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Published on: March 24, 2023
Plastisphere as an eco-site for horizontal gene transfer: Enhancing antibiotic resistance in marine biofilms
Chaoran Li1, Zhihang Chen1, Hongyi Chen2
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Ocean-Land Environmental Change and Ecological Construction, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Abstract:
Marine antimicrobial resistance is increasingly reshaping the ecological and public health risk landscape. Human production activities, such as coastal population growth, aquaculture, and shipping, play a significant role in the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in marine ecosystems. Recent studies have identified microplastics as carriers for these resistant bacteria, creating a novel eco-site known as the plastisphere. Within this eco-site, biofilm formation and horizontal gene transfer are enhanced, significantly contributing to the persistence and propagation of antibiotic resistance genes. This review synthesizes current knowledge to explore the role of the plastisphere as a unique eco-site that fosters horizontal gene transfer (HGT), thereby enhancing the persistence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in marine biofilms. It focuses on the mechanisms through which the microplastic surface promotes biofilm formation by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs) and the resulting environmental and health implications.
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