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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Aging attenuates threat: how moderate aging of microplastics suppresses antibiotic resistance gene proliferation during sludge anaerobic digestion
ClearEffects of aging of polyethylene microplastics and polystyrene nanoplastics on antibiotic resistance gene transfer during primary sludge fermentation
This study found that aged (weathered) microplastics and nanoplastics promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes during sewage sludge treatment more than fresh plastics did. The weathering process changed the surface properties of the plastics, making them better carriers for drug-resistant bacteria and their genes. This is concerning because sludge from treatment plants is often applied to farmland, potentially spreading antibiotic resistance through soil and into the food supply.
The unexpected role of aged microplastics in inhibiting antibiotic resistance gene spread
Aged (weathered) microplastics were unexpectedly found to inhibit antibiotic resistance gene transfer between bacteria compared to virgin plastics. This surprising result suggests that the physical and chemical changes plastics undergo in the environment can alter their role in spreading antibiotic resistance, a key public health concern.
Microplastic aging mediates bacterial and antibiotic resistance gene composition in plastisphere and the associated soil solution
Researchers ran a microcosm experiment comparing how pristine versus aged microplastics influenced bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) composition in the plastisphere and surrounding soil solution. Aged MPs enriched distinct ARGs and microbial taxa compared to pristine MPs, suggesting MP weathering intensifies the spread of antibiotic resistance in soils.
Microplastics act as vectors for antibiotic resistance genes in landfill leachate: The enhanced roles of the long-term aging process
This study examined whether the aging of microplastics in aquatic environments influences their role as vectors for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Aged microplastics showed different ARG enrichment patterns on their surfaces compared to pristine particles, suggesting that weathering changes the capacity of plastic debris to accumulate and spread antibiotic resistance.
Impact of aging of primary and secondary polystyrene nanoplastics on the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion
Researchers studied how aged and non-aged nanoplastics from both manufactured and environmentally degraded polystyrene affect the spread of antibiotic resistance genes during sewage sludge treatment. They found that higher concentrations of nanoplastics inhibited the treatment process and increased the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes, with environmentally degraded particles having a stronger effect due to their altered surface properties. The study raises concerns that nanoplastic pollution in sewage systems may be contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Aged Microplastics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes: A Review of Aging Effects on Their Interactions
This review explores how the aging of microplastics in the environment affects their ability to harbor antibiotic resistance genes. Researchers found that weathering processes like sunlight exposure increase the surface area of microplastics and generate reactive oxygen species, both of which can enhance the uptake and transfer of resistance genes among bacteria. The findings suggest that aged microplastics in the environment may be more effective at spreading antibiotic resistance than fresh ones.
Real-world aged microplastics exacerbate antibiotic resistance genes dissemination in anaerobic sludge digestion via enhancing microbial metabolite communication-driven pilus conjugative transfer
Researchers found that naturally aged microplastics from real-world environments increased antibiotic resistance gene abundance in sludge by 2.59–15.31% compared to unaged controls, with the mechanism identified as enhanced pilus-mediated conjugative transfer driven by microplastic-associated changes in microbial metabolite signaling.
Impacts of microplastic type on the fate of antibiotic resistance genes and horizontal gene transfer mechanism during anaerobic digestion
Researchers examined how three types of microplastics affect antibiotic resistance genes during the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. They found that while microplastics actually increased methane production, they also decreased the overall abundance of antibiotic resistance genes but changed how those genes spread between bacteria. The study reveals a complex interaction where microplastics may reduce some resistance genes while promoting the horizontal transfer of others during waste treatment.
UV-aging of microplastics increases proximal ARG donor-recipient adsorption and leaching of chemicals that synergistically enhance antibiotic resistance propagation
Researchers found that UV-aged microplastics are significantly better at adsorbing bacteria and genetic material than fresh ones, boosting the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes by up to nearly fivefold. The aging process also caused the plastics to release organic chemicals that made bacteria more permeable and receptive to gene transfer. The study highlights an overlooked way that weathered microplastics in the environment could accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Different effects of bio/non-degradable microplastics on sewage sludge compost performance: Focusing on antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors and key metabolic functions
Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics affect antibiotic resistance genes and microbial communities during sewage sludge composting. They found that both types of microplastics increased the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes, but non-biodegradable polypropylene had a stronger effect on promoting harmful virulence factors. The study raises concerns that microplastic contamination in composted sludge could spread antibiotic resistance when applied to agricultural land.
Photoaged nanoplastics with multienzyme-like activities significantly shape the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
Researchers found that UV-aged polystyrene nanoplastics develop enzyme-like activity that generates reactive oxygen species, enabling them to suppress horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes at higher concentrations by degrading plasmid DNA and damaging bacterial membranes — a paradoxical finding where pollution aging may inhibit antibiotic resistance spread under some conditions.
