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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics enhanced the resistant genes spread under disinfectant replacement exposure in partial nitrification-anammox systems
ClearEffects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and benzylalkyldimethylethyl compounds on system performance, microbial community and resistance genes in sulfur autotrophic denitrification system
Researchers found that PVC microplastics and a common disinfectant chemical in wastewater treatment systems promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, with the disinfectant having an even stronger effect than the microplastics. The microplastic surfaces harbored disease-causing bacteria that carried these resistance genes. This is concerning because wastewater treatment plants could be releasing both microplastics and antibiotic-resistant pathogens into waterways, potentially threatening human health.
From Interface to Cell: The Complex Interaction and Transfer Process Coupling Mechanism between Microplastics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Researchers examined how microplastic surfaces act as vectors for spreading antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment systems. The study found that aged microplastics of PET, PE, and PP promoted bacterial adhesion, enhanced horizontal gene transfer, and triggered overproduction of reactive oxygen species, ultimately amplifying the spread of antimicrobial resistance through multiple molecular mechanisms.
Microplastic pollution interaction with disinfectant resistance genes: research progress, environmental impacts, and potential threats
This review examines how microplastics serve as carriers for bacteria that develop resistance to disinfectants, a concern that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic as disinfectant use surged. Researchers found that microorganisms on microplastic surfaces can exchange genetic material more readily, accelerating the spread of disinfectant resistance genes. The study warns that the interaction between microplastic pollution and antimicrobial resistance represents an underappreciated environmental and public health concern.
Enhanced propagation of intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes in municipal wastewater by microplastics
Researchers investigated how microplastics in municipal wastewater can carry and promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, including those found both inside and outside bacterial cells. They found that microplastics adsorbed both types of resistance genes and enhanced their transfer between bacteria through horizontal gene transfer. The study reveals that microplastics in wastewater systems may act as an underappreciated accelerator of antibiotic resistance spread.
Contribution of microplastic particles to the spread of resistances and pathogenic bacteria in treated wastewaters
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.
Unignorable environmental risks: Insight into differential responses between biofilm and plastisphere in sulfur autotrophic denitrification system upon exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds
This study found that microplastics in wastewater treatment plants collect more antibiotic resistance genes and disease-causing bacteria on their surfaces than regular biofilms, especially when exposed to common disinfectant chemicals. The plastic surfaces act as hotspots where dangerous bacteria gather and share resistance genes more easily. This raises concerns that microplastics leaving treatment plants could spread antibiotic-resistant infections into the environment.
Microplastics exhibit accumulation and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
Researchers investigated whether microplastics in wastewater treatment plants can accumulate and spread antibiotic resistance genes. They found that bacteria growing on microplastic surfaces in treatment tanks harbored antibiotic resistance genes and transferred them at higher rates than bacteria in the surrounding water. This suggests microplastics in wastewater systems may serve as hotspots for spreading antibiotic resistance, posing potential risks to both ecosystems and human health.
Microplastics shape microbial interactions and affect the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in different full-scale wastewater treatment plants
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.
Microplastic pollution increases gene exchange in aquatic ecosystems
Researchers found that microplastics in aquatic environments serve as surfaces where bacteria form biofilms and exchange genes at higher rates than free-living bacteria. The study demonstrated increased transfer of antibiotic resistance genes among a wide range of bacterial species growing on microplastic particles. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution could accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance in waterways, posing a potential hazard to both ecosystems and human health.
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
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.
Growth and prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in microplastic biofilm from wastewater treatment plant effluents
Researchers studied antibiotic-resistant bacteria growing in biofilms on microplastic surfaces in wastewater treatment plant effluent. The study found that microplastic biofilms accumulated antibiotic-resistant bacteria including Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, and Bacillus, and that these biofilms harbored higher concentrations of resistance genes compared to surrounding water, suggesting microplastics may serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance.
Impacts of disinfectant and antipyretic on aged ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer microplastics in hospital wastewater: Resistance genes, microbial community and carbon source metabolism
Researchers examined how two common hospital chemicals — a disinfectant (benzethonium chloride) and a painkiller (acetaminophen) — affect the microplastic particles made of ethylene-vinyl acetate that end up in hospital wastewater. Aged EVA microplastics exposed to these chemicals became better carriers for antibiotic resistance genes and promoted more microbial colonization than fresh plastics, raising concerns about hospitals as sources of resistance gene spread through microplastics. This highlights a under-studied pathway by which microplastics in healthcare settings could contribute to the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
Microplastics can selectively enrich intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistant genes and shape different microbial communities in aquatic systems
Researchers examined how microplastics of different types selectively capture antibiotic resistance genes and shape microbial communities in aquatic systems. They found that microplastics enriched both intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes, with the enrichment patterns varying by plastic type. The study suggests that microplastics may serve as hotspots for the spread of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and natural water environments.
Different microplastics distinctively enriched the antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic sludge digestion through shifting specific hosts and promoting horizontal gene flow
Researchers examined how polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect antibiotic resistance genes during sewage sludge digestion and found that both plastic types promoted the spread of resistance genes, but through different mechanisms. Polyethylene surfaces attracted specific bacteria that carry resistance genes, while PVC promoted horizontal gene transfer between organisms. The study raises concerns about wastewater treatment plants becoming hotspots for antibiotic resistance when microplastics are present.
Decoding the microplastic Micro-interface: a complex Web of gene transfer and pathogenic threats in wastewater
Researchers used metagenomics to study how microplastic surfaces in wastewater treatment systems serve as hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes and pathogenic bacteria. They found that microplastic micro-interfaces supported more robust microbial networks and facilitated horizontal gene transfer of resistance and virulence genes more actively than surrounding environments. The study suggests that microplastics in wastewater may accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance and increase pathogenicity risks.
Fates of extracellular and intracellular antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge and plastisphere under sulfadiazine pressure
Researchers found that microplastics in wastewater treatment systems act as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes, with the plastic surfaces (plastisphere) harboring more resistance genes than the surrounding sludge. When exposed to the antibiotic sulfadiazine, the spread of resistance genes on microplastic surfaces increased, and DNA from potential pathogens was detected. This suggests that microplastics leaving wastewater treatment plants could carry drug-resistant bacteria into waterways, posing a risk to public health.
The stress response of tetracycline resistance genes and bacterial communities under the existence of microplastics in typical leachate biological treatment system
Researchers studied how polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics affect tetracycline resistance genes and bacterial communities in a leachate biological treatment system. They found that microplastics served as hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes, with biofilms on the plastic surfaces harboring significantly higher gene abundances than the surrounding liquid. The study suggests that microplastics in waste treatment systems may accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance.
(Micro) nanoplastics promote the risk of antibiotic resistance gene propagation in biological phosphorus removal system
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.
Antibiotic-driven shifts in bacterial dynamics of the polyethylene terephthalate and low density polyethylene plastisphere in wastewater treatment systems
Researchers studied how antibiotic exposure shifts the bacterial communities colonizing PET and LDPE microplastic surfaces in activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants, finding that antibiotics altered plastisphere microbial composition and increased antibiotic resistance gene prevalence.
Adaptive resistance and defense evolution in microplastics-mediated biological exposure interfaces in municipal wastewater treatment systems
Researchers studied how microplastic surfaces in municipal wastewater treatment systems promote the development of antimicrobial resistance. The study found that PET, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics trigger quorum sensing-driven resistance evolution in microbial biofilms, enhancing the expression of genes related to extracellular polymeric substances and potentially contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance.