We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
(Micro) nanoplastics promote the risk of antibiotic resistance gene propagation in biological phosphorus removal system
AI summary Read the abstract
The presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in a biological phosphorus removal system used in wastewater treatment promoted the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes, while also disrupting phosphorus removal efficiency. The study links micro- and nanoplastic contamination of treatment systems to both reduced process performance and increased antimicrobial resistance risk.
Microplastics (MPs), nanoplastics (NPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), as emerging pollutants, have been frequently detected in wastewater treatment plants. However, the behavior of phosphorus and ARGs under MP and NP (MP/NP) pressure in biological phosphorus removal (BPR) system is still unknown. This study investigated the effects of MP/NPs on phosphorus removal and ARGs propagation in BPR system. Results showed that MP/NPs had no influence on phosphorus removal, but significantly promoted the amplification of tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs). Moreover, the TRG abundance were more facilitated by MPs than NPs, and the TRGs of efflux pump and enzymatic modification mechanism were mainly enriched. Meanwhile, MP/NPs increased the transmission risk of multiple resistance genes and mobile gene elements (MGEs). Microbial communities demonstrated the main polyphosphate accumulating organisms shifted from Acinetobacter to unclassified_Gammaproteobacteria, which explained why phosphorus removal efficiency was unaffected with MP/NP addition. Correlation analysis revealed there was no significant correlation between ARGs and MGEs (intI1 and intI2), but the abundances of potential hosts of ARGs were significantly increased with MP/NP addition, implying microbial community structure changes rather than gene horizontal transfer was the main factor promoting ARG propagation under MP/NP pressure.
More Papers Like This
Contribution of microplastic particles to the spread of resistances and pathogenic bacteria in treated wastewaters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied microplastic particles collected from treated wastewater effluents and found that MPs harbored significantly higher loads of antibiotic resistance genes and pathogenic bacteria compared to surrounding water, suggesting MPs facilitate their environmental spread.
Size-dependent effects of microplastics on antibiotic resistance genes fate in wastewater treatment systems: The role of changed surface property and microbial assemblages in a continuous exposure mode
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a continuous exposure method to evaluate how different sizes of microplastics affect antibiotic resistance gene fate in wastewater treatment, finding that smaller microplastics had greater impacts on microbial communities and resistance gene proliferation.
Complex behavior between microplastic and antibiotic and their effect on phosphorus-removing Shewanella strain during wastewater treatment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how microplastics and antibiotics interact in wastewater treatment, finding that their combined stress disrupted phosphorus removal by Shewanella bacteria through altered adsorption behavior and metabolic interference.
Microplastics as hubs enriching antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pathogens in municipal activated sludge
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers demonstrated that microplastics in municipal wastewater treatment plants act as "hubs," selectively concentrating antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pathogens in their surface biofilms, with antibiotic-resistance genes enriched up to 4.5-fold compared to sand particles — raising concerns about microplastics spreading drug-resistant microbes into the environment.
Microplastics shape microbial interactions and affect the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in different full-scale wastewater treatment plants
AI summary Read the abstract
A study of three full-scale wastewater treatment plants found that microplastics were associated with increased spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with microplastic surfaces appearing to facilitate microbial interactions that promote ARG transfer. This is a significant public health concern because wastewater plants that fail to fully remove microplastics may also be inadvertently accelerating the dissemination of antibiotic resistance into receiving waterways.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.