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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Integration of metagenomic analysis and metabolic modeling reveals microbial interactions in activated sludge systems in response to nanoplastics and plasticizers
ClearPlastisphere showing unique microbiome and resistome different from activated sludge
Researchers used metagenomics to compare the microbiome and resistome of PVC plastisphere biofilms with activated sludge, finding that microplastic surfaces enriched distinct pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes that differ from the surrounding sludge community.
Mechanistic insights into the impact of multi-dimensional microplastic stress on nitrogen removal by heterotrophic nitrifying-aerobic denitrifying bacteria: A meta-transcriptomic analysis
Researchers studied how different types of microplastics affect bacteria that are used to remove nitrogen from wastewater. They found that PVC microplastics were particularly disruptive, interfering with enzyme function and gene expression needed for denitrification. The study provides molecular-level insights into how microplastic pollution could undermine biological wastewater treatment systems.
The responses of microbial metabolic activity, bacterial community and resistance genes under the coexistence of nanoplastics and quaternary ammonium compounds in the sewage environment
Researchers examined how the coexistence of nanoplastics and quaternary ammonium compounds in sewage affects microbial metabolic activity, bacterial community structure, and resistance gene abundance, finding significant changes over a 30-day incubation period.
Metagenomic insights into the synergistic properties and mechanisms of sludge microbial communities degrading polystyrene and polypropylene
Researchers used metagenomics to characterise a sludge microbial consortium capable of degrading both polystyrene and polypropylene microplastics simultaneously, enriched from plastic-contaminated industrial activated sludge. Over 60 days without pretreatment, the consortium achieved weight loss rates of 13.4% for PS and 23.2% for PP, with Bacillus initiating degradation and Achromobacter regulating intermediate metabolism in a synergistic 'initiation-metabolism' network.
Metagenomic insight into the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge upon exposure to nanoplastics
Researchers used metagenomic analysis to show that polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations increased antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge by up to 59%, primarily by promoting horizontal gene transfer and enriching Proteobacteria host populations — raising concerns about nanoplastic-driven spread of antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment.
Long-term exposure to nanoplastics reshapes the microbial interaction network of activated sludge
Researchers found that long-term nanoplastic exposure over 140 days progressively degraded activated sludge treatment performance, reducing nitrogen and phosphorus removal by reshaping microbial interaction networks into smaller, less complex structures.
Analytical methods for quantifying PS and PVC Nanoplastic attachment to activated sludge Bacteria and their impact on community structure
Researchers developed and evaluated analytical methods for quantifying the attachment of polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride nanoplastics to activated sludge bacteria, while also examining the impact of these nanoplastics on microbial community structure.
Effects 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.
Mechanistic and microbial ecological insights into the impacts of micro- and nano- plastics on microbial reductive dehalogenation of organohalide pollutants
Researchers found that microplastics generally enhanced microbial reductive dehalogenation of organohalide pollutants by 10-217%, while nanoplastics consistently inhibited it by increasing reactive oxygen species, revealing size-dependent effects on pollutant biotransformation in contaminated environments.
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.
Cross-feeding drives degradation of phthalate ester plasticizers in a bacterial consortium
Researchers characterized a three-member bacterial consortium capable of fully mineralizing the plasticizer diethyl phthalate as a sole carbon source, revealing through metaproteomic analysis that degradation relies on cross-feeding between Microbacterium and two Pseudomonas species, with each member contributing distinct enzymatic steps in a cooperative pathway.
Microbiology combined with metabonomics revealing the response of soil microorganisms and their metabolic functions exposed to phthalic acid esters
Researchers examined how common plastic plasticizers (phthalic acid esters) affect soil microorganisms and their metabolic functions using genomic sequencing and metabolomics. They found that while plasticizers did not significantly change bacterial diversity in the short term, they altered community structure and disrupted metabolic pathways, with dibutyl phthalate affecting 172 metabolites and 43 metabolic pathways. The study also identified certain soil bacteria with potential to degrade these plasticizer compounds.
An integrated Metagenomic-Pangenomic strategy revealed native microbes and magnetic biochar cooperation in plasticizer degradation
A combined metagenomic-pangenomic approach identified native Pseudomonas and Pigmentiphaga species that cooperate with magnetic biochar to degrade the plasticizer diethyl phthalate, with Pigmentiphaga capable of fully mineralizing the compound.
