Papers

61,005 results
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Meta Analysis Tier 1

Microplastisphere may induce the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics in aquatic environments: A review

This first meta-analysis of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) enrichment on microplastics found that ARGs were more abundant on microplastic surfaces than on inorganic substrates or in surrounding water, but less abundant than on natural organic substrates. Freshwater microplastics showed a higher degree of ARG enrichment than those in saline water or sewage.

2022 Environmental Pollution 76 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 47 citations
Article Tier 2

New insight into the effect of microplastics on antibiotic resistance and bacterial community of biofilm

Researchers found that different types of microplastics promote distinct biofilm communities and enhance antibiotic resistance gene proliferation compared to natural substrates, suggesting microplastics serve as unique platforms for the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

2023 Chemosphere 30 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Ecosystem-specific composition and drivers of plastisphere resistome in freshwater and marine environments

This comparative meta-analysis of metagenomic data found that microplastics in freshwater and marine environments harbor distinct antibiotic resistance gene profiles, with freshwater plastispheres showing greater resistome diversity. Microplastics serve as hotspots for antibiotic resistance gene propagation, with mobile genetic elements facilitating transfer to potentially pathogenic bacteria.

2026 Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Microplastisphere antibiotic resistance genes: A bird's-eye view on the plastic-specific diversity and enrichment

Microplastics in the environment act as surfaces for microbial communities called microplastispheres, which this review finds are enriched with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The type of plastic, surrounding water chemistry, and co-occurring pollutants all influence which resistance genes accumulate, raising concern that microplastics could be spreading antibiotic resistance through aquatic environments worldwide.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive profiling and risk assessment of antibiotic resistomes in surface water and plastisphere by integrated shotgun metagenomics

Researchers used shotgun metagenomics to compare antibiotic resistance genes in surface water versus the biofilms that form on microplastic surfaces, known as the plastisphere. They found that microplastics harbored distinct microbial communities with different antibiotic resistance profiles compared to surrounding water. The study raises concerns that microplastics may serve as vehicles for spreading antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in the ocean: Potential carrier of resistant bacteria and resistance genes

This review examined microplastics in marine environments as carriers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes, finding that plastic surfaces selectively enrich resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer and co-selection pressure, making ocean microplastics a vector for resistance dissemination across ecosystems.

2021 Environmental Pollution 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Selection of antibiotic resistance genes on biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics

This study examined antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) occurrence in biofilms forming on biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics in marine ecosystems. It found that microplastic surfaces selected for ARG-enriched microbial communities, with polymer type influencing which resistance genes were enriched, raising concerns about microplastics facilitating ARG spread.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 150 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of various microplastics on bacterial community and antimicrobial resistance genes in Norwegian and South African wastewater

Researchers investigated how various microplastic types affect bacterial community composition and antimicrobial resistance gene prevalence in wastewater treatment plants in Norway and South Africa, examining whether plastic debris promotes antimicrobial resistance dissemination.

2024
Article Tier 2

Selective enrichment of antibiotic resistome and bacterial pathogens by aquatic microplastics

This review found that microplastics in aquatic environments selectively enrich antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resistance genes, and bacterial pathogens in their biofilms, making plastic debris a potential vector for spreading antimicrobial resistance.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 27 citations
Article Tier 2

DeterminingAntimicrobial Resistance in the Plastisphere:Lower Risks of Nonbiodegradable vs Higher Risks of Biodegradable Microplastics

Researchers determined the prevalence and diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes in the plastisphere (biofilm on microplastics) compared to surrounding water and sediment, finding that non-biodegradable plastics hosted distinct resistance gene profiles with lower overall resistance risk than biodegradable plastic surfaces.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Distinct profile of bacterial community and antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics in Ganjiang River at the watershed level

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution and associated bacterial communities, human pathogenic bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes across the Ganjiang River watershed. They found microplastics were widely distributed with an average of 407 particles per cubic meter, and that microplastic surfaces harbored significantly higher bacterial diversity and more antibiotic resistance genes than surrounding water or sediment.

2021 Environmental Research 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial Communities on Plastic Polymers in the Mediterranean Sea

Researchers collected floating microplastics from a bay in the Mediterranean and analyzed their bacterial biofilm communities using 16S rRNA sequencing, finding that microbial communities on plastics were distinct from surrounding seawater and differed between polymer types.

