In a recent study published in the journal Nature Water , researchers investigated the viral distribution, host interactions, and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) transfer on microplastics using metagenomic and viromic sequencing. Study: Viral metagenome reveals microbial hosts and the associated antibiotic resistome on microplastics . Image Credit: Kletr / Shutterstock Persistent microplastic pollution is a hallmark of the Anthropocene, posing environmental and health risks through toxic leachates and direct entry into biological tissues.
Microplastics create unique niches for microbial colonization and biofilm growth, forming the 'plastisphere,' which includes diverse microbial communities. These surfaces can selectively enrich pathogens, potentially impacting disease transmission. Despite their ubiquity, viruses have been largely overlooked in plastisphere studies, although recent evidence shows they persist on microplastics and interact with bacterial hosts.
Further research is needed to fully understand the ecological impact of viral communities and ARG transfer on microplastics and their implications for environmental and human health. In March 2021, the present study was conducted on two types of microplastics, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), in the Beilun River, Guangxi Province, China. Five sites along the river were selected based on urbanization and physicochemical properties, ranging from rural to urban regions.
At each site, 2.0 g of microplastics (PE a.
