Effects comparison between the secondary nanoplastics released from biodegradable and conventional plastics on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. - Related Documents




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792501.0000Effects comparison between the secondary nanoplastics released from biodegradable and conventional plastics on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have caused widespread concern because of their potential harm to environmental safety and human health. As substitutes for conventional plastics, the toxic effects of short-term degradation products of biodegradable plastics (polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)) on bacteria and their impact on ARGs transfer were the focus of this study. After 60 days of degradation, more secondary nanoplastics were released from the biodegradable plastics PLA and PHA than that from the conventional plastics polystyrene (PS). All kinds of nanoplastics, no matter released from biodegradable plastics or conventional plastics, had no significant toxicity to bacteria. Nanoplastic particles from biodegradable plastics could significantly increase the transfer efficiency of ARGs. Although the amount of secondary nanoplastics produced by PHA microplastics was much higher than that of PLA, the transfer frequency after exposure to PLA was much higher, which may be due to the agglomeration of PHA nanoplastics caused by plastic instability in solution. After exposure to the 60 d PLA nanoplastics, the transfer frequency was the highest, which was approximately 28 times higher than that of control. The biodegradable nanoplastics significantly enhanced the expression of the outer membrane pore protein genes ompA and ompC, which could increase cell membrane permeability. The expression levels of trfAp and trbBp were increased by repressed major global regulatory genes korA, korB, and trbA, which eventually led to an increase in conjugative transfer frequency. This study provides important insights into the evaluation of the environmental and health risks caused by secondary nanoplastics released from biodegradable plastics.202336414161
798110.9997Dissolved biochar eliminates the effect of Cu(II) on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. The proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has posed significant risks to human and environmental health. Research has confirmed that Cu(II) could accelerate the conjugative transfer of ARGs between bacteria. This study found that adding dissolved biochar effectively weakened or eliminated the Cu(II)-facilitated efficient transfer of ARGs. The efficiency of conjugative transfer was promoted after treatment with Cu(II) (0.05 mg/L) or dissolved biochar at a pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C. When exposed to the combination of Cu(II) and dissolved biochar, the transfer frequency was significantly reduced; this occurred regardless of the Cu(II) concentration or pyrolysis temperature of dissolved biochar. In particular, when the Cu(II) concentration exceeded 0.5 mg/L, the transfer efficiency was entirely inhibited. Gene expression analysis indicated that different treatments affect transfer efficiency by regulating the expression of three global regulatory genes: korA, korB, and trbA. Among them, humic acid repressed the expression of these genes; however, Cu(II) formed complex with the humic acid-like components, gradually weakening the inhibitive effect of these components. The promotion of low molecule organic matters dominated, resulting in a dynamic decline in the transfer efficiency. This study provides a new environmental contaminant treatment approach to eliminate the heavy metal-facilitated transfer of ARGs between bacteria.202234583164
856320.9997Overlooked role of extracellular polymeric substances in antibiotic-resistance gene transfer within microalgae-bacteria system. Controlling the spread of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) under antibiotic stress has become an increasingly urgent issue. Microalgae possess the capability to remove antibiotics while concurrently inhibiting ARGs. Microalgae-bacteria systems can produce significant quantities of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). However, the roles of EPS in the spread of ARGs have not been sufficiently explored, resulting in an insufficient understanding of the contribution of each EPS component and a lack of analysis on the complex interactions between EPS and ARGs. This study systematically explored the overlooked role of EPS in the transmission of ARGs within microalgae-bacteria systems. The current results showed that the potential of the microalgae-bacteria system for treating antibiotic wastewater. The tightly bound-EPS (TB-EPS) can acquire the higher absolute abundances of ARGs compared with the loosely bound-EPS (LB-EPS). The correlation coefficient between polysaccharides and TB-EPS ARGs was higher than that between polysaccharides and LB-EPS ARGs. The gene patterns of LB-EPS closely clustered with those of TB-EPS, while intracellular ARG gene patterns differed from both TB-EPS and LB-EPS. Metagenomic analyses indicated that the relative abundances of sul1 and sul2 were considerably higher at the beginning stage compared to the end stage. The abundance of Achromobacter, increased by the end stage, aligning with its potential to produce exopolysaccharide. Additionally, the absolute abundance of genes encoding exopolysaccharides (nagB and galE) and conjugative transfer transcription regulator (traF), increased over time. These findings enhanced our comprehension of the significance of EPS on the fate of ARGs in microalgae-bacteria systems during the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.202539879767