Metagenomic analysis reveals the responses of microbial communities and nitrogen metabolic pathways to polystyrene micro(nano)plastics in activated sludge systems
Scientists used genetic analysis to study how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics disrupt the bacteria that process nitrogen in wastewater treatment systems. At high concentrations, the plastics reduced nitrogen removal efficiency by up to 30% by generating harmful reactive oxygen species that damaged key microbial processes. This is concerning because less effective wastewater treatment means more pollutants, including microplastics themselves, could end up in waterways.
Microplastics shaped performance, microbial ecology and community assembly in simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal process
This study found that polystyrene and PVC microplastics disrupted the performance of wastewater treatment systems designed to remove nitrogen and phosphorus, reducing nitrogen removal by up to 10%. The microplastics altered microbial communities, decreased cooperation between beneficial bacteria, and blocked important biological pathways. Since wastewater treatment is a key barrier against pollution reaching drinking water, microplastic interference with these systems could indirectly increase human exposure to harmful contaminants.
Microbial degradation of contaminants of emerging concern: metabolic, genetic and omics insights for enhanced bioremediation
This review covers how microorganisms have evolved the ability to break down emerging pollutants including plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, turning them into less harmful substances. Understanding the genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways these microbes use could lead to cost-effective, eco-friendly cleanup methods for removing persistent contaminants -- including plastic-derived chemicals -- from the environment before they reach people.
Mechanism of microplastics promoting sulfamethoxazole biodegradation in activated sludge as revealed by DNA-stable isotope probing
Researchers used isotope-labeling techniques to identify which bacteria in activated sludge actually degrade the common antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, discovering 13 previously unknown degrading bacterial genera. Adding microplastics to the sludge enhanced antibiotic breakdown by restructuring the microbial community, increasing the abundance of degrading bacteria, and promoting cooperative interactions between species. This finding is both promising — microplastics may inadvertently improve antibiotic removal in treatment plants — and concerning, as it reveals how plastic pollution reshapes the microbiology of wastewater systems in complex, unpredictable ways.
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.
Wastewater treatment alters microbial colonization of microplastics
Analysis of microplastics and their biofilms across raw sewage, effluent, and sludge at two wastewater treatment plants found that >99% of influent MPs were retained in sludge, and that wastewater treatment substantially altered biofilm microbial composition, enriching bioflocculation-associated taxa.
Effects of polyvinylchloride microplastics on the toxicity of nanoparticles and antibiotics to aerobic granular sludge: Nitrogen removal, microbial community and resistance genes
Researchers examined how PVC microplastics affect wastewater treatment systems that also contain copper oxide nanoparticles and the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. They found that low concentrations of microplastics actually reduced some toxic effects of the other pollutants, but higher concentrations worsened nitrogen removal efficiency and increased antibiotic resistance genes. The study highlights the complex ways microplastics can alter the behavior of other contaminants in water treatment.
A combined metagenomics and metatranscriptomics approach to assess the occurrence and reduction of pathogenic bacteria in municipal wastewater treatment plants
This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it uses metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to assess pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic-resistant genes, and mobile genetic elements in wastewater treatment plants in South Africa.
Machine learning reveals microbial interactions driving plastic degradation across plastisphere environments
Using 16S rRNA sequencing and machine learning, this study characterized the microbial communities that colonize microplastics in ocean, river, and wastewater environments, revealing that wastewater plastispheres host the most diverse communities and carry the greatest density of potential plastic-degrading bacteria. Understanding which microbes interact to drive degradation could guide efforts to harness or engineer these communities to accelerate plastic breakdown.
Unveiling the plastisphere in anammox process: Physicochemical evolution of microplastics and microbial succession dynamics
Researchers tracked how polyethylene terephthalate microplastics change physically and chemically over 30 days in an anaerobic wastewater treatment system. They found that while the microplastics had minimal impact on nitrogen removal efficiency, they developed distinct microbial communities on their surfaces that evolved over time. The study provides new insights into how microplastics interact with beneficial microbes in wastewater treatment processes.
A multi-OMIC characterisation of biodegradation and microbial community succession within the PET plastisphere
Researchers performed a multi-omic analysis of bacterial communities colonizing PET plastic in marine environments, identifying microorganisms capable of degrading PET and characterizing the enzymatic pathways involved, advancing understanding of natural plastic biodegradation in ocean systems.