We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Co-transport of polyethylene microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes in soil: Influencing factors, mechanisms, and control strategies
No summary available — this paper's abstract is not included in the open metadata provided by the publisher. Learn why →
More Papers Like This
Effects and mechanism of microplastics on abundance and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment - A critical review
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
The Impact of Microplastics on the Dissemination, Persistence, and Ecotoxicological Effects of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Terrestrial Ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined a decade of research on microplastics as carriers of antibiotic resistance genes in terrestrial ecosystems, showing that plastic surfaces enhance gene transmission and soil abundance while exerting toxic effects on microorganisms, plants, and animals. The coupling of microplastic pollution with antibiotic resistance spread represents a compounding public health threat with implications for food safety and the global antimicrobial resistance crisis.
Microplastics as a Carrier of Antibiotic Resistance Genes: A Revision of Literature
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers review evidence that microplastics act as carriers and hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes, influencing bacterial community composition in the environment and potentially accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance — a dual threat to ecosystem and human health.
Interaction of Antibiotics with Microplastics in Agricultural Soils
AI summary Read the abstract
This study investigates how co-occurring antibiotics and microplastics interact in agricultural soils, finding that plastic particles can adsorb antibiotics and alter their mobility, persistence, and bioavailability to soil organisms. The antibiotic-microplastic interaction in farmland soils raises concerns about accelerated antibiotic resistance development and the contamination of crops grown in affected fields.
Microplastics enhance the enrichment and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic environments: A meta-analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles in water aren't just pollution, this analysis of multiple studies found they nearly double the amount of antibiotic-resistant bacteria genes in aquatic environments, essentially acting as gathering spots where these genes multiply and spread more easily. This matters because antibiotic resistance is already a major public health threat, and if microplastics in our waterways are helping resistant bacteria thrive and share their resistance traits, that could make infections harder to treat down the line, especially since smaller plastic particles seemed to make the problem worse.
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.