Regulation of quorum sensing for antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater plastisphere

Plastisphere as an eco-site for horizontal gene transfer: Enhancing antibiotic resistance in marine biofilms

Metagenomic analysis on resistance genes in water and microplastics from a mariculture system

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Metagenomic analysis of a mariculture pond found that microplastics harbor high abundances of antibiotic and metal resistance genes, with chloramphenicol resistance and mobile genetic elements (intI1) dominating. Microplastics in aquaculture systems can act as reservoirs that concentrate and potentially spread antimicrobial resistance, posing a risk to seafood safety and human health.

Effects and mechanism of microplastics on abundance and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment - A critical review

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Tiny plastic particles polluting our water, soil, and even the air don't just sit there, this review of existing research shows they can act like rafts that help bacteria pick up antibiotic-resistance genes and spread them more easily, including in our gut environments. That's concerning because it means microplastic pollution could be quietly fueling the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant infections, making it harder to treat illnesses in the future. The researchers reviewed how this happens but say scientists still don't fully understand all the mechanisms behind it, so more research is needed to address the risk.

Microplastics In The Environment Help Spread Antibiotic Resistance And Change Microbial Interactions

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Microplastics in soil and aquatic environments serve as selective surfaces where antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes accumulate at higher concentrations than in surrounding water, accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance through ecosystems. This interaction between plastic pollution and antimicrobial resistance represents a compounding public health threat, as microplastics could help propagate resistant pathogens into drinking water and food supplies.

The Aquatic Plastisphere: Methodology, Biofilm Formation Mechanism, and Microbial Diversity

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Researchers reviewed how microbial communities form biofilms on microplastics in aquatic environments — creating a unique man-made ecosystem called the plastisphere — and found that these biofilms significantly alter how microplastics move, transform, and affect other organisms in freshwater, marine, and wetland settings.