Plastic leachates drive conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
Yongsheng Chen, Kaiqiang Yu, Yuhong Sun, Yuxi Yan, Gege Yin, Junjian Wang, Xia Li, Song Tang, Paul Pronyk, Yu Xia · 2026
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Description
Yongsheng Chen led a large team showing plastic leachates spread antibiotic resistance in a 2026 paper. Chemicals washing out of degrading plastic reach microbes in water, but their role in resistance spread was unclear. Sun-aged leachate from a common pipe plastic sharply boosted the transfer of resistance genes between bacteria, in lab systems and in natural water communities. Transfer rose many-fold, though the effect varied with dose and community mix.
Lab assays pinned the cause on a chain of stress responses: more internal oxidants, DNA-repair alarms, and sticky surface proteins that help cells touch. The authors urge rules on plastic additives and breakdown products.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Yongsheng Chen, Kaiqiang Yu, Yuhong Sun, Yuxi Yan, Gege Yin, Junjian Wang, Xia Li, Song Tang, Paul Pronyk, Yu Xia |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 61 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |