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Insights into PET-Microplastics effect on pathogenic bacteria
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Researchers exposed four common disease-causing bacteria to PET microplastics and found that the bacteria responded differently depending on the species and plastic concentration, with some growing faster in the presence of plastics. Notably, bacteria exposed to higher concentrations of PET microplastics developed increased resistance to multiple antibiotics, raising concerns about how environmental plastic pollution could contribute to the growing antibiotic resistance problem.
Growing environmental and health concerns related to microplastics (MPs) exposure have prompted increasing attention, yet the toxicological impacts of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) remain poorly understood. This study investigated the dose-dependent physiological and antimicrobial susceptibility responses of four pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus) to PET-MPs exposure. The results revealed species- and dose-dependent responses. E. coli and P. aeruginosa exhibited a consistent stimulatory effect on growth and biomass with increasing PET-MPs concentrations, whereas S. aureus and S. typhimurium displayed biphasic behavior with growth inhibition at lower concentrations and significant stimulation at higher levels. Furthermore, protein disruption and upregulation of catalase (CAT) activity were observed in all bacterial strains across the tested concentrations. Notably, bacteria acclimated to 3% PET-MPs exhibited enhanced resistance to multiple antibiotics, indicating adaptive cellular mechanisms promoting multidrug resistance. Microscopic examination of the DNA extraction solutions revealed particles with a morphology consistent with PET-MPs; however, definitive molecular associations between MPs and genomic DNA require confirmation through advanced co-localization analyses. Overall, these findings offer new insights into the biological and adaptive responses of pathogenic bacteria to exposure to microplastics.
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Effect of selected microplastics on the development and spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) can help dangerous bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, making infections harder to treat. The smaller plastic pieces were especially good at helping bacteria develop this resistance, and bacteria also formed protective films on the plastic surfaces. This matters because microplastics are everywhere in our environment and food, potentially making antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" more common and threatening our ability to fight bacterial infections.
Antibiotic-driven shifts in bacterial dynamics of the polyethylene terephthalate and low density polyethylene plastisphere in wastewater treatment systems
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Researchers studied how antibiotic exposure shifts the bacterial communities colonizing PET and LDPE microplastic surfaces in activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants, finding that antibiotics altered plastisphere microbial composition and increased antibiotic resistance gene prevalence.
Metagenomic Insights into Host-Associated Enrichment of Antibiotic Resistance Genes Under Oxygen-Limited Conditions Induced by PET Microplastics
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Researchers operated sequencing batch reactors under progressively oxygen-limited conditions with varying PET microplastic concentrations, finding that PET exposure amplified antibiotic resistance gene abundance—without restructuring resistance mechanisms—through host-associated proliferation of specific microbial taxa that also carried PET-degrading genes, highlighting a shared microbial link between plastic breakdown and antibiotic resistance spread.
New insight into the effect of microplastics on antibiotic resistance and bacterial community of biofilm
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Researchers found that different types of microplastics promote distinct biofilm communities and enhance antibiotic resistance gene proliferation compared to natural substrates, suggesting microplastics serve as unique platforms for the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Selective enrichment of bacterial pathogens by microplastic biofilm
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Researchers incubated biofilms on microplastics and natural substrates in freshwater and found that microplastic surfaces selectively enriched bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes compared to rock and leaf surfaces. The study suggests that microplastics in waterways may serve as hotspots for harmful bacteria and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment.
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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.