Metagenomic analysis of the Beilun River

It has been widely demonstrated that plastisphere can harbor pathogenic bacteria, including members of the genus vibrio and Escherichia coli, antibiotic resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and metal resistance genes. These, combined with the long-distance dispersal potential of microplastic, make the increasing amount of microplastics in the global environment provide greater opportunities for pathogens to be transported and transmitted to potential hosts, leading to increased outbreaks of disease, compared to the opportunities provided by other, natural particles. Therefore, we conducted the first study on the viral diversity and potential environmental risk in MPs at watershed scale.