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Author Spotlight: Understanding and Detecting Environmental Antimicrobial Resistance by Combining Culture-Based Techniques and Genomics
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Microplastic-associated pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in environment
Kawaljeet Kaur1, Sagar Reddy2, Pramod Barathe1
1Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411016, Maharashtra, India.
Chemosphere
|November 23, 2021
Summary
Microplastics contaminate water bodies, acting as carriers for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes. This microplastic-associated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to human health and the environment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Microplastic contamination is widespread in aquatic ecosystems due to industrial and anthropogenic activities.
- Widespread use of antibiotics contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microbes.
- Microplastics serve as vectors for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and their associated genes (ARGs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the prevalence of microplastics in aquatic environments.
- To examine how microplastics act as vectors for microbial pathogens and ARGs.
- To discuss the formation of biofilms on microplastics (plastispheres) and their role in AMR.
- To present strategies for addressing microplastic-associated AMR.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on microplastic contamination and AMR.
- Analysis of microplastic-biofilm interactions and horizontal gene transfer.
- Discussion of modern analytical tools for microplastic-biofilm studies.
- Review of management strategies and future prospects.
Main Results:
- Microplastics create "plastispheres," ideal niches for biofilm formation by ARB.
- Biofilm formation on microplastics facilitates the transfer of ARGs via horizontal gene transfer.
- Microplastic-associated AMR is an escalating threat to human health and healthcare systems.
Conclusions:
- Microplastics significantly contribute to the spread of AMR in aquatic environments.
- Effective management strategies are crucial to mitigate the risks of microplastic-associated AMR.
- Further research is needed to address this emerging environmental and health challenge.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)Antimicrobial resistance genesBiofilmsHorizontal gene transferMicrobial pathogensMicroplasticMultidrug resistanceMore Related Videos
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