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Distinct species turnover patterns shaped the richness of antibiotic resistance genes on eight different microplastic polymers

Environmental Research 2024 13 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Yuyi Yang, Weihong Zhang, Weihong Zhang, Weihong Zhang, Yuyi Yang, Weihong Zhang, Yuyi Yang, Weihong Zhang, Jun Geng, Yuyi Yang, Weihong Zhang, Yuyi Yang, Mengge Sun, Mengge Sun, Jun Geng, Weihong Zhang, Hui Lin Weihong Zhang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Mengge Sun, Mengge Sun, Hui Lin Hui Lin Haiyang Chen, Mengge Sun, Hui Lin Hui Lin Weihong Zhang, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Weihong Zhang, Hui Lin Chunxia Jiang, Chunxia Jiang, Hui Lin Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Hui Lin Jun Geng, Chunxia Jiang, Haiyang Chen, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Weihong Zhang, Weihong Zhang, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Haiyang Chen, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Hui Lin Weihong Zhang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin Yuyi Yang, Hui Lin

Summary

Researchers studied antibiotic resistance genes on eight different types of microplastic surfaces in the environment and found 479 different resistance genes across all plastic types. Biodegradable plastics actually harbored more dangerous bacteria carrying resistance genes than conventional plastics, including species linked to human disease like Vibrio cholerae. This is concerning because these microplastics could spread antibiotic-resistant infections through the environment to people.

Elucidating the formation mechanism of plastisphere antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) on different polymers is necessary to understand the ecological risks of plastisphere ARGs. Here, we explored the turnover and assembly mechanism of plastisphere ARGs on 8 different microplastic polymers (4 biodegradable (bMPs) and 4 non-biodegradable microplastics (nMPs)) by metagenomic sequencing. Our study revealed the presence of 479 ARGs with abundance ranging from 41.37 to 58.17 copies/16S rRNA gene in all plastispheres. These ARGs were predominantly multidrug resistance genes. The richness of plastisphere ARGs on different polymers had a significant correlation with the contribution of species turnover to plastisphere ARGs β diversity. Furthermore, polymer type was the most critical factor affecting the composition of plastisphere ARGs. More opportunistic pathogens carrying diverse ARGs on BMPs (PBAT, PBS, and PHA) with higher horizontal gene transfer potential may further magnify the ecological risks and human health threats. For example, the opportunistic pathogens Riemerella anatipestifer, Vibrio campbellii, and Vibrio cholerae are closely related to human production and life, which were the important potential hosts of many plastisphere ARGs and mobile genetic elements on BMPs. Thus, we emphasize the urgency of developing the formation mechanism of plastisphere ARGs and the necessity of controlling BMPs and ARG pollution, especially BMPs, with ever-increasing usage in daily life.

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