Our AI podcasters discuss a research article exploring the potential impact of tire wear particles (TWPs), a significant source of microplastic pollution, on the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic ecosystems. The authors hypothesized that TWPs, due to their metal content and surface properties, could act as hotspots for HGT among bacteria. To test this, they conducted laboratory experiments using E. coli as a donor strain carrying a plasmid conferring trimethoprim resistance and Pseudomonas sp. and a natural lake microbial community as recipients. They found that HGT frequency was significantly higher on TWP surfaces compared to polystyrene (PS) and chitosan controls. This increase was further enhanced by the presence of metals, specifically zinc, which is a common component of TWPs. Notably, HGT frequency on TWPs increased at higher temperatures, highlighting the potential for global warming to exacerbate the spread of ARGs. The research concludes that TWPs can act as significant vectors for HGT, potentially contributing to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments. This study provides valuable insights into the ecological implications of microplastic pollution and underscores the need for further research on the complex interactions between microplastics, bacteria, and gene transfer processes.
Tire Wear Particles Enhance Horizontal Gene Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Aquatic Ecosystems
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...
Yousuf Dar Jaffer 1 2; Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh 1 3 4; Uli Klümper 5; Hans-Peter Grossart 1 6
1 Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
2 ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal India
3 Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
4 Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies, and Innovation, Technical University of Liberec Bendlova 1409/7, 460 01, Liberec, Czech Republic
5 Institute for Hydrobiology, TU Dresden, Zellescher Weg 40, Dresden 01217, Germany
6 Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Potsdam, Germany
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