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Plastisphere enrich antibiotic resistance genes and potential pathogenic bacteria in sewage with pharmaceuticals

Zhiqi Wang1, Jingfeng Gao1, Yifan Zhao1

  • 1National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.

The Science of the Total Environment
|January 17, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Microplastics (MPs) in sewage act as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Their presence, especially with tetracycline, enriches ARGs and pathogenic bacteria on the plastisphere.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Environmental Chemistry

Background:

  • Emerging pollutants like microplastics (MPs) and pharmaceuticals are prevalent in sewage.
  • The combined presence of MPs and pharmaceuticals may exacerbate environmental risks.
  • Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are critical environmental concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of microplastics (polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene) on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and microbial communities in sewage biofilms (plastisphere).
  • To assess the adsorption of specific pharmaceuticals—tetracycline (TC), ampicillin (AMP), and triclosan (TCS)—onto different microplastic types.
  • To determine the role of the plastisphere in the dissemination of ARGs, MGEs, and potential pathogenic bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Studied the adsorption of AMP, TC, and TCS on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE) microplastics.
  • Analyzed the abundance of ARGs and MGEs in microplastic biofilms (plastisphere) compared to bulk sewage.
  • Identified microbial communities, including potential pathogens, colonizing the plastisphere using different MP types.

Main Results:

  • Pharmaceutical adsorption order on both PVC and PE was AMP > TC > TCS.
  • Polyethylene (PE) exhibited greater microbial attachment than PVC.
  • Microplastics increased the overall copies of ARGs and MGEs in sewage, with significant enrichment on the plastisphere.
  • The co-occurrence of tetracycline (TC) and MPs amplified the risk of ARG and MGE spread.
  • Potential pathogenic bacteria (Legionella, Mycobacterium, Neisseria, Arcobacter) were more abundant on the plastisphere.

Conclusions:

  • The plastisphere serves as a significant reservoir for ARGs and MGEs in sewage environments.
  • Microplastics facilitate the accumulation and potential spread of antibiotic resistance.
  • The plastisphere harbors and concentrates potential pathogenic bacteria, increasing environmental and health risks.
Keywords:
AdsorptionAntibiotic resistance genesMicrobial communitiesPharmaceuticalsPlastispherePotential pathogenic bacteria

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