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Effects of Aged Biodegradable Plastics and Antibiotics on the Conjugative Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes Between Bacteria
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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.
The widespread use of plastics has caused severe environmental pollution, driving interest in biodegradable alternatives like polylactic acid (PLA). However, incomplete degradation of biodegradable plastics under natural conditions may generate micro/nanoplastics that could exacerbate ecological risks. This study investigated the combined effects of UV-aged microplastics from biodegradable PLA and conventional PET, along with sulfamethoxazole (SMX), on the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) between bacteria. Using UV aging to simulate environmental weathering, the microplastic morphology, adsorption behavior, and interaction with SMX were characterized. The study further evaluated the bacterial viability, ROS level, membrane permeability, and the expression of conjugative transfer-related genes to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Results showed that aged PLA released significantly more nanoplastics and exhibited higher adsorption affinity for SMX than PET. Combined exposure to aged PLA and SMX significantly enhanced ARG transfer frequency by approximately 14.5-fold compared to the control. Mechanistic studies revealed that this promotion was associated with increased intracellular ROS levels, elevated membrane permeability, and upregulation of conjugative related genes. These findings underscore that biodegradable plastics, after environmental aging, may pose greater ecological risks than conventional plastics, and highlight the importance of considering environmental aging in the risk assessment of plastics.
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Researchers found that microplastics significantly increased the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes during ultraviolet disinfection of wastewater. Conventional polystyrene microplastics facilitated more gene transfer than biodegradable polylactic acid ones, primarily by shielding bacteria from UV light and generating reactive oxygen species that increased cell membrane permeability.
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Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics interact with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in water, both before and after UV aging. They found that biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics had the highest capacity to absorb the antibiotic, and that aging generally increased absorption for all plastic types. The study suggests that microplastics in waterways may act as carriers for pharmaceutical pollutants, with biodegradable plastics potentially posing a greater transport risk than conventional ones.
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This study found that aged (weathered) microplastics and nanoplastics promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes during sewage sludge treatment more than fresh plastics did. The weathering process changed the surface properties of the plastics, making them better carriers for drug-resistant bacteria and their genes. This is concerning because sludge from treatment plants is often applied to farmland, potentially spreading antibiotic resistance through soil and into the food supply.
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