Microplastics accumulation in mangroves increasing the resistance of its colonization Vibrio and Shewanella

Baoyi Tan1, Yibin Li2, Huifeng Xie2

  • 1College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China.

Chemosphere
|February 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Mangrove microplastics harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a significant risk for the spread of multidrug resistance. These microplastic biofilms promote bacterial antibiotic resistance, highlighting a critical environmental concern.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Ecotoxicology

Background:

  • Pollutant enrichment in mangroves raises ecological concerns.
  • Microplastic accumulation in mangroves may exacerbate antibiotic resistance.
  • Understanding microplastic-associated antibiotic resistance is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate antibiotic resistance in bacteria colonizing mangrove microplastics and sediments.
  • To compare the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indexes between microplastic and sediment isolates.
  • To explore the relationship between microplastic types and bacterial antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Collected microplastics and sediment from mangrove environments.
  • Isolated and identified dominant bacterial species, including Vibrio species and Shewanella.
  • Performed antibiotic sensitivity testing and calculated MAR indexes for bacterial isolates.

Main Results:

  • Microplastic isolates showed 100% resistance to several antibiotics, including chloramphenicol, cefazolin, and tetracycline.
  • MAR indexes for Vibrio parahemolyticus, Shewanella, and Vibrio alginolyticus from microplastics were significantly higher than the standard and sediment isolates.
  • Bacterial resistance varied with microplastic type, with Vibrio from polyethylene (PE) exhibiting stronger resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Mangrove microplastics serve as a reservoir and potential spreader of antibiotic-resistant and multidrug-resistant bacteria.
  • Microplastic biofilms act as promoters for bacterial antibiotic resistance.
  • Mangrove ecosystems represent a potential risk for the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.