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Microbial hitchhikers harbouring antimicrobial-resistance genes in the riverine plastisphere
Summary
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.
Our results provide insights into the capacity of the riverine plastisphere to harbour a distinct set of potentially pathogenic bacteria and function as a reservoir of ARGs. The environmental impact that plastics pose if they act as a reservoir for either pathogenic bacteria or ARGs is aggravated by the persistence of plastics in the environment due to their recalcitrance and buoyancy. Nevertheless, the high similarities with microbiomes growing on natural co-occurring materials and even more worrisome microbiome observed in the surrounding water highlights the urgent need to integrate the analysis of all environmental compartments when assessing risks and exposure to pathogens and ARGs in anthropogenically-impacted ecosystems. Video Abstract.