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Polyethylene microplastics specifically drive the dissemination of ARGs: Mechanisms involving microbial community restructuring and horizontal gene transfer
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A 28-day lake water experiment found that polyethylene microplastics specifically — more than polystyrene or polypropylene — drove significant increases in antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in the water's microbial community, largely by restructuring which bacteria dominated and facilitating horizontal gene transfer between microbes. The plastic surface appeared to create a hotspot for resistance gene exchange by enriching certain bacterial genera that serve as hosts for these genes. Since lakes are both drinking water sources and recreational waters, this finding highlights polyethylene microplastics as a particular concern for public health.
As emerging contaminants, the impact of microplastics (MPs) on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factors (VFs), and host microbial communities in lakes remains unclear. To address this, we conducted a 28-day incubation experiment using water from Yiquan Lake, employing metagenomic sequencing to investigate the effects of different types of microplastics-polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and a mixture (Mix), each at a concentration of 1 item/L-compared to a raw water control (RAW). Results showed significant enrichment of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in PE and Mix groups. Genera such as Agrobacterium and Microbacterium increased in PE and PS groups, serving as major hosts of ARGs and VFs. Network analysis revealed positive correlations between Agrobacterium, Escherichia, and ARGs, suggesting horizontal gene transfer may facilitate the spread of resistance and virulence. Two-factor PS formed highly connected yet competitive networks, whereas Mix constructed modular and stable networks. Single-factor PE enhanced microbial connectivity but reduced ARGs connectivity, while Mix increased the modularity of both microbes and ARGs. PE elevated the abundance of ARGs, VFs, and mobile genetic elements, with multidrug resistance and efflux pumps as dominant mechanisms. Additionally, PE downregulated quorum sensing transporter genes while upregulating regulatory factors, significantly promoting RND efflux systems (AcrAB-TolC) to maintain resistome homeostasis. This study highlights the distinct environmental effects of different MPs, underscoring the need to prioritize PE-related risks in aquatic ecosystems. Improved management of plastic waste in and around lakes is recommended to mitigate MP-mediated ARG dissemination and preserve freshwater ecosystem services.
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Microplastic biofilm as hotspots of antibiotic resistance genes and potential pathogens
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This review examined how microplastic biofilms—the plastisphere—serve as hotspots for antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) accumulation and potential pathogen enrichment. The authors described mechanisms by which microplastic surfaces promote horizontal gene transfer and bacterial community shifts that favor ARG-carrying strains, raising concern that microplastics accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.
Microplastisphere antibiotic resistance genes: A bird's-eye view on the plastic-specific diversity and enrichment
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Microplastics in the environment act as surfaces for microbial communities called microplastispheres, which this review finds are enriched with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The type of plastic, surrounding water chemistry, and co-occurring pollutants all influence which resistance genes accumulate, raising concern that microplastics could be spreading antibiotic resistance through aquatic environments worldwide.
Microplastics can selectively enrich intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistant genes and shape different microbial communities in aquatic systems
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Researchers examined how microplastics of different types selectively capture antibiotic resistance genes and shape microbial communities in aquatic systems. They found that microplastics enriched both intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes, with the enrichment patterns varying by plastic type. The study suggests that microplastics may serve as hotspots for the spread of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and natural water environments.
Conjugative antibiotic-resistant plasmids promote bacterial colonization of microplastics in water environments
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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria carrying conjugative plasmids were shown to more effectively colonize microplastic surfaces in water environments, with plasmid transfer rates on plastic surfaces exceeding those in the surrounding water. The study identifies microplastics as hotspots for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer in aquatic systems.
Microplastisphere may induce the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics in aquatic environments: A review
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This first meta-analysis of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) enrichment on microplastics found that ARGs were more abundant on microplastic surfaces than on inorganic substrates or in surrounding water, but less abundant than on natural organic substrates. Freshwater microplastics showed a higher degree of ARG enrichment than those in saline water or sewage.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.