Microplastisphere may induce the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics in aquatic environments: A review. (1st October 2022) - Yu, Xue
Abstract: Microplastics have been proven to be hotspots of bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The enrichment of ARGs in microplastisphere, the specific niche for diverse microbial communities attached to the surface of microplastic, has attracted worldwide attention. By collecting 477 pairs of ARG abundance data belonging to 26 ARG types, based on the standardized mean difference (SMD) under the random effect model, we have performed the first meta-analysis of the ARG enrichment on microplastics in aquatic environments in order to quantitatively elucidate the enrichment effect, with comparison of non-microplastic materials. It was found that ARGs enriched on the microplastics were more abundant than that on the inorganic substrates (SMD = 0.26) and natural water environments (SMD = 0.10), but lower abundant than that on the natural organic substrates (SMD = −0.52). Furthermore, microplastics in freshwater tended to have a higher degree of ARG enrichment than those in saline water and sewage. The biofilm formation stage, structure, and component of microplastisphere may play a significant role in the enrichment of ARGs. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Microplastics may enrich ARGs in aquatic environments. ARG enrichment for microplastics is in-between inorganic and organic substrates. Microplastics can enrich more ARGs in freshwater than in saline water or sewage. Biofilm formation process affects the ARG enrichment in the microplastisphere.