Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Biorisk Management and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Biofilm producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Broiler Chicken: A Public Health Concern

This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates antibiotic resistance patterns and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from broiler chicken meat, framing this as a public health concern related to food safety and antimicrobial resistance.

2023 Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences B Life and Environmental Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastics in typical poultry farms and the association of environment microplastics colonized-microbiota, waterfowl gut microbiota, and antibiotic resistance genes

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in poultry farm environments and in the intestines of farm-raised waterfowl for the first time. They found microplastics in soil, pond water, and bird guts, with the plastic surfaces hosting microbial communities that carried antibiotic resistance genes. This raises dual concerns: microplastics may both contaminate poultry meat that humans eat and help spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria through farming environments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Imperative implication of microplastics as vital agent for salmonellosis inducing biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and health risk

This review examines how microplastics serve as reservoirs and vectors for Salmonella, promoting biofilm formation, environmental persistence, and the spread of antibiotic resistance. Researchers summarized evidence that weathered, hydrophobic microplastic surfaces create stable microhabitats that enhance bacterial adhesion and virulence. The findings suggest that microplastics may play a significant role in amplifying foodborne disease risks and accelerating the evolution of drug-resistant pathogens.

2026 Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Characterization and tolerance of foodborne pathogenic bacteria in microplastic biofilm

Three foodborne pathogens -- Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria -- were shown to form biofilms on microplastic surfaces within two days, with smaller particles supporting more biofilm growth and Salmonella showing partial resistance to sodium hypochlorite disinfection even at 50 ppm.

2024 LWT 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Originated from cultivated oysters and estuarine waters

This study detected antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in oysters and estuarine waters, raising concerns about how aquatic environments serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance that can reach humans through seafood consumption. The findings are relevant to microplastic research because microplastics are known to harbor and concentrate antibiotic resistance genes on their surfaces.

2021
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic concentration, composition, and size on Escherichia coli biofilm-associated antimicrobial resistance

This study examined how different types of microplastics affect the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through biofilm formation. The researchers found that the concentration, composition, and size of microplastic particles all influence how effectively bacteria like E. coli develop drug resistance. These findings are important because they help explain how widespread plastic pollution may be contributing to the growing global crisis of antibiotic resistance.

2025 Applied and Environmental Microbiology 31 citations
Review Tier 2

Formation of biofilms on microplastics in the food chain and their role as vectors of transfer of foodborne pathogens (literature review, part 2)

This literature review (Part 2 of a series) examines how biofilms formed on micro- and nanoplastic surfaces in the food chain can serve as vectors for pathogenic bacteria, their toxins, and antibiotic resistance genes — potentially increasing foodborne disease risk beyond what bare microplastic particles would cause.

2025 Hygiene and Sanitation
Article Tier 2

Role of microplastics in the survival and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni

Researchers investigated how microplastics influence the survival and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of foodborne gastrointestinal infections. They found that the bacteria rapidly colonized microplastic surfaces within 24 hours, and that biofilm formation on the plastic particles altered the bacteria's susceptibility to certain antibiotics. The findings suggest that microplastics in the environment may serve as platforms that help foodborne pathogens persist and potentially develop antimicrobial resistance.

2026 Frontiers in Microbiology
Article Tier 2

Adding Metal Ions to the Bacillus mojavensis D50 Promotes Biofilm Formation and Improves Ability of Biocontrol

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it studies how metal ions promote biofilm formation in a bacterial biocontrol strain used against plant fungal pathogens.