Microplastics Enhance the Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Anaerobic Sludge Digestion by Enriching Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Surface Biofilm and Facilitating the Vertical and Horizontal Gene Transfer
This study found that microplastics in sewage sludge promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, which make bacteria harder to treat with antibiotics. Microplastics provided a surface for resistant bacteria to grow and helped them share resistance genes with other bacteria. The more microplastics present, the more antibiotic resistance spread, raising concerns about how plastic pollution in wastewater could contribute to the growing antibiotic resistance crisis.
From wastewater to sludge: The role of microplastics in shaping anaerobic digestion performance and antibiotic resistance gene dynamics
This review examines how microplastics in wastewater treatment plants affect the anaerobic digestion process used to break down sewage sludge, finding that certain plastic types can either boost or reduce biogas production depending on conditions. Importantly, microplastics increased the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes by up to 514%, raising serious concerns that wastewater treatment -- meant to protect public health -- may instead become a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria when microplastics are present.
Deciphering the role of polyethylene microplastics on antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements fate in sludge thermophilic anaerobic digestion process
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics affect antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements during sewage sludge thermophilic anaerobic digestion. The study found that microplastic contamination increased the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and showed a strong positive correlation between microplastic concentration and mobile genetic element content, suggesting microplastics may promote the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Metagenomic Analysis Reveals the Effects of Microplastics on Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Sludge Anaerobic Digestion
Researchers used metagenomic analysis to study how microplastics in sewage sludge affect the spread of antibiotic resistance genes during anaerobic digestion. They found that microplastics increased antibiotic resistance gene levels by up to 30 percent, with polyethylene having the strongest effect, and also boosted the mobile genetic elements that help resistance genes spread between bacteria. The findings raise concerns about microplastics facilitating the spread of antibiotic resistance through wastewater treatment systems.
Antibiotic resistance in plastisphere
Researchers reviewed antibiotic resistance in the plastisphere — the microbial community colonizing plastic surfaces in aquatic environments — finding that plastic properties and aging influence the enrichment and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, and that aged microplastics pose elevated risks due to increased adsorption of resistant bacteria.
Free Radicals onAging Microplastics Regulated thePrevalence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Aquatic Environment:New Insight into the Effect of Microplastics on the Spreading of BiofilmResistomes
Researchers investigated the effect of aged microplastics on antibiotic resistance gene dissemination in natural rivers, finding that aged MPs — which carry free radicals — suppressed ARG and mobile genetic element relative abundances on MP surfaces and in receiving water by approximately 21 to 42 percent over 30 days. The study provides new insight into how environmental aging of microplastics modifies their role as ARG 'hotspots' compared to pristine plastic particles.
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.
The Effects of Pristine and Aged Microplastics on Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Production
Researchers examined how pristine versus UV-light-aged polypropylene microplastics differentially affect biofilm formation and antibiotic production in microorganisms using a 96-well microplate assay, finding that surface aging alters the microbial colonization dynamics on microplastic surfaces. The study highlights the role of environmental weathering in changing how microplastics interact with microbial communities, with implications for the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Polymer type and aging drive the selective enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes and pathogens in microplastics biofilms
Researchers compared how microorganisms colonize conventional polypropylene versus biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics in a wetland environment. They found that while biodegradable PLA attracted fewer total microbes, it actually enriched a higher proportion of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and resistance genes, especially after environmental aging. The findings raise important questions about whether biodegradable plastics may pose unexpected risks as carriers of antibiotic resistance in aquatic ecosystems.
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.
Effects of polypropylene microplastics on digestion performance, microbial community, and antibiotic resistance during microbial anaerobic digestion
Researchers studied how polypropylene microplastics affect the anaerobic digestion process used to treat wastewater sludge. While small amounts of microplastics slightly increased methane production, they also promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria in the digesters. This means microplastics in wastewater systems could contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which poses a serious threat to human health.
UV-aged biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics further enhance horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance plasmids both in vitro and in intestinal flora
Researchers found that both petroleum-based and biodegradable microplastics significantly increase the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria, and UV aging amplified this effect by 4 to 20 times. The aged particles disrupted bacterial cell membranes, increased oxidative stress, and boosted bacterial energy metabolism, all of which facilitated gene transfer. The study also showed that UV-aged microplastics promoted antibiotic resistance spread in gut bacteria in living organisms, raising concerns about environmental plastic degradation and public health.
Polyethylene terephthalate microplastic fibers increase the release of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes during sewage sludge anaerobic digestion
Researchers found that polyethylene terephthalate microplastic fibers increased the release of antibiotic resistance genes during sewage sludge treatment. The microplastic fibers appeared to enhance the active secretion of these genes by bacteria, potentially increasing the spread of antibiotic resistance. This finding raises concerns about microplastics in wastewater acting as an overlooked factor in the growing global challenge of antibiotic resistance.