Research Reveals Single-Use Plastic Bottles Might Promote Antibiotic Resistance: Study from INST
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New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) in Mohali, an independent institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have uncovered that nanoplastics originated from single-use plastic bottles (SUPBs) may play a role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance.
With increasing worries about the combined challenges of plastic pollution and antibiotic resistance, this recent research, featured in the journal Nanoscale, highlights a previously unrecognized public health concern.
Research indicates that nanoplastics and microorganisms inhabit various environments, such as the human gut, and can influence health.
The team at INST investigated the potential effects of plastic nanoparticles on bacteria, concentrating on Lactobacillus acidophilus, a key player in the gut microbiota.
Dr. Manish Singh and his colleagues explored whether nanoplastics could convert beneficial bacteria into carriers of antibiotic-resistance genes, thereby threatening the health of the human gut microbiome.
They synthesized relevant environmental nanoplastics using discarded plastic water bottles, as these polyethylene terephthalate bottle-derived nanoplastics (PBNPs) accurately reflect the pollutants generated from disposed single-use plastic bottles and containers.
The research revealed that PBNPs can promote cross-species gene transfer from E. coli to Lactobacillus acidophilus through a mechanism known as horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This primarily occurs via the secretion of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in bacteria.
The scientists identified two innovative mechanisms by which PBNPs facilitate the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes. The first is a direct transformation pathway, where PBNPs serve as physical carriers, transporting antibiotic resistance plasmids across bacterial membranes and enhancing direct gene transfer.
The second mechanism is the OMV-Induced Transfer Pathway, wherein PBNPs trigger oxidative stress and damage to bacterial surfaces, activating stress response genes and leading to increased secretion of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs).
These OMVs, loaded with antibiotic resistance genes, become effective vectors for gene transfer among bacterial species, thereby facilitating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes even between unrelated bacteria. This unveils a significant and previously overlooked aspect of the impact of nanoplastics on microbial communities.
The findings emphasize the potential of nanoplastics to inadvertently exacerbate the antibiotic resistance crisis by introducing antibiotic resistance genes into beneficial gut bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus, which may then convey these genes to pathogenic bacteria.
This suggests that beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus could serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes, potentially passing these genes to harmful bacteria during infections.
Safeguarding beneficial gut bacteria is vital for immune support, digestion, and disease prevention. Minimizing contamination from nanoplastics may help maintain gut microbiota integrity, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance gene transfer from beneficial to pathogenic bacteria and bolstering microbiome resilience.