2023 Journal of Fungi 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to Polyethylene Fiber and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium Alters Microbiome and Metabolome of in vitro Chicken Cecal Mesocosms

An in vitro study using chicken cecal bacteria found that co-exposure to polyethylene microplastic fibers and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium altered the gut microbiome composition and metabolite profiles compared to either exposure alone, lowering the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio. The results suggest microplastics can modify how poultry gut bacteria interact with foodborne pathogens, with potential implications for food safety and human health through the food chain.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential risks of microplastics combined with superbugs: Enrichment of antibiotic resistant bacteria on the surface of microplastics in mariculture system

Microplastics in a mariculture (sea farming) system were found to selectively enrich antibiotic-resistant bacteria on their surfaces compared to surrounding water, creating hotspots of antibiotic resistance in food production environments. This dual threat - microplastics acting as both pollutants and carriers of resistant pathogens - has significant implications for seafood safety.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 325 citations
Article Tier 2

An Assessment of the Current Trends of Antibiotic Resistance of Salmonella Typhi Against 1st Line Antimicrobial Agents in Metropolitan City of Karachi

This paper is not about microplastics; it reports antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella typhi clinical isolates in Karachi, Pakistan, finding alarming levels of extensive drug resistance (XDR) with no connection to microplastic research.

2023 Annals of PIMS-Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University
Article Tier 2

Plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonella: serotype-specific mechanisms and ecological implications

This review examines how different Salmonella serotypes carry and spread antimicrobial resistance through plasmids, with implications for food safety along the farm-to-fork chain. The authors detail how plasmid interactions and recombination events create hybrid resistance elements that combine drug resistance with virulence factors. While not directly focused on microplastics, the study is relevant to understanding how environmental contaminants may interact with antimicrobial resistance spread in food systems.

2026 International Journal of Food Microbiology
Article Tier 2

Investigating Biofilms: Advanced Methods for Comprehending Microbial Behavior and Antibiotic Resistance

This review summarizes recent advances in biofilm research, focusing on how communities of microorganisms form protective layers on surfaces and become resistant to antibiotics. The sticky matrix that holds biofilms together plays a key role in spreading antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant because microplastics in the environment serve as surfaces where these resistant biofilms can form and spread.

2024 Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark 36 citations
Article Tier 2

The Occurrence of Microplastics and the Formation of Biofilms by Pathogenic and Opportunistic Bacteria as Threats in Aquaculture

This review examines how microplastics in aquaculture environments serve as habitats and transport vehicles for pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria, with more than 30 taxa of pathogens detected on plastic-associated biofilms. The study suggests that the combination of plastic persistence, closed aquaculture conditions, and pathogen affinity for plastic surfaces creates a significant threat to aquaculture production and food safety.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Growth and membrane stress responses in E. coli and Acinetobacter sp. upon exposure to functionalized polystyrene microplastics

Researchers exposed E. coli and Acinetobacter bacteria to polystyrene microplastics with different surface chemistries, finding that surface functionalization strongly influenced MP toxicity, with some functionalized particles disrupting bacterial membrane integrity and biofilm formation more than non-functionalized particles.

2025 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Biofilm–microplastic interactions in food safety: mechanisms, risks, and control strategies

This review investigates how microplastics in the food industry serve as surfaces where bacterial biofilms can form, creating complexes that resist cleaning and disinfection. Researchers found that these biofilm-microplastic combinations can shield harmful bacteria and promote the spread of antibiotic-resistance genes. The study evaluates strategies for preventing and controlling this form of contamination in food systems.

2025 Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to polyethylene fiber and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium alters microbiome and metabolome of in vitro chicken cecal mesocosms

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastic fibers interact with Salmonella bacteria in the gut environment of chickens using an in vitro model. They found that co-exposure altered the microbial community composition and metabolic activity in ways that could favor pathogen survival. The findings raise concerns that microplastic contamination in poultry feed could potentially increase the risk of Salmonella infections in flocks and, ultimately, in the human food supply.

2024 Applied and Environmental Microbiology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The Utilization of PAK-27 Algaecide Infused Barley Balls for Eliminating E. Coli Bacteria: A One Health Approach

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper proposes using barley straw and PAK-27 algaecide to reduce E. coli levels in a Canadian lake as a One Health water quality initiative.

2023 One Health Innovation
Article Tier 2

Antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from the floating islands and water of Çat Dam Lake, Adiyaman, Turkey

Antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacteria were isolated from water samples and floating islands in a Turkish dam lake, with resistance profiles linked to agricultural runoff and human waste inputs. This is relevant to microplastic research because plastic surfaces in water environments are known to harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes.

2023 Indian Journal of Experimental Biology