Selective enrichment of bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic biofilms and their potential hazards in coral reef ecosystems

Zhou, Zhi; Tang, Jia; Tang, Kai; An, Mingxun; Liu, Zhaoqun; Wu, Zhongjie; Cao, Xiaocong; He, Chunlong

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141309

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 52 publications

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“…Antibiotic resistance is complex in biofilms. Most importantly, biofilm-specific features such as differential expression of multiple gene networks, extracellular matrix, and metabolic heterogeneity of subpopulations within a biofilm colony contribute greatly to antibiotic resistance [30].…”

Section: Role Of Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

City of Bacteria

Filik,

Filik

2024

Open Journal of Nano

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Especially living tissues, implants, catheters, pacemakers, prosthetic heart valves, composite resins, glass ionomer cements, chronic wounds, contact lenses and ceramic materials, etc. It has now been proven that bacteria on all surfaces live a micro-social lifestyle by using Quorum Sensing System (QS), communicating through N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone (AHL) signaling molecules, and forming biofilm layer, which is one of most vital virulence factors. In 1978, with discussions of Robert Koch's hypotheses published in 1884, Bill Costerton warned about magnitude of biofilm damage in chronic infections. In 2012, Father of biofilm Bill Costerton broke new ground in his research on biofilm. The concept of "Cell-to-cell communication", which Smith first brought to agenda in 1905, has brought infectious diseases to huge scientific level with QS system and biofilm, which is most important virulence factor of this system. Within the biofilms, bacteria can easily reproduce and communicate with each other, there’s actually a fiber optic system that bacteria communicate with each other at speed of light, QS. Biofilm was defined as a ‘City of Microbes’ by Watnick and Kolter, (2000). Biofilm is mixture of different microorganisms that are held together and protected by glue-like film. It’s a slimy matrix and coating that bacteria, fungi, yeast, mold, mycotoxins, viruses and parasites create in order to stay protected and elude immun system. A dysregulated nervous system can lead to taxed immune system. This layer of glue-like slime creates a protective ‘sleeping bag’ for bacteria, so they can continue to do what they do best, which is thriving in you, while creating chronic diseases. The immune system fully recognizes bacteria, however, can’t get to them due to the protective layer as biofilm, thus many times creating an autoimmune situation or cannot effective. In summary, understanding of biofilm is vital to manage and to eradicate biofilm-related diseases. The current review is, therefore, an effort to encompass the current concepts in biofilm, biofilm architectural and its implications in all living creature health and disease.

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Section: Role Of Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

City of Bacteria

Filik,

Filik

2024

Open Journal of Nano

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Two methodologies and timescales show no promotion of antibiotic resistance from in-water coral disease treatments

Neely,

Kellogg,

Voelschow

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The decimation of reefs caused by stony coral tissue loss disease prompted the use of a topical amoxicillin treatment to prevent coral mortality. Application of this treatment led to concerns about unintentional impacts such as potential alteration of the coral microbiome and possible spread of antibiotic resistance. We used two different methodologies, microbial RNA sequencing and microbial qPCR array, to assess these concerns. RNA sequencing was conducted on coral mucus samples collected before and 24 hours after amoxicillin application on wild Montastraea cavernosa. No differences in expression of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were detected. Additionally, there were no notable changes in the microbial communities between the before and after samples. Microbial qPCR array was used to assess differences in ARGs over longer timescales in wild Colpophylia natans, comparing never-treated corals with ones treated a single time seven months prior and with those treated multiple times seven months and more prior. No clinically relevant ARGs represented in the arrays were detected across any samples. A small number of above-detection reads (4 in the never-treated corals, 2 in the once-treated corals, and 0 in the multi-treated corals) may indicate weak amplification of similar environmental (non-anthropogenic) ARGs in the corals. Results indicate that the localized topical application of amoxicillin to prevent mortality of SCTLD-affected corals is neither disrupting the microbiome of treated corals nor driving the proliferation of antibiotic resistance.

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Aged Microplastics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes: A Review of Aging Effects on Their Interactions

Tang,

2024

Antibiotics

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Background: Microplastic aging affects the dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) on microplastics, yet no review presents the effects of microplastic aging on the associated ARGs. Objectives: This review, therefore, aims to discuss the effects of different types of microplastic aging, as well as the other pollutants on or around microplastics and the chemicals leached from microplastics, on the associated ARGs. Results: It highlights that microplastic photoaging generally results in higher sorption of antibiotics and ARGs due to increased microplastic surface area and functional group changes. Photoaging produces reactive oxygen species, facilitating ARG transfer by increasing bacterial cell membrane permeability. Reactive oxygen species can interact with biofilms, suggesting combined effects of microplastic aging on ARGs. The effects of mechanical aging were deduced from studies showing larger microplastics anchoring more ARGs due to rough surfaces. Smaller microplastics from aging penetrate deeper and smaller places and transport ARGs to these places. High temperatures are likely to reduce biofilm mass and ARGs, but the variation of ARGs on microplastics subjected to thermal aging remains unknown due to limited studies. Biotic aging results in biofilm formation on microplastics, and biofilms, often with unique microbial structures, invariably enrich ARGs. Higher oxidative stress promotes ARG transfer in the biofilms due to higher cell membrane permeability. Other environmental pollutants, particularly heavy metals, antibacterial, chlorination by-products, and other functional genes, could increase microplastic-associated ARGs, as do microplastic additives like phthalates and bisphenols. Conclusions: This review provides insights into the environmental fate of co-existing microplastics and ARGs under the influences of aging. Further studies could examine the effects of mechanical and thermal MP aging on their interactions with ARGs.

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Selective enrichment of bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic biofilms and their potential hazards in coral reef ecosystems

Cited by 3 publications

References 52 publications

City of Bacteria

City of Bacteria

Two methodologies and timescales show no promotion of antibiotic resistance from in-water coral disease treatments

Aged Microplastics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes: A Review of Aging Effects on Their Interactions

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