A new study by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) in Mohali has linked the use of single-use plastic bottles to the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Published in the journal Nanoscale, the study&rsquo;s key finding is that nanoplastics act as unwitting couriers of antibiotic resistance genes to beneficial gut bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus, which then pass on these genes to pathogens during infections.
Dr Manish Singh and his team synthesized nanoplastic particles similar to those found in single-use plastic bottles and containers found in garbage. The study found that nanoplastics derived from polyethylene terephthalate bottles (PBNPs) could transform beneficial bacteria into carriers of antibiotic-resistance genes, posing a risk to human gut health.
The researchers demonstrated that PBNPs help antibiotic-resistant genes to pass across species from E. coli to Lactobacillus acidophilus via a process called horizontal gene transfer (HGT).
This can happen in one of two ways, the study says.
In the first, PBNPs act as physical carriers, carrying antibiotic-resistant plasmids across bacterial membranes&mdash;like a Trojan horse.
The second occurs through outer membrane vesicle (OMV) secretion in bacteria: PBNPs induce oxidative damage to bacterial surfaces, activating stress-response genes and triggering an increase in OMV secretion.
These OMVs, loaded with antibiotic-resistant genes, become potent vectors for gene transfer across bacterial species, facilitating the spread of genes for antibiotic resistance even among unrelated bacteria.
The INST study reveals an important and previously overlooked dimension of nanoplastics&rsquo; effects on microbial communities, especially those present in the human gut biome.
Protecting beneficial gut bacteria is crucial for immune support, digestion, and disease prevention. Limiting nanoplastic contamination could help preserve gut microbiota integrity, minimizing the chances of antibiotic resistance gene transfer from beneficial to pathogenic bacteria and supporting microbiome resilience.
(With agency input)

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Nanoplastics help bacteria swap genes, including those for antibiotic resistance: INST study

Single-Use Plastics Tied to Antibiotic Resistance

Nanoplastics help bacteria swap genes, including those for antibiotic resistance: INST study

December 20, 2024 | 17:49 IST