We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
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.
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging pollutants that are widely present in the environment, and are affected by microplastics (MPs). The coexistence of MPs and ARGs enhances their abundance and transmission ability, thereby increasing their environmental hazard. This study summarized the effects of MPs on the abundance and transmission of ARGs. First, the effects of MPs on ARGs in aquatic, terrestrial, atmospheric, and animal intestinal environments were analyzed. Furthermore, factors that affect the enrichment and transfer ability of MPs, including MPs properties, human activities, environmental factors, and other pollutants, were discussed. Previous studies mainly focused on the abundance changes, propagation and diffusion of ARGs on MPs, however, the possible mechanism of these changes on ARGs caused by MPs has not been fully studied, which also leads to many explanations that are not appropriate. Therefore, in the fourth section, the detailed mechanism of MPs on abundance and transfer of ARGs is systematically discussed. As the core innovation in this article, it fills the gap that has been to be supplemented in recent years. Finally, the research challenges and prospects of the effects of MPs on the abundance and spread of ARGs are proposed in the hope that this review will be helpful to better understand the environmental risks and mechanisms of MPs on ARGs.
More Papers Like This
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.
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.
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 (MPs) and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene (ARG) Dissemination: Impacts on Ecosystem Sustainability
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microplastics act as surfaces where antibiotic-resistant bacteria can form biofilms and share resistance genes, potentially helping dangerous superbugs spread through ecosystems. This connection between plastic pollution and antibiotic resistance poses a compounding threat to both environmental and human health.
Microplastics, Nanoplastics and Nanoparticles: Emerging Dynamic Carriers of Extracellular DNA Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how microplastics, nanoplastics, and engineered nanoparticles can carry extracellular DNA containing antibiotic resistance genes, potentially spreading antimicrobial resistance through aquatic environments, and called for improved wastewater treatment and agricultural chemical regulation to reduce this underappreciated public health risk.
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.