We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Multi‐omics insights into surface charge effects to decode the interplay of nanoplastics and bacterial antibiotic resistance
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered that nanoplastics with a positive surface charge help bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics by turning on stress-defense genes and promoting the spread of resistance genes between bacteria. In contrast, negatively charged nanoplastics had the opposite effect, disrupting bacterial communities in ways that could reduce resistance. This finding is important for human health because it suggests that the type of nanoplastic pollution in the environment could influence how quickly antibiotic-resistant superbugs develop and spread.
Multi-omics approaches revealed how nanoplastics with different surface charges influence antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli K12. Positively charged nanoplastics enhanced antibiotic resistance by upregulating genes and proteins linked to oxidative stress tolerance and efflux pumps, and promoted antibiotic resistance genes transfer via conjugation and transformation. In contrast, negatively charged nanoplastics disrupted biofilm formation and metabolism, potentially reducing antibiotic resistance. These findings highlight the critical role of nanoplastics' surface properties in shaping microbial resistance dynamics and highlight emerging risks posed by nanoplastics to public health through accelerated antibiotic resistance propagation.
More Papers Like This
Charged nanoplastics differentially affect the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that nanoplastics influence the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria, with surface charge and concentration driving opposing effects — reactive oxygen species promoted transfer while nanoplastic agglomeration inhibited it.
Unraveling the effect of micro/nanoplastics on the occurrence and horizontal transfer of environmental antibiotic resistance genes: Advances, mechanisms and future prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment. The tiny plastic particles create conditions that help bacteria exchange resistance genes more easily by generating oxidative stress, making cell membranes more permeable, and providing surfaces where resistant bacteria can form communities. This is a growing public health concern because antibiotic-resistant infections are increasingly difficult to treat.
Distinct lipid membrane interaction and uptake of differentially charged nanoplastics in bacteria
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how nanoplastics with different surface charges interact with bacterial cell membranes, finding that positively charged particles penetrate bacteria far more effectively than neutral or negatively charged ones. The positively charged nanoplastics caused more cellular stress by generating reactive oxygen species and damaged cell structures differently depending on the bacterial type. These findings are important for understanding how nanoplastics may affect both environmental bacteria and the human microbiome.
Size- and surface charge-dependent hormetic effects of microplastics on bacterial resistance and their interactive effects with quinolone antibiotic
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that polystyrene microplastics — even at low concentrations — can boost bacterial mutation rates and the frequency of antibiotic-resistance gene transfer between bacteria, with the strongest effects from positively charged, 0.1-micron particles. When microplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin were present together, the combined risk of resistance development was greater than either alone. This raises concern that microplastic-contaminated environments may be accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance, a major threat to human and animal health.
Surface charge governs polystyrene nanoplastics' influence on conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that the surface charge of polystyrene nanoplastics governs their influence on the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) between bacteria. Negatively charged nanoplastics promoted ARG transfer more than positively charged particles, providing mechanistic insights for mitigating antibiotic resistance spread in contaminated environments.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.