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Microplastic-driven carbon availability differentiates phage-host interactions in shaping soil resistome
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In a long-term field study of soil, both breakable and non-breakable microplastics increased antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria, but through different routes: one type stressed bacteria and spread resistance via viruses, while the other fed bacteria with tough carbon sources that helped resistant strains thrive.
The growing prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in agroecosystem has raised significant concerns regarding their ability in facilitating the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Biodegradable and nondegradable MPs exhibited inherently different degradation rates, resulting in divergent carbon bioavailability that might trigger distinct microbial response and ARG profiles. Here, by integrating multi-omics (metagenomics, virome and metatranscriptomics) with experimental validation, we explored how microbial responses to MPs impacted ARG dissemination in a long-term field experiment. We showed that both biodegradable and nondegradable MPs significantly increased ARG abundance and transcriptional activity, differing in the drive mechanisms. Biodegradable MPs triggered bacterial oxidative stress and SOS response, increasing mobile genetic elements abundance and horizontal gene transfer of ARGs. Accordingly, increasing proportion of lysogenic phages and intensified phage-host interactions might promote ARG transduction through lysogenic conversion. In contrast, nondegradable MPs increased recalcitrant carbon, which enriched bacteria harboring genes for complex compound degradation. ARG-carrying bacteria within these taxa gained fitness advantages, facilitating their enrichment and ARG proliferation. Concurrently, phages infecting ARG-carrying bacteria encoded more auxiliary metabolic genes in complex carbohydrate metabolism, thereby enhancing host competitiveness and promoting ARG spread. In vitro validation experiments confirmed that lysogenic phages facilitated transduction of ARGs under biodegradable MPs, while phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes conferred growth advantages on ARG-carrying bacteria utilizing recalcitrant carbon source, consistent with conditions induced by nondegradable MPs. Our findings clarify how phages differentially impacted ARG profiles under biodegradable and nondegradable MPs, underscoring the importance of considering phage-mediated processes in assessing the risks of MPs and ARG dissemination.
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Researchers ran a microcosm experiment comparing how pristine versus aged microplastics influenced bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) composition in the plastisphere and surrounding soil solution. Aged MPs enriched distinct ARGs and microbial taxa compared to pristine MPs, suggesting MP weathering intensifies the spread of antibiotic resistance in soils.
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Researchers found that different types of microplastics promote distinct biofilm communities and enhance antibiotic resistance gene proliferation compared to natural substrates, suggesting microplastics serve as unique platforms for the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Potential environmental risks of field bio/non-degradable microplastic from mulching residues in farmland: Evidence from metagenomic analysis of plastisphere
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Researchers analyzed the microbes living on biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch fragments in farm soil and found that both types harbored antibiotic resistance genes and disease-causing bacteria, including human pathogens. Surprisingly, the biodegradable plastic (PBAT/PLA) had a higher diversity and abundance of resistance genes than conventional polyethylene. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer and raises concerns about antibiotic resistance spreading from farm microplastics.
Biodegradable microplastics induced the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in soil: A metagenomic perspective
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Researchers found that biodegradable microplastics promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in soil at levels comparable to conventional microplastics, challenging assumptions about their environmental safety.
Microplastics mediates the spread of antimicrobial resistance plasmids via modulating conjugal gene expression
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