2021 Frontiers in Microbiology 125 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine plastisphere selectively enriches microbial assemblages and antibiotic resistance genes during long-term cultivation periods

Researchers placed four types of common microplastics in a marine environment for over 100 days and found that bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance genes accumulated on the plastic surfaces over time. PVC microplastics were particularly effective at concentrating resistance genes, and a key gene-transfer element was found on all plastic types. These results show that microplastics floating in the ocean act as hotspots for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which could eventually reach humans through seafood or water.

2024 Environmental Pollution 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Selective enrichment of bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic biofilms and their potential hazards in coral reef ecosystems

Researchers found that microplastic surfaces in coral reef waters selectively collect bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes, with the concentration of resistant bacteria linked to antibiotic levels in the surrounding water. The bacterial communities on microplastics were enriched for disease-related pathways compared to the surrounding seawater. This means microplastics in marine environments could serve as vehicles for spreading drug-resistant infections, posing risks to both coral ecosystems and human health.

2024 Chemosphere 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of faecal bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in biofilms attached to plastics from human-impacted coastal areas

Researchers analyzed biofilms on marine plastics collected from coastal areas impacted by human sewage in the Mediterranean Sea and found faecal bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes present on the plastic surfaces. The plastics harbored bacterial communities including potential pathogens like Vibrio species, with biofilm composition differing between floating plastics and those in sediments. The findings suggest that marine plastics can act as vectors for both faecal contamination and antibiotic resistance in coastal environments.

2022 Environmental Pollution 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence for selective bacterial community structuring on microplastics

Plastic substrates incubated in Baltic Sea water developed distinct bacterial communities that differed significantly from those on glass surfaces and from the surrounding water, with some plastic-colonizing taxa selected for regardless of polymer type. The study provides experimental evidence that plastic surfaces act as selective filters for microbial community assembly, contributing to the concept of a unique plastisphere.

2018 Environmental Microbiology 358 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Water Research 140 citations
Article Tier 2

Selective colonization of microplastics, wood and glass by antimicrobial-resistant and pathogenic bacteria (article)

Researchers investigated whether microplastics selectively enrich antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) and pathogenic bacteria compared to natural substrates such as wood and glass in aquatic environments. By including appropriate natural comparator particles - a step often omitted in prior Plastisphere studies - the study provided empirical evidence on the unique risks microplastics pose as reservoirs for AMR pathogens.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Effects of ciprofloxacin on bacterial abundance and enrichments in samples taken from the sea surface microlayer and underlying waters in the southern North Sea

The antibiotic ciprofloxacin was found to alter bacterial community composition and promote the enrichment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in microplastic-associated biofilms. The results suggest that microplastics coated with antibiotics act as incubators for antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.

2025 Frontiers in Microbiology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Alteration of microbial mediated carbon cycle and antibiotic resistance genes during plastisphere formation in coastal area

Researchers investigated how microplastic surfaces in coastal environments develop biofilm communities, known as the plastisphere, and whether these biofilms enrich antibiotic resistance genes. The study found that incubation time, habitat type, and microplastic aging state all significantly influenced biofilm composition, and that aged microplastics accumulated more antibiotic resistance genes than new ones, suggesting microplastics may serve as vectors for spreading resistant bacteria.

2023 Chemosphere 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence of selective enrichment of bacterial assemblages and antibiotic resistant genes by microplastics in urban rivers

Researchers sampled microplastics from two urban rivers in China and found that the bacterial communities colonizing plastic particles were distinctly different from those in the surrounding water. The microplastic-associated bacteria had lower diversity but higher proportions of biofilm-forming species and functions linked to human disease. Notably, the study found that microplastics selectively enriched antibiotic resistance genes, raising concerns about plastics serving as reservoirs for drug-resistant bacteria.

2020 Water Research 313 citations
Article Tier 2

Deciphering the pathogenic risks of microplastics as emerging particulate organic matter in aquatic ecosystem

Researchers compared how microplastics and natural organic matter like leaves and algae affect bacterial communities in aquatic environments. The study found that microplastics uniquely promoted pathogenic bacteria as keystone species and amplified their capacity to host antibiotic resistance genes, suggesting that microplastic pollution may pose distinct pathogenic risks beyond those of natural particles.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics, antibiotic resistant genes and microplastic associated biofilms in estuary - A review

This review examined evidence for microplastics, antibiotic resistance genes, and microplastic-associated biofilms in estuarine ecosystems. Microplastics in estuaries serve as substrates for diverse microbial biofilms including pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and estuaries are identified as important reservoirs for microplastic-facilitated horizontal gene transfer.

2022 Environmental Engineering Research 12 citations