856430.9997Effects of functional modules and bacterial clusters response on transmission performance of antibiotic resistance genes under antibiotic stress during anaerobic digestion of livestock wastewater. The formation and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have attracted increasing attention. It is unclear whether the internal mechanisms by which antibiotics affect horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs during anaerobic digestion (AD) were influenced by dose and type. We investigated the effects of two major antibiotics (oxytetracycline, OTC, and sulfamethoxazole, SMX) on ARGs during AD according to antibiotic concentration in livestock wastewater influent. The low-dose antibiotic (0.5 mg/L) increased ROS and SOS responses, promoting the formation of ARGs. Meanwhile, low-dose antibiotics could also promote the spread of ARGs by promoting pili, communication responses, and the type IV secretion system (T4SS). However, different types and doses of antibiotics would lead to changes in the above functional modules and then affect the enrichment of ARGs. With the increasing dose of SMX, the advantages of pili and communication responses would gradually change. In the OTC system, low-dose has the strongest promoting ability in both pili and communication responses. Similarly, an increase in the dose of SMX would change T4SS from facilitation to inhibition, while OTC completely inhibits T4SS. Microbial and network analysis also revealed that low-dose antibiotics were more favorable for the growth of host bacteria.202336063716
790740.9997Determination of the fate of antibiotic resistance genes and the response mechanism of plants during enhanced antibiotic degradation in a bioelectrochemical-constructed wetland system. Chloramphenicol (CAP) has a high concentration and detection frequency in aquatic environments due to its insufficient degradation in traditional biological wastewater treatment processes. In this study, bioelectrochemical assistant-constructed wetland systems (BES-CWs) were developed as advanced processes for efficient CAP removal, in which the degradation and transfer of CAP and the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were evaluated. The CAP removal efficiency could reach as high as 90.2%, while the removed CAP can be partially adsorbed and bioaccumulated in plants, significantly affecting plant growth. The vertical gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer increased the abundance of ARGs under high voltage and CAP concentrations. Microbial community analysis showed that CAP pressure and electrical stimulation selected the functional bacteria to increase CAP removal and antibiotic resistance. CAP degradation species carrying ARGs could increase their opposition to the biotoxicity of CAP and maintain system performance. In addition, ARGs are transferred into the plant and upward, which can potentially enter the food chain. This study provides an essential reference for enhancing antibiotic degradation and offers fundamental support for the underlying mechanism and ARG proliferation during antibiotic biodegradation.202336931217
851150.9997The combination of polystyrene microplastics and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate promotes the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. Plastic pollution has become a common phenomenon. The process of plastic degradation is accompanied by the release of microplastics and plasticizers. However, the coexistence of microplastics and plasticizers on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has not been reported until now. Here, polystyrene (PS) microplastics and plasticizer di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were used for combined treatment experiment and their effects and mechanisms on the transfer of ARGs between bacteria were explored. By increasing cell membrane permeability and the expression of correlated genes, the combined treatment group showed promoting effects on the transfer of ARGs than that of control, with the highest promoting effects observed at 1 mg/L PS and 0.1 mg/L DEHP, which was 3.0 times higher in ARGs transfer rate than that of control. It was found that PS and DEHP treatment alone also led to a higher conjugative transfer frequency, and the frequency of the combined treatment was lower than that of the corresponding single treatment group. This indicated that the effects of DEHP and microplastics on ARGs transfer might be antagonistic. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the transfer of ARGs affects bacterial ion binding, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism processes, while the expression of genes related to cell membrane permeability, DNA repair, bacterial drug resistance, and quorum sensing also increase. This study may provide new insights for explaining the combined effects of various pollutants in the environment on the spread of ARGs.202539799916
