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Co-exposure of microplastics and sulfamethoxazole propagated antibiotic resistance genes in sediments by regulating the microbial carbon metabolism
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This study found that when microplastics and the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole are present together in river sediments, certain types of microplastics amplify the spread of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria. Biodegradable PLA plastic promoted more resistance gene spread than conventional polyethylene, likely by altering how bacteria metabolize carbon. This means microplastic pollution in waterways could be helping create antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing an indirect but serious threat to human health.
The concerns on the carriers of microplastics (MPs) on co-existing pollutants in aquatic environments are sharply rising in recent years. However, little is known about their interactions on the colonization of microbiota, especially for the spread of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influences on the propagation of ARGs in sediments by the co-exposure of different MPs and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The results showed that the presence of MPs significantly enhanced the contents of total organic carbon, while having no effects on the removal of SMX in sediments. Exposure to SMX and MPs obviously activated the microbial carbon utilization capacities based on the BIOLOG method. The propagation of ARGs in sediments was activated by SMX, which was further promoted by the presence of polylactic acid (PLA) MPs, but significantly lowered by the co-exposed polyethylene (PE) MPs. This apparent difference may be attributed to the distinct influence on the antibiotic efflux pumps of two MPs. Moreover, the propagation of ARGs may be also dominated by microbial carbon metabolism in sediments, especially through regulating the carbon sources of carboxylic acids, carbohydrates, and amino acids. This study provides new insights into the carrier effects of MPs in sediments.
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This study examined how UV-aged microplastics from biodegradable PLA and conventional PET plastics, combined with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, affect the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. Researchers found that aged microplastics promoted bacterial conjugation more than pristine particles, with PLA microplastics showing stronger effects, suggesting that even biodegradable plastics may increase the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment.
Microplastics enhance the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in mariculture sediments by enriching host bacteria and promoting horizontal gene transfer
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