AR Gene Transfer by Nanoplastics

Why in News?

Recent study shows how discarded PET bottles can exacerbate the global menace of antibiotic resistance.

• AR Gene transfer – Antibiotic resistance gene transfer across the species.

Antibiotic Resistance (AR) also known as Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria develop defenses against the antibiotics designed to kill them.

Nanoplastics are a type of microplastic, ranging from 1 nanometre (10^-9m) to 1 μm (10^-6m).

• Nanaoplastics in AR gene transfer – Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottle-Derived Nano-plastics (PBNPs) facilitate the cross-species gene transfer from E-coli to Lactobacillus acidophilus.
• It is done through a process called horizontal gene transfer (HGT).

E. coli and Lactobacillus acidophilus are a significant bacteria found in human gut microbiota. Protecting beneficial gut bacteria is crucial for immune support, digestion, and disease prevention.

• 2 novel Mechanism – PBNPs facilitate AR gene transfer by
  • Direct transformation pathway
  • OMV-induced transfer pathway
• Direct transformation pathway – PBNPs act as physical carriers, transporting AR plasmids across bacterial membranes and promoting direct gene transfer between bacteria.
• OMV-induced transfer pathway – PBNPs induce oxidative stress and damage to bacterial surfaces, which activates the stress response genes and triggers an increase in OMV secretion.
• The OMV loaded with genes AR, becomes a potent vector for gene transfer across bacterial species.

• Health impacts – Lactobacillus acidophilus could act as reservoirs for AR genes, potentially transferring them to pathogenic bacteria during the course of infections.

Reference

The Hindu Business Line| Nano-plastics Contribution to AMR