797860.9997Metagenomic insight into the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge upon exposure to nanoplastics. Activated sludge is an important reservoir for the co-occurring emerging contaminants including nanoplastics (NPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the impacts and potential mechanisms of NPs on the fate of ARGs in activated sludge are not fully understood. Herein, we used metagenomic approach to investigate the responses of ARGs, host bacteria, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and functional genes to polystyrene (PS) NPs at environmentally relevant (0.5 mg/L) and high stress concentrations (50 mg/L) in activated sludge. The results showed that 0.5 and 50 mg/L PS NPs increased the relative abundance of ARGs in the activated sludge by 58.68% and 46.52%, respectively (p < 0.05). Host tracking analysis elucidated that the hosts of ARGs were significantly enriched by PS NPs (p < 0.05), with Proteobacteria being the predominant host bacteria. Additionally, the occurrence of new ARGs hosts and the enrichment of MGEs and functional genes (i.e., genes related to SOS response, cell membrane permeability, and secretion system, etc.) indicated that PS NPs promoted horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs. Finally, path modeling analysis revealed that the proliferation of ARGs caused by PS NPs was primarily attributed to the enhancement of HGT and the enrichment of host bacteria. Our findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the spread risk of ARGs in activated sludge under NPs pollution.202439510298
792670.9997Microplastics Exacerbated Conjugative Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes during Ultraviolet Disinfection: Highlighting Difference between Conventional and Biodegradable Ones. Microplastics (MPs) have been confirmed as a hotspot for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater. However, the impact of MPs on the transfer of ARGs in wastewater treatment remains unclear. This study investigated the roles and mechanisms of conventional (polystyrene, PS) and biodegradable (polylactic acid, PLA) MPs in the conjugative transfer of ARGs during ultraviolet disinfection. The results showed that MPs significantly facilitated the conjugative transfer of ARGs compared with individual ultraviolet disinfection, and PSMPs exhibited higher facilitation than PLAMPs. The facilitation effects were attributed to light shielding and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nanoplastics from ultraviolet irradiation of MPs. The light shielding of MPs protected the bacteria and ARGs from ultraviolet inactivation. More importantly, ROS and nanoplastics generated from irradiated MPs induced intracellular oxidative stress on bacteria and further increased the cell membrane permeability and intercellular contact, ultimately enhancing the ARG exchange. The greater fragmentation of PSMPs than PLAMPs resulted in a higher intracellular oxidative stress and a stronger enhancement. This study highlights the concerns of conventional and biodegradable MPs associated with the transfer of ARGs during wastewater treatment, which provides new insights into the combined risks of MPs and ARGs in the environment.202539723446
791380.9996Response of the partial denitrification coupled with anaerobic ammonia oxidation system to disinfectant residues stress. The extensive use of disinfectants, especially NaClO, has resulted in chlorine disinfectant residues entering and impairing the biological treatment system. This study combined with long-term stress and transient shock of chlorine residues to comprehensively evaluate the variations of nitrogen removal performance, microbial community and antibiotic resistance genes composition in the PD/A system. The results showed that low concentration NaClO had no obvious harm to the system, but high concentration (>1 mg/L) NaClO would destroy the nitrogen removal performance of PD/A system. Interestingly, microorganisms in biofilm were more resistant to chlorine residues than that in sludge. Anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria suffered more harm than denitrifying microorganisms, and chlorine residues mainly inhibited the process of converting N(2)H(4) to N(2) in anammox reaction. In addition, this study found that sludge showed a more significant increase in ARGs abundance and risk than biofilm. Moreover, risk assessments indicated that chlorine residues increased the risk of ARGs in PD/A systems.202540010223
756690.9996Antibiotic sulfadiazine degradation by persulfate oxidation: Intermediates dependence of ecotoxicity and the induction of antibiotic resistance genes. To preserve the water resources, this study has analyzed the ecotoxicity and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) induction capacity of sulfadiazine degradation intermediates resulting from persulfate activation oxidation enhanced by ultraviolet, ultrasound and microwave. The five degradation pathways caused by the contribution discrepancy of electron transfer and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) and variations in the ecotoxicity of different degradation products were analyzed. Microcosm experiment exhibited that the microbial community in actual water changed significantly with SDZ and degradation intermediates, in which the dominant genera were Aeromonas, Cupriavidus, Elizabethkingia and Achromobacter. Except for the selective pressure on bacteria, the degradation intermediates also exert a certain degree or even stronger induction on sulfonamide ARGs (sul4, sul1 and sul2) than SDZ. Furthermore, the potential hosts for sulfonamide ARGs were revealed by network analysis. These results provide a better understanding of antibiotics degradation mechanism and ARGs occurrence, which is useful for controlling the spread of ARGs.202336372382
