Plastiphere Metagenome

This project investigates the role of plastic debris in river ecosystems as potential reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. By exposing plastic fragments in a river in central Italy and analyzing the resulting biofilm associated with plastic through shotgun metagenomic sequencing, the study aims to characterize both the microbial communities and the resistome associated with plastic substrates.The primary goal is to determine whether the riverine plastisphere can support the accumulation, persistence, and potential dissemination of clinically relevant resistance determinants. The project focuses on the detection of ARGs associated with critical antibiotics, such as beta-lactams, tetracyclines, and vancomycin, and evaluates their mobility through the presence of plasmids, integrons, and other mobile genetic elements. This project enhances the understanding of how human-derived plastic waste may influence AMR dynamics in natural ecosystems and the potential implications for public health.