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Fluconazole resistant pathogenic yeasts isolated from plastic debris on recreational public beaches in West and East Africa
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This study screened plastic debris collected from recreational beaches in Nigeria and Tanzania for colonization by human pathogenic yeasts, finding that all beach sites and all plastic polymer types harbored at least one pathogenic yeast species, with Candida tropicalis being the most common. Importantly, most isolates showed resistance to fluconazole — Africa's most commonly prescribed antifungal — raising significant public health concerns about plastic debris as a vector for drug-resistant fungal pathogens.
Plastic pollution in the environment becomes rapidly colonised by microbial communities, which often contain human bacterial pathogens. However, there is a lack of information about the interaction of fungal pathogens with plastic debris, particularly in marine environments. This study screened common plastic wastes collected from a range of recreational public and tourist beaches in Nigeria and Tanzania for colonisation by human pathogenic yeasts. Isolates were identified on selective media with confirmation by ITS sequencing. All beaches and all plastic polymer types were colonised by at least one species of human pathogenic yeast, with Candida tropicalis being the most frequently isolated species across both countries. Importantly, most of these pathogenic yeast isolates showed some level of resistance to fluconazole, which in Africa is the most commonly prescribed anti-fungal drug. Therefore, due to the high potential for human skin exposure at beach environments, plastic debris could pose a significant public health risk.
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Thermotolerance, virulence, and drug resistance of human pathogenic Candida species colonising plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems
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This study isolated five pathogenic Candida species from plastic debris collected in freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments, with all isolates showing antifungal drug resistance and thermotolerance to human body temperature. Plastic pellets deployed near a wastewater discharge pipe became colonized by Candida with species composition reflecting the upstream/downstream source, suggesting plastic pollution facilitates environmental dissemination of clinically important pathogens.
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This study investigated the effects of nanoplastics on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, finding dose-dependent inhibition of seed germination and root elongation. Uptake of fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics was confirmed by confocal microscopy, showing accumulation in root epidermal cells and suggesting active uptake mechanisms in plant tissues.
The Culturable Mycobiota of Sediments and Associated Microplastics: From a Harbor to a Marine Protected Area, a Comparative Study
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Researchers investigated fungal diversity in sediments and microplastic surfaces at three Mediterranean sites with varying anthropogenic impact -- a harbor, a marine protected area, and an intermediate site -- culturing 1,526 isolates and finding that microplastics harbor distinct fungal assemblages compared to surrounding sediments, with several species recorded for the first time in marine environments.
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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.