Exploring Bacterial Interactions with Microplastics in the Human Gut Microbiome

Microplastics (MPs) have potential effects on human health due to their existence in the environment. Because of their small size, these MPs can be consumed by a wide range of living things, which might cause inflammatory reactions and possibly have serious negative effects on important organs. Although the ecotoxicological effects of MPs have been the subject of numerous studies, little is known about how they interact with bacteria, particularly those found in the human gut microbiome. The presence of MPs may disturb the gut microbiome, which is important for the immune system and digestive processes. With an emphasis on the binding processes and possible health impacts, this study investigates the interactions between MPs and bacteria in the human gut microbiome concentrating on the binding processes and any health impacts. To evaluate binding interactions with MPs of different sizes, the amino acid sequences of DNA gyrase B from Fusobacterium nucleatum, Dorea longicatena, and Coprococcus sp. were extracted and prepared for docking simulations. Using AutoDock Vina, molecular docking simulations were run. To find possible interaction locations, the top-scoring binding modes were examined. The behavior of these MPs particles within the human body, including their absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity, was also predicted using the ADMET-lab 2.0 software. This work gave basic knowledge of the interactions between bacteria and MPs in the human gut and shed light on possible health hazards related to MP exposure