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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Antimicrobial resistance in Antarctica: is it still a pristine environment?
ClearThe Phenomenon of Antibiotic Resistance in the Polar Regions: An Overview of the Global Problem
This review examines how antibiotic resistance is reaching even the polar regions through pathways including tourism, research stations, animal migration, and the movement of microplastics carrying resistant bacteria. The authors found that Arctic and Antarctic environments now harbor antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, demonstrating the truly global nature of this public health challenge. The study emphasizes that improved waste management at polar research stations and monitoring of resistance spread are urgently needed.
Advocating microbial diversity conservation in Antarctica
This review highlights how human activities, tourism, and climate change are threatening Antarctica's unique microbial ecosystems, with microplastics now reaching even this remote continent. While focused on conservation, the study underscores that microplastic pollution is truly global in scale, contaminating environments far from any source of plastic production.
Occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and its impact on the health of organisms
This review summarizes existing research on microplastic pollution in Antarctica, covering how these tiny plastic particles reach even the most remote environments through fishing, tourism, and ocean currents. Despite Antarctica being considered pristine, microplastics have been found in both water and sediment across the region. The findings highlight that no place on Earth is free from microplastic contamination, raising concerns about effects on wildlife and ecosystems that are connected to global food chains.
Arctic plasmidome analysis reveals distinct relationships among associated antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence genes along anthropogenic gradients
Researchers analyzed antibiotic resistance genes carried on mobile genetic elements in Arctic glacial ice and nearby waterways, finding more resistance genes in areas with greater human influence. Even in this remote region, the spread of antimicrobial resistance was detectable along gradients of human activity. While not directly about microplastics, the study is relevant because microplastics in polar environments can serve as surfaces where bacteria exchange resistance genes, potentially accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Quantification of class 1 integrons and characterization of the associated gene cassettes in the high Arctic – Interplay of humans and glaciers in shaping the aquatic resistome
Researchers quantified class 1 integrons and characterized associated gene cassettes in water and ice samples from the high Arctic, examining how human activity and glacial melt influence antibiotic resistance in remote aquatic environments. Both anthropogenic contamination sites and glacial meltwater harbored integron-carrying bacteria, suggesting multiple pathways of resistance gene introduction into the Arctic.
Occurrence of Microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and Its Impact on the Health of Organisms
This review compiled recent findings on microplastic occurrence in Antarctica in both water and sediment, finding that tourism, fishing, and research activities have introduced MPs to this previously considered pristine environment with documented impacts on Antarctic organisms.
Antimicrobial and the Resistances in the Environment: Ecological and Health Risks, Influencing Factors, and Mitigation Strategies
This review examines how antimicrobial contamination in the environment contributes to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. Researchers found that residual antimicrobials from medical and agricultural use continuously enter ecosystems, promoting the spread of resistant bacteria and resistance genes. The study highlights environmental factors that are often overlooked and discusses strategies for reducing antimicrobial pollution and limiting resistance spread.
Assessing the current state of plastic pollution research in Antarctica: Knowledge gaps and recommendations
This review assessed the current state of research on plastic pollution in Antarctica, one of the most remote regions on Earth. Researchers found that despite its isolation, plastic contamination has been detected across Antarctic environments and wildlife, though significant knowledge gaps remain. The study recommends standardized sampling methods and more comprehensive monitoring to better understand the true extent of plastic pollution in Antarctic ecosystems.
Marine bacterial resistomes integrate ecological adaptation with anthropogenic amplification: genome-resolved insight along a gradient of human impact
Scientists studied bacteria in ocean waters from areas with different levels of human pollution and found that heavily polluted seas (like the Baltic Sea) contain much more antibiotic-resistant bacteria than cleaner waters. While most of these ocean bacteria are very different from the germs that cause human infections, the research shows that human activities are creating more antibiotic resistance in marine environments. This matters because it suggests our pollution is contributing to the global problem of antibiotic resistance, which makes infections harder to treat.
Environmental contamination and climate change in Antarctic ecosystems: an updated overview
This review provides an updated overview of environmental contamination and climate change impacts on Antarctic ecosystems. While brief, the topic is relevant to microplastic research because Antarctica, once considered pristine, has been found to contain microplastics, highlighting just how far-reaching global plastic pollution has become.
