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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Polystyrene nanoplastics foster Escherichia coli O157:H7 growth and antibiotic resistance with a stimulating effect on metabolism
ClearCombined effects of nanosized polystyrene and erythromycin on bacterial growth and resistance mutations in Escherichia coli
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics — particularly amino-modified and 30 nm particles — increased antibiotic resistance mutations in Escherichia coli by inducing oxidative DNA damage and the bacterial SOS stress response, and that positively charged particles synergistically enhanced erythromycin toxicity by acting as antibiotic carriers.
A neglected risk of nanoplastics as revealed by the promoted transformation of plasmid‐borne ampicillin resistance gene by Escherichia coli
Researchers discovered that polystyrene nanoplastics can significantly promote the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria, increasing transformation efficiency by 2.8 to 5.4 fold. The study found that nanoplastics induced oxidative stress, activated bacterial SOS responses, and increased cell membrane permeability, facilitating the uptake of resistance-carrying DNA, while larger microplastics had no such effect.
Polystyrene nanoparticles induce biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoparticles caused the common bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa to form thicker biofilms and become more resistant to antibiotics. The nanoplastics damaged bacterial cell membranes and triggered a stress response, prompting the bacteria to produce more protective biofilm as a defense mechanism. This is concerning for human health because it suggests nanoplastic pollution could make disease-causing bacteria harder to treat with existing antibiotics.
Nanoplastics promote the dissemination of antibiotic resistance through conjugative gene transfer: implications from oxidative stress and gene expression
Sulfate-modified polystyrene nanoplastics were found to facilitate the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between E. coli strains more effectively than larger particles, operating through SOS response induction, increased membrane permeability, and altered gene expression. The findings highlight nanoplastics as potential accelerators of antibiotic resistance spread in the environment.
Exposure to Nanoplastic Particles Enhances Acinetobacter Survival, Biofilm Formation, and Serum Resistance
Researchers found that nanopolystyrene particles enhance the survival, biofilm formation, and serum resistance of the bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter johnsonii, suggesting nanoplastics may increase the virulence and persistence of environmental pathogens.
Polystyrene nanoplastics and pathogen plasticity: Toxic threat or tolerated stressor in Salmonella enterica?
Researchers examined how polystyrene nanoplastics affect Salmonella enterica, a major foodborne pathogen, across a range of concentrations. They found that nanoplastics induced oxidative stress, membrane damage, and increased biofilm formation, while also triggering early activation of virulence and stress-response genes. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in the environment could alter bacterial survival strategies and potentially influence food safety risks.
Nanoplastics-mediated physiologic and genomic responses in pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7
This study found that nanoplastics can change the behavior of a dangerous strain of E. coli bacteria, boosting the activity of toxin genes and encouraging the bacteria to form protective biofilms. This raises concern that plastic pollution in the environment could make disease-causing bacteria harder to fight, potentially increasing infection risks for people.
Distinct responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 exposed to different levels of polystyrene nanoplastics
Researchers examined the molecular mechanisms by which polystyrene nanoplastics affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa, finding dose-dependent responses in growth, metabolism, and virulence gene expression that reveal how nanoplastics interact with environmentally relevant bacteria.
Distinct impact of polystyrene microplastics on six species of common pathogenic and probiotic bacteria and their boosting support to Vibrio cholerae proliferation
Researchers investigated the impact of polystyrene microplastics of different diameters on six species of common pathogenic and probiotic bacteria. The study found that microplastics boosted the proliferation of Vibrio cholerae and deciphered the molecular mechanisms behind this effect, raising concerns about the potential for microplastics to promote pathogenic bacterial growth.
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.
Roles of micro/nanoplastics in the spread of antimicrobial resistance through conjugative gene transfer
Researchers examined how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics of varying sizes and concentrations affect the transfer of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes between gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis) bacteria via conjugative gene transfer. The study found that micro- and nanoplastics enhanced AMR gene transfer rates in a size- and concentration-dependent manner, implicating plastic pollution as a vector for AMR dissemination.
Size-dependent enhancement on conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes by micro/nanoplastics
Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics were found to enhance the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria, with smaller nano-sized particles producing stronger effects than larger microplastics. The findings raise concern that plastic pollution may be actively accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.
