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Opportunistic taxa promote the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic- and tetracycline-contaminated soils
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Scientists found that when "biodegradable" plastic bits mix with newer generations of tetracycline antibiotics in soil, certain opportunistic bacteria multiply and become better at spreading antibiotic resistance, even more so than with older antibiotics. This matters because it suggests that "eco-friendly" plastics aren't necessarily harmless when combined with common antibiotics, and this combination could help create harder-to-treat, drug-resistant germs in our food-growing soil that may eventually affect human health.
Edaphic antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have garnered worldwide concern, yet mechanisms by which specific microbial taxa drive ARG variation under anthropogenic stress remain unclear. Here we show how opportunistic and sensitive taxa contribute to ARG propagation in soil microcosms exposed to conventional (polyethylene, PE) or biodegradable (polybutylene adipate terephthalate, PBAT) microplastics and four-generation tetracyclines. Compared with PBAT-only, the total abundance of ARGs increases progressively in soils co-exposed to PBAT and tetracyclines, ranging from 1.17-fold for the first-generation tetracycline to 2.87-fold for the fourth-generation tetracycline. Tetracycline and multidrug ARGs are markedly enriched under PBAT combined with high-generation tetracyclines, particularly fourth-generation omadacycline. This ARG proliferation coincides with generational enrichment of opportunistic taxa, whereas sensitive taxa exhibited weak or negative correlations. Molecular docking simulations reveal that enhanced resistance potential of opportunistic taxa stems from stronger binding affinities between resistance proteins and high-generation tetracyclines. These findings highlight the pivotal role of opportunistic microbes in ARG dissemination under biodegradable microplastics and newer antibiotic generations, advancing our mechanistic understanding of resistance proliferation in soil ecosystems. Strong binding of resistance proteins to high-generation tetracyclines exacerbates antibiotic resistance gene spread in soil exposed to biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate and tetracyclines, based on soil microcosm experiments.
More Papers Like This
Opportunistic taxa promote the proliferation of ARGs
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists studying soil found that when it's exposed to microplastics (both regular plastic and "biodegradable" plastic) plus repeated doses of tetracycline antibiotics, certain fast-growing "opportunistic" microbes take advantage of the disturbance and help spread antibiotic-resistance genes to other bacteria. This matters because antibiotic resistance spreading through soil, including from plastics marketed as eco-friendly, could make its way into our food and water, potentially making bacterial infections harder to treat in the future.
Opportunistic taxa promote the proliferation of ARGs
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists studying soil found that when microplastics (both regular and "biodegradable" versions) mix with antibiotics, certain fast-growing "opportunistic" bacteria take advantage of the disturbance and help spread antibiotic-resistance genes to other microbes nearby. This matters because it suggests plastic pollution combined with antibiotic use in soil, like on farms, could be quietly boosting antibiotic resistance in the environment, making it easier for drug-resistant bacteria to eventually reach humans through food or water. Notably, even "biodegradable" plastics weren't a safe alternative in this regard
Microplastics combined with tetracycline in soils facilitate the formation of antibiotic resistance in the Enchytraeus crypticus microbiome
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Soil invertebrates (Enchytraeus crypticus) were exposed to microplastics and tetracycline alone and in combination; combined exposure promoted greater shifts in gut microbiome composition and higher levels of antibiotic resistance genes than either stressor alone, suggesting microplastics exacerbate antibiotic resistance spread in soil.
Effects of microplastics on dissipation of oxytetracycline and its relevant resistance genes in soil without and with Serratia marcescens: Comparison between biodegradable and conventional microplastics
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This study found that biodegradable plastic (PBAT) microplastics actually slowed the breakdown of the antibiotic oxytetracycline in soil more than conventional polyethylene microplastics did, and both types promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. This matters for human health because antibiotic-resistant bacteria from contaminated soils can eventually reach people through food or water.
Co-existence of polyethylene microplastics and tetracycline on soil microbial community and ARGs
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This study examined how polyethylene microplastics and the antibiotic tetracycline interact in soil. When present together, they altered soil microbial communities and increased the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes more than either contaminant alone. The findings raise concerns that microplastics in agricultural soil may worsen the spread of antibiotic resistance, a growing public health challenge.
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