Microplastics can selectively enrich intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistant genes and shape different microbial communities in aquatic systems

Shuai Zhang, Xingxiang Liu, Pengxiang Qiu, Bin Chen, Chenmin Xu, Weiliang Dong, Tao Liu

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs), as emerging contaminants, are posing potential risks to environment, and animal and human health. The ubiquitous presence of MPs in natural ecosystems provides favorable platform to selectively adsorb antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) and bacteria (ARB) and bacterial assemblages, especially in wastewater which is hotspot for MPs, ARGs and ARB. In this study, the selective capture of intracellular ARGs (iARGs), extracellular ARGs (eARGs), and bacterial assemblages by MPs with different materials (i.e. polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, and polyethylene terephthalate) and sizes (200 μm and 100 μm) was investigated. The results showed that iARGs (i.e. i-TetA, i-TetC, i-TetO, i-sul1), integron-integrase gene (intI1), and eARGs (i.e. e-TetA and e-blaTEM) were selectively enriched on MPs. Relative abundances of i-sul1, i-TetA, and intI1 were generally higher than that of i-TetC and i-TetO on all MPs. Moreover, MPs also have strong effects on the formation of microflora in wastewater, which resulted in different bacterial communities and functions in the wastewater and on the MPs. These findings suggested that MPs could affect the selective enrichment of ARB and ARGs in water environment.

Original languageEnglish
Article number153488
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume822
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 May 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antibiotic resistance genes
  • Antibiotic resistant bacteria
  • Bacterial community
  • Microplastic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution

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