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Metagenomic and metabolomic insight into microplastic-derived inhibition of tetracycline degradation in sediments

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2025 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 43 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Jiao Wang, Jiao Wang, Jiao Wang, Jiao Wang, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Mengxi Li, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Junjie Zhang, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Xianhua Liu, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Lei Wang Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Jiao Wang, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Jiao Wang, Jiao Wang, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Mengxi Li, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Jiao Wang, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Junjie Zhang, Lei Wang Mengxi Li, Jiao Wang, Jiao Wang, Lei Wang Junjie Zhang, Jiao Wang, Junjie Zhang, Xianhua Liu, Junjie Zhang, Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Jiao Wang, Junjie Zhang, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Chu Peng, Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Junjie Zhang, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Jiao Wang, Xianhua Liu, Chu Peng, Chu Peng, Jiao Wang, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Junjie Zhang, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Chu Peng, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Xianhua Liu, Chu Peng, Lei Wang Xianhua Liu, Lei Wang

Summary

Microplastics in aquatic sediments don't just sit there — this study found they actively interfere with the natural microbial processes that break down antibiotic compounds like tetracycline. By combining field sampling with lab experiments, researchers showed that microplastics disrupt the microbial communities responsible for tetracycline degradation, potentially allowing antibiotics to persist longer in the environment. This interaction between microplastics and antibiotic persistence is a concern for both ecosystem health and the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) have been extensively reported to affect organic compound metabolism and nutrient cycling in the ecosystem, particularly in aquatic sediments. However, the specific microbial pathways and underlying mechanisms governing these impacts remain incompletely understood. Herein, this study integrates field investigations and simulation experiments to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of MP contamination on tetracycline (TC) biodegradation in sediments. Our findings reveal three distinct TC biotransformation pathways in sediments, with monooxygenase-mediated hydroxylation emerging as the predominant pathway. Comparative analysis revealed significant reductions in monooxygenase abundance (56.6 %), host bacterial populations (38.5 %), and TC biodegradation efficiency (23.8 %) in MP-amended sediments compared with the control after 28 days (p < 0.05). MPs reduce microbial metabolic activity and cooperative relationships among microorganisms, which inhibit cooperative metabolism of complex organic compounds (including tetracycline). Ultimately, MPs occupy interstitial spaces within sediment matrices, thereby altering redox conditions and promoting microbial succession toward taxa less efficient in TC metabolism. Moreover, the plastisphere exhibits significantly reduced metabolic capacity for TC transformation compared with inorganic mineral-associated biofilms, thereby impeding TC biotransformation within sediments. This finding further implies that continuous MP accumulation may exacerbate interference with biogeochemical cycles.

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