7980100.9996Effect of dissolved biochar on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a global environmental issue. Dissolved biochar is more likely to contact bacteria in water, producing ecological risks. This study explored the effects of dissolved biochar on ARGs transfer in bacteria. Conjugative transfer efficiency was significantly different following treatment with different types of dissolved biochar. Typically, humic acid-like substance in dissolved biochar can significantly improve the transfer efficiency of ARGs between bacteria. When the concentration of dissolved biochar was ≤10 mg biochar/mL, humic acid-like substance substantially promoted ARGs transfer. An increase in dissolved biochar concentration weakened the ARGs transfer from humic acid-like substance. The inhibitory effects of small-molecule matters dominated, decreasing conjugative transfer frequency. At a concentration of 100 mg biochar/mL, the conjugative transfer efficiency of all treatments was lower than that of control. Compared with corn straw dissolved biochar, there were more transconjugants in pine sawdust dissolved biochar. Following treatment with 10 mg biochar/mL pine sawdust dissolved biochar, the number of transconjugants was at its maximum; approximately 7.3 folds higher than the control. We also explored mechanisms by which dissolved biochar impacts conjugative transfer. Due to the complex composition of dissolved biochar, its effects on the expression of conjugative transfer-related genes were also dynamic. This study investigates the ecological risk of biochar and guides its scientific application.202134274650
7979110.9996Size-dependent promotion of micro(nano)plastics on the horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in constructed wetlands. Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been identified as significant sources of micro(nano)plastics (MPs/NPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments. However, little is known about the impact of MPs/NPs exposure on horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs and shaping the corresponding ARG hosts' community. Herein, the contribution of polystyrene (PS) particles (control, 4 mm, 100 μm, and 100 nm) to ARG transfer was investigated by adding an engineered fluorescent Escherichia coli harboring RP4 plasmid-encoded ARGs into CWs. It was found MPs/NPs significantly promoted ARG transfer in a size-dependent manner in each CW medium (p < 0.05). The 100 μm-sized PS exhibited the most significant promotion of ARG transfer (p < 0.05), whereas 100 nm-sized PS induced limited promotion due to its inhibitory activity on microbes. The altered RP4-carrying bacterial communities suggested that MPs/NPs, especially 100 µm-PS, could recruit pathogenic and nitrifying bacteria to acquire ARGs. The increased sharing of RP4-carrying core bacteria in CW medium further suggested that ARGs can spread into CW microbiome using MPs/NPs as carriers. Overall, our results highlight the high risks of ARG dissemination induced by MPs/NPs exposure and emphasize the need for better control of plastic disposal to prevent the potential health threats.202337657315
7498120.9996The resistance change and stress response mechanisms of chlorine-resistant bacteria under microplastic stress in drinking water distribution system. The presence of both chlorine-resistant bacteria (CRB) and microplastics (MPs) in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) poses a threat to water quality and human health. However, the risk of CRB bio evolution under the stress of MPs remains unclear. In this study, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were selected to study the adsorption and desorption behavior of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and it was clear that MPs had the risk of carrying pollutants into DWDS and releasing them. The results of the antibiotic susceptibility test and disinfection experiment confirmed that MPs could enhance the resistance of CRB to antibiotics and disinfectants. Bacteria epigenetic resistance mechanisms were approached from multiple perspectives, including physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as molecular regulatory networks. When MPs enter DWDS, CRB could attach to the surface of MPs and directly interact with both MPs and the antibiotics they release. This attachment process promoted changes in the composition and content of extracellular polymers (EPS) within cells, enhanced surface hydrophobicity, stimulated oxidative stress function, and notably elevated the relative abundance of certain antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study elucidates the mechanism by which MPs alter the intrinsic properties of CRB, providing valuable insights into the effective avoidance of biological risks to water quality during CRB evolution.202438848962
8567130.9996System-dependent divergence of microbial community and resistome in two anaerobic niches under sulfamethoxazole selection. The prevalence of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in high-strength wastewater poses a significant threat to the stability and efficiency of anaerobic biological treatment systems, particularly when deployed as initial treatment units. However, the complex interactions arising from SMX biodegradation and their resultant effects on typical anaerobic digestion (AD) and sulfate-reducing (SR) systems are not thoroughly understood. This study revealed that SMX exposure stimulated methanogenesis in the AD system and sulfate reduction in the SR system, driven primarily by enriched key functional taxa (e.g., methanogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria). Organic matter removal efficiency increased significantly in the AD system under SMX stress, attributed to the enrichment of fermentative