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.
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.
Dose-Dependent Responses of Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter sp. to Micron-Sized Polystyrene Microplastics
Researchers exposed E. coli and Acinetobacter sp. to 1,040 nm polystyrene microplastics across a range of concentrations and assessed growth, oxidative stress, membrane integrity, and biofilm formation. Both species showed concentration-dependent decreases in growth and cell viability, increased oxidative stress markers, impaired membrane integrity, and enhanced biofilm formation, demonstrating microplastic toxicity to environmental and human-associated bacteria.
Nano- and Microplastics Aided by Extracellular Polymeric Substances Facilitate the Conjugative Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Bacteria
Researchers found that nanoplastics and small microplastics significantly enhance the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria by damaging cell membranes and stimulating extracellular polymeric substance production, raising concerns about plastic pollution driving antimicrobial resistance.
Interfacial Interactions between Escherichia coli and Polystyrene Nanoplastics: a Physicochemical Perspective
When nanoplastic particles encounter bacteria in the environment, the nature of that interaction affects how plastics move through ecosystems and whether they carry pathogens. This study examined how polystyrene nanoparticles (both plain and amine-modified) interact with E. coli at a physicochemical level, finding that attachment depended strongly on particle surface charge, pH, and concentration. The amine-modified particles bound more readily to bacterial surfaces and altered bacterial membranes, suggesting that surface chemistry—which changes as plastics weather in the environment—substantially influences the ecological behavior of nanoplastics and their potential to ferry microorganisms to new locations.
Unraveling the effect of micro/nanoplastics on the occurrence and horizontal transfer of environmental antibiotic resistance genes: Advances, mechanisms and future prospects
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment. The tiny plastic particles create conditions that help bacteria exchange resistance genes more easily by generating oxidative stress, making cell membranes more permeable, and providing surfaces where resistant bacteria can form communities. This is a growing public health concern because antibiotic-resistant infections are increasingly difficult to treat.
Nanoplastics induce prophage activation and quorum sensing to enhance biofilm mechanical and chemical resilience
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations promote the formation of more resilient bacterial biofilms by triggering viral activation and cell-to-cell communication within microbial communities. The nanoplastics caused oxidative stress that activated dormant viruses within bacteria, which in turn stimulated protective biofilm production with enhanced resistance to chlorine disinfection. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution could make harmful bacterial communities in water systems harder to eliminate through standard treatment methods.
Micro- and nanoplastics facilitate the propagation of antimicrobial resistance in mixed microbial consortia
Researchers examined how micro- and nanoplastics affect the spread of antimicrobial resistance in mixed microbial communities. The study found that nanoplastics were particularly potent at amplifying resistance gene mobility and horizontal gene transfer by elevating reactive oxygen species, damaging cell membranes, and activating stress responses that upregulate conjugation and DNA exchange mechanisms.
Nanoplastics in the oceans: Theory, experimental evidence and real world
Researchers critically review over 200 studies on nanoplastic pollution — focusing predominantly on polystyrene — synthesizing knowledge on how nanoplastics form from polymer degradation, accumulate in seawater, and affect organisms in controlled conditions, while identifying key methodological standards needed for reliable ecotoxicological assessments.
Impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on primary sludge fermentation under acidic and alkaline conditions: Significance of antibiotic resistance genes
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the fermentation of sewage sludge at different pH levels. They found that low doses stimulated hydrogen gas production while higher concentrations suppressed it, and that nanoplastic exposure promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the microbial community. The findings raise concerns about nanoplastics in wastewater systems potentially contributing to the broader problem of antibiotic resistance.
Does triclosan adsorption on polystyrene nanoplastics modify the toxicity of single contaminants?
Researchers investigated whether triclosan adsorption onto polystyrene nanoplastics modifies the toxicity of each contaminant individually, using a multi-tiered approach to assess how nanoplastic carrier effects alter the combined hazard of this common antimicrobial agent in aquatic environments.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria colonising microplastics in the aquatic environment: An emerging challenge
Researchers reviewed how microplastics in aquatic environments act as surfaces where antibiotic-resistant bacteria can grow and swap resistance genes with each other, raising concern that contaminated seafood and water could transfer these hard-to-treat bacteria to humans.