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Effects of emerging pollutants on the occurrence and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes: A review
Summary
This review examines how emerging pollutants, including microplastics, engineered nanomaterials, and pharmaceuticals, can promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment. Researchers found that these pollutants can increase the frequency of horizontal gene transfer between bacteria, potentially accelerating the evolution of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The study highlights a concerning link between environmental contamination and the growing global challenge of antibiotic resistance.
The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have become major concerns for both public health and environmental ecosystems. Emerging pollutants (EPs) that accumulate in environmental compartments also pose a potential risk for the enrichment of ARGs in indigenous microorganisms. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the effects and intrinsic mechanisms of EPs, including microplastics, engineered nanomaterials, disinfection byproducts, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products, on the occurrence and dissemination of ARGs. State-of-the-art methods for identifying culture-independent ARG-host interactions and monitoring horizontal gene transfer (HGT) processes in real-time are first reviewed. The contributions of EPs to the abundance and diversity of ARGs are then summarized. Finally, we discussed the underlying mechanisms related to the regulation of HGT, increased mutagenesis, and the evolution of microbial communities. Further details of three HGT (i.e., conjugation, transformation, and transduction) frequency patterns in response to various EPs are also examined. This review contemplates and reassesses the risks of ARG evolution posed by the manufacture and application of EPs.