We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to [Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics and Metal Elements in the Surface Water of Huangpu River and Their Associations with Metal Resistance Genes].
ClearEvidence 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.
[Microplastics-Induced Shifts of Diversity and Abundance of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in River Water].
This Chinese study used high-throughput quantitative PCR to measure how different microplastic types affect the diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in river water. Polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics both increased the overall abundance of resistance genes, supporting concerns that microplastics act as reservoirs and spreaders of antibiotic resistance in freshwater systems.
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.
Metagenomic insights into ecological risk of antibiotic resistome and mobilome in riverine plastisphere under impact of urbanization
This study used advanced genetic sequencing to examine antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics found in an urban river. Microplastics harbored more antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements than natural materials like rocks and wood, and the problem was worse in more urbanized areas. The findings suggest that microplastics in waterways can act as hotspots for spreading antibiotic resistance, which is a growing public health threat.
Impact of Urbanization on Antibiotic Resistome in Different Microplastics: Evidence from a Large-Scale Whole River Analysis
Researchers conducted a large-scale river survey across urbanization gradients and characterized antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics from each zone, finding that urbanization level strongly predicted the diversity and abundance of resistance genes on plastic surfaces.
Deciphering the mechanisms shaping the plastisphere antibiotic resistome on riverine microplastics
Researchers found that microplastics in China's Huangpu River selectively enrich antibiotic resistance genes for Rifamycin and Vancomycin, creating unique bacterial niches that favor horizontal gene transfer and dissemination of resistance through stochastic assembly processes.
Metagenomic insights into environmental risk of field microplastics in an urban river
Metagenomic analysis of microplastics sampled along an urban river watershed revealed that MP-associated microbial communities carried antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors at higher levels than surrounding water, with composition shifting along the river gradient. The findings confirm microplastics as environmental vectors for spreading antimicrobial resistance.
Evaluating the role of microplastics and wastewater in shaping Vibrio spp. and antibiotic resistance gene abundance in urban freshwaters
Researchers sampled water and microplastic biofilms from urban South African rivers and found that microplastics disproportionately enriched Vibrio spp. and tetracycline resistance genes relative to the surrounding water, suggesting microplastics selectively concentrate pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes.
Quantifying health risks of plastisphere antibiotic resistome and deciphering driving mechanisms in an urbanizing watershed
This study measured the health risks posed by antibiotic resistance genes found on microplastic surfaces in a watershed affected by urbanization. Polyethylene microplastics carried the highest risk, and urban development increased the danger by promoting the spread of resistance genes among bacteria living on plastic surfaces. The findings show that microplastics in waterways act as vehicles for antibiotic resistance, which could make infections harder to treat in communities downstream.
Size effects of microplastics on antibiotic resistome and core microbiome in an urban river
Scientists found that microplastics in an urban river serve as platforms for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and dangerous pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Legionella pneumophila. Larger microplastic particles harbored more antibiotic resistance genes, and the concentrations of these genes were much higher on plastic surfaces than in the surrounding water. This research raises concerns that microplastics in waterways could spread drug-resistant infections by providing a surface where dangerous bacteria thrive and share resistance genes.
Dynamic evolution of antibiotic resistance genes in plastisphere in the vertical profile of urban rivers
This study found that microplastics floating at different depths in urban rivers act as hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes, which help bacteria survive antibiotic treatment. The type of plastic matters: biodegradable plastics like PLA harbored more resistance genes than conventional PET plastic. This is concerning because microplastics in waterways could help spread drug-resistant bacteria that eventually reach human water supplies.
MicroplasticsPose an Elevated Antimicrobial ResistanceRisk Than Natural Surfaces via a Systematic Comparative Study of SurfaceBiofilms in Rivers
A systematic comparison of biofilms on microplastics and natural river surfaces found that microplastic biofilms carry significantly higher loads of antimicrobial resistance genes, suggesting that microplastics amplify antimicrobial resistance risks beyond what natural substrate biofilms produce.
Environmental behavior of microplastic - heavy metal synergistic contamination in a typical urban-rural river network
Researchers investigated the seasonal co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in urban and rural rivers in a Chinese inland city. They found that both pollutant types were present in all water samples and that microplastics can adsorb heavy metals, potentially increasing the combined environmental risk. The study reveals that river networks connecting urban and rural areas serve as pathways for spreading this dual contamination.
