Viruses living on plastic surfaces may be contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance, raising new environmental and public health concerns, researchers have warned in a recent scientific article.
Plastics that enter natural environments quickly become coated with microbial biofilms known as the “plastisphere”. These biofilms are already recognised as hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes.
The new study, published in the journal Biocontaminant, highlights that viruses, among the most abundant biological entities on Earth, could play a major role in moving these resistance genes between microbes.
The research team, which includes scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said most previous studies have focused on bacteria, while largely overlooking viruses that coexist with them. “Most research has focused on bacteria in the plastisphere, but viruses are everywhere in these communities and interact closely with their hosts,” said lead author Dong Zhu. “Our work suggests that plastisphere viruses may act as hidden drivers of antibiotic resistance dissemination.”
The researchers explained that viruses can transfer genetic material between bacteria through a process known as horizontal gene transfer. In dense plastisphere biofilms, this process may occur more efficiently, allowing resistance genes to spread across species, including potentially harmful pathogens.
Viruses may also carry metabolic genes that help bacteria survive stressful conditions such as exposure to antibiotics or pollutants, indirectly supporting the growth of resistant strains.
The study noted that viral behaviour varies by environment. In aquatic settings, viruses may promote gene transfer and increase resistance risks, while in soil environments, they may suppress resistant bacteria by killing their hosts.