Video Experimental Relacionado

Updated: May 7, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children

Published on: December 31, 2017

Perfil de la microbiota intestinal asociada a microplásticos y resistencia a los antibióticos en niños en edad

Xinyuan Liu¹, Hua Cai², Long Zhao³

¹School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Quzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Quzhou, China.

|February 19, 2026

Abstracto

Background:

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in ecosystems and present in the human body, causing a worldwide environmental issue. However, the extent of human exposure to MPs remains largely unknown. Although mice exposed to MPs exhibit gut microbiota dysbiosis, the impact of MPs on the human intestinal microbiota remains unclear. Furthermore, MPs can carry and spread antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, their potential influence on ARG abundance is underexplored.

Methods:

A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in Xiamen, Shanghai, and Nanjing in China from October 2022 to March 2023. A total of 335 couples of faecal samples were collected and analysed for MPs using Py-GC/MS and gut microbiota using 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing.

Findings:

Eight types of MPs were detected in 335 faecal samples, with a median concentration of 212.1 μg/g dw. MP exposure may be associated with the composition of the host gut microbiota. Microbial function analysis indicated the significant enrichment of 62 pathways primarily related to the metabolic pathways of macronutrients, vitamins, and bioactive substances. Total plastic concentration was significantly related to the relative abundance of species and ARGs, however this could not be attributed to specific plastic polymers after adjusting for covariates.

Interpretation:

This study provides baseline data on the gap in understanding of preschoolers' MP exposure, supporting the hypothesis that MP exposure might disrupt gut bacterial constitution and functions. This raises concerns regarding the potential adverse effects on the human gut when exposed to MPs, particularly drug resistance risks in younger populations.

Funding:

Project of Shanghai Municipal Financial Professional foundation (Food Safety Risk Assessment) (grant number: RA-2023-10), National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number: 2023YFF1104800), and Key Disciplines in the Three-year Plan of Shanghai Municipal Public Health System (2023-2025) (grant number: GWVI-11.1-42).

Palabras clave:

Microbiota intestinal Secuenciación de alto rendimiento Microplásticos Preescolar Py-GC/MS

Más Videos Relacionados

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment

Published on: November 17, 2018

Sampling, Identification and Characterization of Microplastics Release from Polypropylene Baby Feeding Bottle during Daily Use

Sampling, Identification and Characterization of Microplastics Release from Polypropylene Baby Feeding Bottle during Daily Use

Published on: July 24, 2021

Videos de Conceptos Relacionados

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...

Development of Human Microbiota

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...

Development of the Oral Microbiota

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...