Pollution Has No Borders: Microplastics in Antarctica
This review documents the spread of microplastics throughout Antarctica -- in seawater, sediments, freshwater lakes, snow, glaciers, and marine organisms -- despite the continent having minimal local pollution sources. The findings demonstrate that microplastic contamination is truly global, reaching even the most isolated ecosystems on Earth through atmospheric and ocean currents.
Understanding the new threat of microplastic pollution in the Ross Sea: a review
This review summarized what is known about microplastic pollution in the Ross Sea near Antarctica, one of the world's most remote and ecologically important ocean regions. The study raises alarm that even this protected area is contaminated, threatening its pristine ecosystem and the unique species that depend on it.
The Complex Interplay Between Antibiotic Resistance and Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in the Environment
This review explores the complex relationship between antibiotic-resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and environmental contaminants including pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Researchers found that antibiotic resistance is often elevated in human-impacted environments, particularly where faecal waste and chemical contaminant mixtures are present. The study highlights how environmental pollution, including microplastic contamination, may contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance through horizontal gene transfer and bacterial adaptation.
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.
Microplastic Pollution in Antarctic Environments
This review examines microplastic pollution in Antarctic environments, summarizing evidence that even this remote continent has been contaminated by plastic particles, with implications for its unique fauna, influence on global climate systems, and value as a pristine scientific reference site.
The State and Future of Antarctic Environments in a Global Context
This review assessed the state of Antarctic environments in a global context, finding that the region faces substantial anthropogenic pressures comparable to other global environments despite its reputation for isolation and pristine condition. The authors argue that Antarctic environmental management is inadequately represented in international policy frameworks.
Interplay Between Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Environmental Change
This review explores how global environmental changes, including pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction, are accelerating the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Researchers found that factors like microplastic pollution, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical waste create conditions that promote the evolution of resistant bacteria. The study suggests that addressing antimicrobial resistance requires considering it as an environmental problem, not just a medical one.
On the Generation, Impact and Removal of Antibiotic Resistance in the Water Environment
This review explains how antibiotic resistance develops and spreads through water environments — including rivers, groundwater, and wastewater. The findings are relevant to microplastics because plastic particles in water are known to accumulate antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potentially accelerating the spread of drug resistance through aquatic systems.
A review on the effect of micro- and nano-plastics pollution on the emergence of antimicrobial resistance
This review highlights how microplastics serve as breeding grounds for antimicrobial resistance genes, examining the overlooked interaction between plastic pollution and antibiotic resistance that poses combined threats to environmental and human health.
Microplastics in Antarctic air: revealing current findings
This review examines the growing body of evidence on microplastic air pollution in Antarctica, one of the most remote places on Earth. Researchers found that both micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in Antarctic air, posing potential threats to this fragile ecosystem and its freshwater reserves. The study emphasizes that global action to reduce microplastic emissions is essential, since these particles can travel vast distances through the atmosphere.
The Microplastic-Antibiotic Resistance Connection
This review examined the link between microplastic pollution and antibiotic resistance, finding that microplastic surfaces in the environment selectively enrich antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes, creating hotspots that may amplify the spread of resistance far beyond clinical settings.
Mapping the evidence of the effects of environmental factors on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the non-built environment
Researchers conducted a systematic review mapping how environmental factors influence the spread of antibiotic resistance outside of hospitals and farms. They found that factors including temperature, heavy metals, microplastics, and wastewater discharge all contribute to resistance gene prevalence in natural environments. The study underscores the need for a holistic approach that considers environmental conditions alongside antibiotic use when addressing the global resistance crisis.
Polar pollution: protecting Antarctic marine ecosystems from microplastics
This review investigated microplastic contamination in Antarctic marine ecosystems, finding that ocean currents carry plastics to even the most remote polar regions, and discussing the policy landscape and strategies needed to protect this ecologically critical environment.
Combating antimicrobial resistance: the silent war
This review examines the growing global crisis of antimicrobial resistance, where bacteria become immune to antibiotics due to overuse in medicine and agriculture. Although focused on drug resistance, the paper is relevant to microplastic research because microplastics have been shown to harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria and facilitate the transfer of resistance genes in the environment, potentially making this public health crisis worse.