Wastewater discharges and polymer type modulate the riverine plastisphere and set the role of microplastics as vectors of pathogens and antibiotic resistance
Researchers investigated how wastewater treatment plant discharges and polymer type shape microbial communities on microplastics in a river environment. They found that microplastics harbored significantly higher microbial diversity than surrounding water, and that wastewater discharges led to a 2.3-fold increase in antibiotic resistance gene abundance on the plastic surfaces. Different polymer types, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET, each attracted distinct microbial communities with varying levels of pathogens and resistance genes.
Spread performance and underlying mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes adhered on microplastics in the sediments of different urban water bodies
Researchers studied how microplastics in the sediments of three types of urban water bodies in China harbor pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. They found that polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics were dominant, and these particles enriched harmful bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa on their surfaces. The study suggests that microplastics in urban waterways may serve as vehicles for spreading antibiotic-resistant pathogens, posing potential risks to public health.
Presence of microplastic particles increased abundance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in microbial communities from the Oder river water and sediment
Researchers incubated microplastic particles in water from the Oder River and found that bacteria growing on the plastic surfaces had significantly higher levels of disease-causing organisms and antibiotic resistance genes compared to surrounding water. This suggests that microplastics in rivers and waterways serve as platforms that concentrate harmful bacteria and help spread drug resistance, posing risks to communities that depend on these water sources.
Antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in the plastisphere in wastewater treatment plant effluent: Health risk quantification and driving mechanism interpretation
Researchers found that microplastics in treated wastewater carry significantly more disease-causing bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors on their surfaces compared to the surrounding water. This means microplastics released from wastewater treatment plants into rivers and lakes could spread antibiotic-resistant infections, posing a direct risk to communities that rely on these water sources.
Watershed urbanization enhances the enrichment of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics in the water environment
Researchers compared microplastic biofilm communities (the plastisphere) across watersheds with different levels of urbanization, finding that higher urbanization enriched pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes on plastic surfaces in waterways. The study suggests that urban runoff substantially elevates the health risk posed by microplastics as vectors of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
Interaction and bacterial effects of microplastics pollution on heavy metals in hyporheic sediments of different land-use types in the Beiluo River Basin
Researchers studied how microplastics and heavy metals interact in river sediments across different land-use types in a Chinese river basin. They found that microplastics concentrated more heavily in shallow sediments and that the metals detected on microplastic surfaces were present at much higher levels than in surrounding sediment. The study suggests that microplastics may serve as concentrators and carriers of heavy metal contamination, potentially amplifying pollution risks.
Mobile genetic elements drive the assembly of high-risk resistance and virulence configurations at the riverine water–sediment interface
Rivers passing through agricultural and urban areas accumulate a dangerous mix of antibiotic-resistant genes, metal resistance genes, virulence factors, and mobile genetic elements — and this study found that all of these increase in abundance as rivers flow from rural to urban zones. Microplastics, heavy metals, and antibiotics in river environments appear to drive the spread of these genetic elements, particularly in urban sediments where complex resistance networks concentrate. The findings highlight that rivers are not just carriers of plastic pollution but also incubators for antimicrobial resistance, requiring integrated management approaches.
Time-course biofilm formation and presence of antibiotic resistance genes on everyday plastic items deployed in river waters
Researchers tracked biofilm formation on everyday plastic items deployed in a river over one year, finding that sampling site (reflecting level of human impact) was the strongest driver of microbial diversity, and that antibiotic resistance genes were present on plastic surfaces throughout.
Occurrence of toxic metals and their selective pressure for antibiotic-resistant clinically relevant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes in river receiving systems under tropical conditions
Researchers sampled rivers in the Democratic Republic of Congo receiving hospital wastewater and found high levels of heavy metals, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic-resistance genes in sediments, with several toxic metals strongly correlated with the persistence of drug-resistant microbes — highlighting the need for better urban wastewater management in tropical developing countries.
With spatial distribution, risk evaluation of heavy metals and microplastics to emphasize the composite mechanism in hyporheic sediments of Beiluo River
Researchers mapped heavy metal and microplastic contamination in river sediments in China, finding that cadmium, lead, and arsenic posed the highest contamination risk, while fiber-shaped microplastics under 500 micrometers were most common. Heavy metals were found concentrated on microplastic surfaces through electrostatic attraction and bacterial biofilms, meaning the plastics serve as carriers for toxic metals in the water. This combined pollution is concerning because river sediments can release contaminants into water used for drinking and agriculture.
[Composition and Distribution of Microplastics in the Water and Sediments of Urban Rivers in Beijing].
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from eight sampling points along urban rivers in Beijing. Microplastics were widespread, with fibers being the most common type, likely from laundry and textile sources. Urban rivers are important conduits that transport microplastics from cities into larger water bodies and ultimately the ocean.