bacteria. Notably, the enriched class Actinomycetes was capable of SMX biodegradation, thereby likely mitigating SMX stress for other microorganisms. In contrast, the SR system exhibited significantly diminished organic matter removal despite developing a more functionally specialized community under SMX exposure. This community harbored fewer SMX degraders, perpetuating selective pressure on the microbiota. Increasing SMX concentrations failed to induce significant shifts in overall community structure in either system, while significantly promoted the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly pronounced in the SR system exhibiting high SMX accumulation. Moreover, mobile genetic elements mediated the horizontal transfer of the sulfonamide resistance gene sul1 and other co-occurring ARGs located on plasmids. This study provides novel insights into the convergent and divergent microbial responses in the AD and SR systems under SMX exposure, highlighting the dual effects (both stimulatory and inhibitory) of SMX on the functionality of these anaerobic systems.202541130171
8512140.9996Dissolved oxygen facilitates efficiency of chlorine disinfection for antibiotic resistance. Controlling the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a global concern. While commonly used chlorine disinfectants can damage or even kill ARB, dissolved oxygen (DO) may affect the formation of reactive chlorine species. This leads to the hypothesis that DO may play roles in mediating the effectiveness of chlorine disinfection for antibiotic resistance. To this end, this study investigated the impacts of DO on the efficiency of chlorine disinfection for antibiotic resistance. The results revealed that DO could increase the inactivation efficiency of ARB under chloramine and free chlorine exposure at practically relevant concentrations. Reactive species induced by DO, including H(2)O(2), O(2)(-), and OH, inactivated ARB strains by triggering oxidative stress response and cell membrane damage. In addition, the removal efficiency of extracellular ARGs (i.e. tetA and bla(TEM)) was enhanced with increasing dosage of free chlorine or chloramine under aerobic conditions. DO facilitated the fragmentation of plasmids, contributing to the degradation of extracellular ARGs under exposure to chlorine disinfectants. The findings suggested that DO facilitates disinfection efficiency for antibiotic resistance in water treatment systems.202438750753
7939150.9996Metagenomic insights into the distribution, mobility, and hosts of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge under starvation stress. Extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (eARGs) are important emerging environmental pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Nutritional substrate deficiency (i.e., starvation) frequently occurs in WWTPs owing to annual maintenance, water quality fluctuation, and sludge storage; and it can greatly alter the antibiotic resistance and extracellular DNA content of bacteria. However, the fate and corresponding transmission risk of eARGs in activated sludge under starvation stress remain largely unknown. Herein, we used metagenomic sequencing to explore the effects of starvation scenarios (carbon, nitrogen, and/or phosphorus deficiency) and environmental conditions (alternating anaerobic-aerobic, anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic) on the distribution, mobility, and hosts of eARGs in activated sludge. The results showed that 30 days of starvation reduced the absolute abundances of eARGs by 40.9%-88.2%, but high-risk dual and multidrug resistance genes persisted. Starvation, particularly the simultaneous lack of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus under aerobic conditions, effectively alleviated eARGs by reducing the abundance of extracellular mobile genetic elements (eMGEs). Starvation also altered the profile of bacterial hosts of eARGs and the bacterial community composition, the latter of which had an indirect positive effect on eARGs via changing eMGEs. Our findings shed light on the response patterns and mechanisms of eARGs in activated sludge under starvation conditions and highlight starvation as a potential strategy to mitigate the risk of previously neglected eARGs in WWTPs.202337060877
7565160.9996Microalgae Enhances the Adaptability of Epiphytic Bacteria to Sulfamethoxazole Stress and Proliferation of Antibiotic Resistance Genes Mediated by Integron. The transmission of ARGs in the microalgae-associated epiphytic bacteria remains unclear under antibiotic exposure, apart from altering the microbial community structure. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris cocultured with bacteria screened from surface water was examined to explore the spread of ARGs in the presence of sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The extracellular polymers released by Chlorella vulgaris could reduce antibiotic-induced collateral damage to bacteria, thus increasing the diversity of the microalgae-associated epiphytic bacteria. The abundances of sul1 and intI1 in the phycosphere at 1 mg/L SMX dose increased by 290 and 28 times, respectively. Metagenomic sequencing further confirmed that SMX bioaccumulation stimulated the horizontal transfer of sul1 mediated by intI1 in the microalgae-associated epiphytic bacteria, while reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative stress induced the SOS response and thus enhanced the transformation of sul1 in the J group. This is the first study to verify that microalgae protect bacteria from antibiotic damage and hinder the spread of ARGs mediated by SOS response, while the transfer of ARGs mediated by integron is promoted due to the bioaccumulation of SMX in the phycosphere. The results contribute to present comprehensive understanding of the risk of ARG proliferation by the presence of emerging contaminants residues in river.202439417646
