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Simultaneous Dissemination of Nanoplastics and Antibiotic Resistance by Nematode Couriers
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Researchers discovered that soil nematodes can act as living carriers that simultaneously spread nanoplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria through the environment. The study showed that antibiotic-resistant bacteria aggregate with nanoplastics to form complexes that are then ingested and transported by the worms. The findings reveal a previously unknown biological mechanism by which nanoplastic pollution and antibiotic resistance could be disseminated together across soil ecosystems.
Nanoplastics (NPs) are increasingly recognized as a newly emerging pollutant in the environment. NPs can enable the colonization of microbial pathogens on their surfaces and adsorb toxic pollutants, such as heavy metals and residual antibiotics. Although the dissemination of plastic particles in water bodies and the atmosphere is widely studied, the dissemination of NPs and adsorbed pollutants on land, via biological means, is poorly understood. Since soil animals, such as the bacterivorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), are highly mobile, this raises the possibility that they play an active role in disseminating NPs and adsorbed pollutants. Here, we established that antibiotic-resistant bacteria could aggregate with antibiotic-adsorbed NPs to form antibiotic-adsorbed NP-antibiotic resistant bacteria (ANP-ARB) aggregates, using polymyxins (colistin) as a proof-of-concept. Colistin-resistant mcr-1 bearing Escherichia coli from a mixed population of resistant and sensitive bacteria selectively aggregate with colistin-ANPs. In the soil microcosm, C. elegans fed on ANP-ARB clusters, resulting in the rapid spread of ANP-ARB by the nematodes across the soil at a rate of 40-60 cm per day. Our work revealed insights into how NPs could still disseminate across the soil faster than previously thought by "hitching a ride" in soil animals and acting as agents of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and antibiotic contaminants. This poses direct risks to ecology, agricultural sustainability, and human health.
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Pivotal role of earthworm gut protists in mediating antibiotic resistance genes under microplastic and sulfamethoxazole stress in soil–earthworm systems
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Researchers found that gut protists in earthworms play a pivotal role in mediating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes when earthworms are co-exposed to microplastics and antibiotics in soil, identifying a previously overlooked biological pathway for AMR dissemination.
The vector effect of microplastics and nanoplastics: co-transport and ecological risks of chemical pollutants and antibiotic resistance genes in the soil-water continuum
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) don't just pollute soil and water on their own, they act like tiny taxis, carrying toxic chemicals and even antibiotic-resistant bacteria genes along with them as they move through the environment and into the food chain. This matters because it means the health risks from plastic pollution may be more complex than previously thought, potentially combining chemical exposure with the spread of antibiotic resistance, though scientists still need better tools to measure exactly how much risk this poses to humans and animals.
Nanoplastics promote the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes and diversify their bacterial hosts in soil
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Nanoplastics in soil were found to promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes far more than larger microplastics, even at very low concentrations. The nanoplastics changed which bacteria carried resistance genes and enabled some bacteria to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics simultaneously. This is a significant concern for human health because nanoplastics in agricultural soil could accelerate the spread of drug-resistant bacteria that make infections harder to treat.
The combined effect of microplastics and tetracycline on soil microbial communities and ARGs
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Researchers studied how simultaneous exposure to microplastics and tetracycline affects soil microbial communities, finding that the combination disrupted microbial diversity, altered functional gene expression, and promoted horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes beyond the effects of either pollutant alone.
Polyvinyl chloride microplastic triggers bidirectional transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in soil-earthworm systems
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This study found that PVC microplastics in soil trigger a two-way spread of antibiotic resistance genes between earthworm guts and the surrounding soil. The microplastics increased both the diversity and abundance of these resistance genes, with the transfer happening through bacteria sharing genetic material. This is concerning because earthworms are essential for soil health, and microplastics may be turning soil ecosystems into breeding grounds for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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