Emerging pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in the biofilm of microplastics under a wastewater discharge simulation

Microplastics are known vectors for the transport of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. In this study, four polymer types and a glass control were incubated over the course of 10 weeks in experimental stream treatments representing natural river water flow and river water amended with 20% wastewater treatment plant effluent. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed to investigate community composition within the biofilm on microplastics and glass and shifts in composition over time.

微塑料（microplastics）作为病原体与抗生素抗性基因传播的载体已得到学界公认。本研究设置四种聚合物实验组与玻璃对照组，分别在两种实验流槽处理体系中开展为期10周的培养实验：一种体系模拟天然河水流动，另一种体系在天然河水中添加20%的污水处理厂出水。随后采用16S rRNA扩增子测序（16S rRNA amplicon sequencing）技术，分析微塑料与玻璃载体表面生物膜的群落组成及其随时间的演替情况。