8562170.9996Nitrogen and phosphorus limitations promoted bacterial nitrate metabolism and propagation of antibiotic resistome in the phycosphere of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa. Despite that nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play critical roles in the lifecycle of microalgae, how N and P further affect the distribution of bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the phycosphere is still poorly understood. In this study, the effects of N and P on the distribution of ARGs in the phycosphere of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa were investigated. Results showed that the growth and chlorophyll synthesis of microalgae were inhibited when N or P was limited, regardless of the N/P ratios, but the extracellular polymeric substances content and nitrate assimilation efficiency were enhanced in contrast. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that N or P limitation resulted in the recruitment of specific bacteria that highly contribute to the nitrate metabolism in the phycosphere. Besides, N or P limitation promoted the propagation of phycosphere ARGs, primarily through horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements. The enrichment of specific bacteria induced by changes in the algal physiology also contributed to the ARGs proliferation under nutrient limitation. Our results demonstrated that the reduction of algal cells caused by nutrient limitation could promote the propagation of ARGs, which provides new insights into the occurrence and spread of ARGs in the phycosphere.202438367442
7931180.9996The stress response of tetracycline resistance genes and bacterial communities under the existence of microplastics in typical leachate biological treatment system. Landfill leachate is an important source of microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs). Here, in the presence of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) and polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs), the nitrogen and phosphorus removal effect and sludge structure performance were affected in an anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic system, a typical biological leachate treatment process. The abundance of tetracycline-resistance genes (tet genes) in biofilms on the two types of MP was significantly higher than that in the leachate and sludge, and the load on PE-MPs was higher than that on PS-MPs because of the porous structure of PE-MPs. Aging of the MPs increased their surface roughness and abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups and shaped the profile of ARGs in the MP biofilms. The biofilm biomass and growth rate on the two types of MP increased with the incubation time in the first 30 days, and was affected by environmental factors. Structural equation models and co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that the MPs indirectly affected the spectrum of ARGs by affecting biofilm formation, and, to a lesser extent, had a direct impact on the selective enrichment of ARGs. We discuss the mechanisms of the relationships between MPs and ARGs in the leachate treatment system, which will have guiding significance for future research. Our data on the colonization of microorganisms and tet genes in MPs biofilms provide new evidence concerning the accumulation and transmission of these ARGs, and are important for understanding the mechanisms of MPs in spreading pollution.202439018858
8584190.9996Microplastics enhance the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in mariculture sediments by enriching host bacteria and promoting horizontal gene transfer. Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) pose significant challenges to the One Health framework due to their intricate and multifaceted ecological and environmental impacts. However, the understanding of how MP properties influence ARG prevalence in mariculture sediments remains limited. Herein, the polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs with different sizes (20-120 μm and 0.5-2.0 mm) were selected to evaluate their impacts and underlying mechanisms driving ARGs dissemination. The results showed that PS and PVC MPs increased the relative abundance of ARGs by 1.41-2.50-fold and 2.01-2.84-fold, respectively, compared with control, particularly high-risk genes. The polymer type effect was identified as more influential than the size effect in driving the sediment resistome evolution. PVC shifted the microbial community assembly from stochastic to deterministic processes, thus enriching ARG host pathogens. Furthermore, the highly hydrophobic PS not only recruited the host bacteria colonization but also facilitated ARG exchange within the plastisphere. The exogenous additives released by PVC (e.g., heavy metals, bisphenol A, and tridecyl ester) and the particles synergistically promoted ARG conjugative transfer by inducing oxidative stress and enhancing cell membrane permeability. These findings revealed how MPs characteristics facilitated the spread of ARGs in marine benthic ecosystems, underscoring the importance of mitigating MPs pollution to maintain mariculture ecosystem health, prevent zoonotic diseases, and balance global mariculture with ecological health.202540052062