microplastic contamination and the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
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Researchers found that plastic surfaces in rivers harbor distinct microbial communities enriched in potentially pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes compared to surrounding water and sediment, suggesting that riverine microplastics actively spread antibiotic resistance through aquatic ecosystems.
Plastics as Vectors for Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Aquatic Systems
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This review examines how plastics in aquatic systems transport and spread pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, discussing attachment mechanisms, transport dynamics, and release from plastic surfaces. The authors emphasize the need for advanced detection methods, practical mitigation strategies, and interdisciplinary policy interventions to address plastic-mediated microbial pollution.
Plastics as vectors for pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic systems.
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This review examined how plastics in aquatic systems act as vectors for pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, summarizing attachment mechanisms, transport dynamics, and the implications for water quality and public health.
Plastispheres as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance: Insights from metagenomic analyses across aquatic environments
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This study analyzed the diversity and abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in plastisphere metagenomes from 36 samples collected in freshwater, raw wastewater, and treated wastewater environments, constructing 537 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes to identify pathogens and link ARGs to bacterial hosts. Results showed wastewater plastispheres contained the highest ARG diversity, with beta-lactam, aminoglycoside, and tetracycline resistance most abundant, highlighting the plastisphere's role as a reservoir and disseminator of antimicrobial resistance.
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