Authors:
Neila Gross,1 Johnathan Muhvich,2 Carly Ching,2 Bridget Gomez,2 Evan Horvath,2 Yanina Nahum,3 Muhammad H. Zaman2,3
Author Affiliation:
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachu setts, USA
2Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
3Center on Forced Displacement, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Journal: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a significant environmental pollu tant with profound implications for public health, particularly as substrates to facili tate bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Recently, studies have shown that MPs may accommodate biofilm communities, chemical contaminants, and genetic mate rial containing AMR genes. This study investigated the effects of MP concentration, composition, and size on the development of multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli. Specifically, we exposed E. coli to varying concentrations of different MP types, including polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene, across a range of sizes (3–10, 10–50, and 500 µm). Results indicated that the biofilm cells attached to MPs had elevated multidrug resistance (in E. coli. Notably, MPs exhibited a higher propensity for facilitating biofilm and resistance than control substrates such as glass, likely due to their hydropho bicity, greater adsorption capacities, and surface chemistries. Notably, we found that the bacteria passaged with MPs formed stronger biofilms once the MPs were removed, which was associated with changes in motility. Thus, MPs select cells that are better at forming biofilms, which can lead to biofilm-associated AMR and recalcitrant infections in the environment and healthcare setting. Our study highlights the importance of developing effective strategies to address the challenges posed by MPs.