Microplastic Biodegradability Dependent Responses of Plastisphere Antibiotic Resistance to Simulated Freshwater-Seawater Shift in Onshore Marine Aquaculture Zone

Antibiotic desorption from microplastics in brackish water and the effect on microbial communities

Metagenomic analysis on resistance genes in water and microplastics from a mariculture system

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Metagenomic analysis of a mariculture pond found that microplastics harbor high abundances of antibiotic and metal resistance genes, with chloramphenicol resistance and mobile genetic elements (intI1) dominating. Microplastics in aquaculture systems can act as reservoirs that concentrate and potentially spread antimicrobial resistance, posing a risk to seafood safety and human health.

Plastisphere: Marine Microbial Assemblages for Biodegradation of Microplastics

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Researchers reviewing the plastisphere — microbial communities colonizing marine plastic debris — found that these assemblages harbor plastic-degrading microorganisms and examined their potential role in biodegrading microplastics, while also noting risks of pathogen dispersal on plastic surfaces.

Microbial Degradation of Marine Plastics: Current State and Future Prospects

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Microbial degradation offers a promising biological pathway for breaking down the millions of tons of plastic entering the ocean each year, though current microbial capabilities remain limited compared to the scale of the problem. Understanding which microorganisms can metabolize specific polymers is critical for developing bioremediation strategies that could reduce the long-term accumulation of microplastics in marine ecosystems.

Potential of Plastic Waste in Enhancing the level of Pathogenicity of diverse Pathogens in the Marine Biota

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Researchers reviewed how marine microplastics serve as attachment surfaces for diverse pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, potentially amplifying the spread and virulence of disease-causing microorganisms throughout the marine food web and into human food sources.