Plastic Degrading Bacteria carries AMR Genes

Why in News?

Recently,  IISER Kolkata has raised the troubling possibility that microbes capable of breaking down plastics are also reservoirs of antibiotic resistance gene.

•  Location of research - Sundarbans Forest
• Research overview – IISER Kolkata reveals a troubling connection i.e., microbes that digest plastic may also host antibiotic resistance genes, creating potential hotspots for gene transfer.
• Metagenomic sequencing is the method used by researchers read the genetic material of the entire microbial community
• Severity of plastic pollution – Plastic is universal in applications like packaging and medical supplies, yet it doesn’t decompose.
• The disintegrated microplastics and nano plastics endure for decades.
• These particles accumulate in waterways and attract harmful pollutants such as heavy metals and antibiotics.
• Plastic biodegradation – Certain microbes have evolved enzymes to break down plastics, demonstrated by PETase from Ideonella sakaiensis, capable of degrading PET.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a strong, stiff synthetic fibre and resin and a member of the polyester family of polymers.

• The link to antibiotic resistance – Sticky microplastic surfaces foster bacteria that contain antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), raising grave concerns about the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Microbes with PDEs frequently also carry genes for antibiotic and metal resistance, particularly for zinc and aminoglycosides.
• It revealing a concerning relationship between pollution and microbial adaptation.
• Significant findings on enzyme diversity – The study identified 838 plastic degrading enzyme (PDE) genes targeting 17 plastic polymers, with 73% linked to synthetic plastics.
• Most hits (73%) targeted synthetic plastics such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), polylactic acid, PET, and nylon, while the rest targeted natural polymers like polyhydroxyalkanoates
• The abundance of PEG – Plenty degrading enzymes indicates industrial and biomedical contamination.
• Impact of seasonal variations – PDE abundance increased during monsoon season due to nutrient influx from inland rivers.

The Sundarbans faces inundation by around three billion microplastic particles daily from rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal.

• Implications – Climate change can potentially accelerate the transfer of ARGs among bacteria, which may ultimately end up in humans.

Reference

The Hindu| Plastic Degrading Bacteria carries AMR Genes