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[Pollution Situation and Transmission Risks of Antibiotic Resistance within the Plastisphere in the Aquatic Environment].
Summary
This review examines how microplastics serve as a new ecological niche for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in aquatic environments, creating what researchers call the plastisphere. Microplastics interact with heavy metals, antibiotics, and other pollutants while migrating through water systems and food chains, potentially accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. The study highlights the plastisphere as a hotspot for resistance gene transfer, posing threats to both human health and urban ecosystems.
Microplastics， as emerging contaminants， are widely distributed in the hydrosphere of the Earth. They not only provide a new niche for microorganisms， including antibiotic-resistant bacteria， but also interact with other pollutants， such as heavy metals， antibiotics， disinfectants， etc. Moreover， they migrate with water flow and through the food chains， influencing the spread and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes. Therefore， microplastics may not only serve as a vector for the transmission of pathogens but also be a hotspot for the transfer of resistance genes， posing significant threats to both human health and urban ecosystems. This review summarizes the types and abundances of antibiotic resistance genes in the plastisphere of different waters areas （including seawater， freshwater， and wastewater） and explores the influencing factors for the spread and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in the plastisphere， as well as their potential risks to human health and ecosystems. Finally， the future research directions of antibiotic resistance in the plastisphere are prospected， aiming to provide new insights for a comprehensive understanding of relevant issues regarding antibiotic resistance in the plastisphere.
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