We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Mechanism of microplastics promoting sulfamethoxazole biodegradation in activated sludge as revealed by DNA-stable isotope probing
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used isotope-labeling techniques to identify which bacteria in activated sludge actually degrade the common antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, discovering 13 previously unknown degrading bacterial genera. Adding microplastics to the sludge enhanced antibiotic breakdown by restructuring the microbial community, increasing the abundance of degrading bacteria, and promoting cooperative interactions between species. This finding is both promising — microplastics may inadvertently improve antibiotic removal in treatment plants — and concerning, as it reveals how plastic pollution reshapes the microbiology of wastewater systems in complex, unpredictable ways.
Microplastics (MPs) often coexist with sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) in the activated sludge of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Microbial degradation is a crucial pathway for SAs removal in the activated sludge, though its response to MPs still yet to be disclosed. Here, we combined DNA-stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP), PICRUSt and MENA techniques to explore the impact of MPs on the microbial biodegradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in the activated sludge. DNA-SIP revealed 20 genera were responsible for the SMX degradation in the activated sludge, with 13 of these genera being firstly linked with sulfonamide biodegradation. The potential SMX-degrading bacteria showed complex synergistic interaction with the other microbes. Eight degradation pathways were constructed based on the nine identified SMX-related degradation genes. MPs addition enhanced the SMX biodegradation by altering the structure of degrading microbes, increasing their relative abundance and promoting the synergistic interactions between potential SMX-degrading bacteria and other microbes in activated sludge. Besides, genes related to abundant energy production and biofilm formation were involved in SMX degradation in the activated sludge with MPs. Our study reveals the MPs influence on SMX biodegradation in activated sludge, and disclose the potential underlying mechanisms, which will benefit the regulation on antibiotic removal in WWTPs.
More Papers Like This
Size-dependent effect of microplastics on sulfamethoxazole degraders in soil as revealed by integration of SIP and metagenomics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used DNA stable isotope probing combined with metagenomics and Raman-activated cell sorting to identify microbes that degrade the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in soils containing polyethylene microplastics, finding that large-sized MPs (4.5 mm) enhanced degradation by improving soil conditions and microbial diversity, while small MPs (0.1 mm) inhibited it by creating harsher conditions that suppressed degrader populations.
Unexpected mitigation of microplastic-induced nitrification inhibition by sulfamethoxazole: The pivotal roles of polymer aging and microbial metabolic shifts
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that plastic pollution and a common antibiotic interact in surprising ways inside wastewater treatment plants, sometimes making pollution's harmful effects worse, sometimes better, depending on the plastic type and how weathered it is. This matters because wastewater treatment protects our water supplies, and understanding these hidden chemical interactions helps engineers keep treatment systems working properly as plastic and drug pollution keeps rising.
Granulation and stability of microalgal–bacterial granular sludge under single and combined exposure to polycaprolactone microplastics and sulfamethoxazole
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested whether tiny plastic particles and a common antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole) disrupt the "good bacteria" clusters used in wastewater treatment plants to clean water before it's released back into the environment. They found that the microplastic alone caused little harm, but the antibiotic—especially combined with microplastics—significantly weakened the system's ability to remove pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus. This matters because if wastewater treatment becomes less effective at breaking down contaminants, more antibiotics and pollutants could end up in our rivers and water supply, highlighting the need to better
Dissecting the effects of co-exposure to microplastics and sulfamethoxazole on anaerobic digestion
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how microplastics combined with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole affect the anaerobic digestion process used in wastewater treatment. They found that the combination reduced methane production and altered microbial communities, while also promoting widespread antibiotic resistance among the microorganisms. The study highlights concerns about how co-occurring microplastics and antibiotics in sewage could undermine wastewater treatment efficiency.
Plastic-mediated alterations in soil microbial networks and their role in sulfamethazine degradation.
AI summary Read the abstract
Plastic pollution in soil doesn't just sit there—it changes which bacteria thrive, and this study found that plastic-associated microbes actually made it harder for soil to break down a common livestock antibiotic (sulfamethazine), causing it to build up by about 25%. This matters because it suggests plastic waste in farmland could help antibiotics linger longer in the environment, potentially contributing to antibiotic resistance and contaminating soil, crops, and water we rely on.
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.