Study reveals plastic-digesting microbes may also carry antibiotic resistance genes, posing public health risks
An IISER Kolkata study suggests that microbes capable of degrading plastics might also be reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with plastic particles potentially acting as hotbeds for gene accumulation and spread. The study, conducted in the Sundarbans, found that the floating bacterial community possesses numerous plastic-degrading enzyme (PDE) genes, particularly for polyethylene glycol (PEG), and these microbes frequently exhibit antibiotic and metal resistance traits. While offering a natural solution to plastic pollution, this dual capacity raises concerns that enriching such microbes could inadvertently amplify antimicrobial resistance (AMR), threatening public health and potentially accelerating ARG transfer to humans.
Key Points
- A study by IISER Kolkata found that plastic-digrading microbes in the Sundarbans also carry antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
- Plastic particles may serve as sites for the accumulation and horizontal transfer of resistance genes among microbes.
- The Sundarbans' microbial community shows adaptation to plastic waste, possessing enzymes to degrade various plastic polymers, especially PEG.
- While offering a natural solution to plastic pollution, the widespread use or enrichment of these microbes could exacerbate antimicrobial resistance.
Exam Facts
- Study conducted by IISER Kolkata.
- Published in FEMS Microbiology Letters.
- Sundarbans, world's largest mangrove forest, receives three billion microplastic particles daily.
- PETase, an enzyme discovered in Ideonella sakaiensis, degrades PET.
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