The Role of Microplastic Contamination in Antimicrobial Resistance Dissemination

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating global public health concern. It arises when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve mechanisms that reduce or eliminate the efficacy of antimicrobial agents, rendering infections increasingly difficult to treat and elevating the risk of disease transmission, morbidity, and mortality. Anthropogenic activities have led to the widespread release of environmental pollutants, including heavy metals, synthetic chemicals, and plastic-derived materials. Among these, microplastics originating from the degradation of larger plastics as well as from products such as personal care items, industrial compounds, and household materials have emerged as pervasive contaminants across diverse ecosystems.Microplastic pollution is now recognized as a significant environmental stressor with potential implications for both ecosystem and human health. These particles accumulate in aquatic, terrestrial, and engineered environments, where they interact with complex microbial communities. Increasing evidence suggests that microplastics can influence microbial ecology and may contribute to the emergence and persistence of antimicrobial resistance. Rather than acting solely as passive carriers of microorganisms, microplastics provide surfaces that facilitate microbial attachment, biofilm formation, and close cell-to-cell interactions. These conditions can enhance processes such as horizontal gene transfer, including the exchange of antimicrobial resistance genes. In addition, microplastics often adsorb co-contaminants such as antibiotics, heavy metals, biocides, and other chemical stressors, which may exert selective pressures that favor resistant phenotypes. Through these combined effects, microplastics may function as localized microenvironments that support the maintenance and potential spread of resistance traits.The intersection of microplastic pollution and AMR represents a rapidly developing area within environmental health research. However, there remains a need to move beyond descriptive studies toward mechanistic investigations that clarify how microplastics influence microbial physiology, gene exchange processes, and resistance selection under environmentally relevant conditions.This collection aims to highlight recent advances in understanding microplastic-associated antimicrobial resistance, with a particular focus on mechanistic insights and integrative approaches. Sub-topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Microplastics as emerging contributors to antimicrobial resistance dynamics • Synergistic effects of microplastics with heavy metals and chemical pollutants in resistance selection • Microbial community dynamics, biofilm formation, and resistome characterization • Molecular and analytical approaches to investigate microplastic–microbe interactions • Environmental distribution and ecological contexts of microplastic-associated AMR • Microplastics in wastewater and industrial systems as potential reservoirs of resistance • Evidence-based strategies to mitigate microplastic pollution and limit AMR propagation We welcome submissions the following article types: FAIR² Data, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Systematic Review, Technology and Code. Topic editors: Dr Manoj Kumawat, Megha Katare Pandey, Taru Singh, Hemda Garelick Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80350/the-role-of-microplastic-contamination-in-antimicrobial-resistance-dissemination