| Abstract | The oceans are increasingly polluted with plastic debris, and several studies have implicated plastic as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes and a potential vector for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bioplastic is widely regarded as an environmentally friendly replacement to conventional petroleum-based plastic, but the effects of bioplastic pollution on marine environments remain largely unknown. Here, we present the first evidence that bioplastic accumulates antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in marine sediments. Biofilms fouling ceramic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) were investigated by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Four ARG groups were more abundant in PHA: trimethoprim resistance (TMP), multidrug resistance (MDR), macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin resistance (MLS), and polymyxin resistance (PMR). One MRG group was more abundant in PHA: multimetal resistance (MMR). The relative abundance of ARGs and MRGs were strongly correlated based on a Mantel test between the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices (R = 0.97, p < 0.05) and a Pearson's analysis (R = 0.96, p < 0.05). ARGs were detected in more than 40% of the 57 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) while MRGs were detected in more than 90% of the MAGs. Further investigation (e.g., culturing, genome sequencing, antibiotic susceptibility testing) revealed that PHA biofilms were colonized by hemolytic Bacillus cereus group bacteria that were resistant to beta-lactams, vancomycin, and bacitracin. Taken together, our findings indicate that bioplastic, like conventional petroleum-based plastic, is a reservoir for resistance genes and a potential vector for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in coastal marine sediments. |
| Text | 461382 2021 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118161 Scopus 2 s2.0 85115039134 Plastisphere Bioplastic Antibiotic resistance Metal resistance Pathogen Bioplastic accumulates antibiotic and metal resistance genes in coastal marine sediments Di Cesare A.; Pinnell L.J.; Brambilla D.; Elli G.; Sabatino R.; Sathicq M.B.; Corno G.; O Donnell C.; Turner J.W. Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy CNR IRSA , MEG Molecular Ecology Group, Largo Tonolli 50, Verbania, 28922, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy CNR IRSA , MEG Molecular Ecology Group, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy, , Italy; Department of Life Sciences, Texas A M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412, United States, , United States; Division of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, Lund, SE 22100, Division of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE 22100, Lund, Sweden, , , , Sweden; Division of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, Lund, SE 22100, Division of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE 22100, Lund, Sweden, , , , Sweden; Division of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, Lund, SE 22100, Division of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE 22100, Lund, Sweden, , , , Sweden The oceans are increasingly polluted with plastic debris, and several studies have implicated plastic as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes and a potential vector for antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bioplastic is widely regarded as an environmentally friendly replacement to conventional petroleum based plastic, but the effects of bioplastic pollution on marine environments remain largely unknown. Here, we present the first evidence that bioplastic accumulates antibiotic resistance genes ARGs and metal resistance genes MRGs in marine sediments. Biofilms fouling ceramic, polyethylene terephthalate PET , and polyhydroxyalkanoate PHA were investigated by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Four ARG groups were more abundant in PHA trimethoprim resistance TMP , multidrug resistance MDR , macrolide lincosamide streptogramin resistance MLS , and polymyxin resistance PMR . One MRG group was more abundant in PHA multimetal resistance MMR . The relative abundance of ARGs and MRGs were strongly correlated based on a Mantel test between the Bray Curtis dissimilarity matrices R = 0.97, p < 0.05 and a Pearson s analysis R = 0.96, p < 0.05 . ARGs were detected in more than 40% of the 57 metagenome assembled genomes MAGs while MRGs were detected in more than 90% of the MAGs. Further investigation e.g., culturing, genome sequencing, antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that PHA biofilms were colonized by hemolytic Bacillus cereus group bacteria that were resistant to beta lactams, vancomycin, and bacitracin. Taken together, our findings indicate that bioplastic, like conventional petroleum based plastic, is a reservoir for resistance genes and a potential vector for antibiotic resistant bacteria in coastal marine sediments. 291 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85115039134 origin=inward Articolo in rivista Elsevier Applied Science Publishers 0269 7491 Environmental pollution 1987 Environmental pollution 1987 Environ. pollut. 1987 Environmental pollution 1987 andrea.dicesare DI CESARE ANDREA |
