Critical Reviews in Microbiology最新文献

Quorum sensing crosstalk and dynamics in polymicrobial biofilms: implications for pathogenesis and emerging therapeutic strategies. 多微生物生物膜中的群体感应串扰和动力学：发病机制和新兴治疗策略的含义。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-10-06 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2741843

Mohd Adnan, Arif Jamal Siddiqui, Fevzi Bardakci, Riadh Badraoui, Abdelmuhsin Abdelgadir, Syed Amir Ashraf, Halil Biyik, Mitesh Patel

{"title":"Quorum sensing crosstalk and dynamics in polymicrobial biofilms: implications for pathogenesis and emerging therapeutic strategies.","authors":"Mohd Adnan, Arif Jamal Siddiqui, Fevzi Bardakci, Riadh Badraoui, Abdelmuhsin Abdelgadir, Syed Amir Ashraf, Halil Biyik, Mitesh Patel","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2741843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2026.2741843","url":null,"abstract":"Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication system that regulates bacterial behavior, including biofilm formation, virulence, and antibiotic resistance. While QS has been extensively studied in single-species biofilms, emerging evidence highlights the complexity of QS crosstalk in polymicrobial biofilms, where multiple bacterial species coordinate or compete through interspecies signaling molecules. QS-mediated interactions in polymicrobial biofilms significantly influence disease progression by enhancing microbial adaptability, resistance to antimicrobial agents, and immune evasion. Crosstalk between different QS systems can either promote synergistic cooperation, leading to increased virulence, or trigger antagonistic responses that affect microbial dynamics. Understanding QS crosstalk in polymicrobial biofilms is crucial for developing innovative therapeutic interventions. Emerging approaches include quorum quenching strategies, targeting QS signals to disrupt biofilm formation, advanced drug delivery systems, and combination therapies that enhance bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobials. Future research should focus on revealing the intricate molecular mechanisms of QS interactions and identifying novel inhibitors to combat polymicrobial infections. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of QS crosstalk in polymicrobial biofilms, emphasizing its impact on disease progression and therapeutic challenges. Addressing this phenomenon could be used for next-generation antimicrobial strategies, offering new hope for managing chronic infections and antibiotic resistance.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-25"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149105291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Live probiotic encapsulation: process engineering, wall materials, and the translation gap to human gastrointestinal survival. 活益生菌包封：工艺工程、壁材、及对人类胃肠生存的翻译缺口。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-10-01 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2729426

Urwashi Maurya Arvind, Hina Maniya, Vijay Kumar

{"title":"Live probiotic encapsulation: process engineering, wall materials, and the translation gap to human gastrointestinal survival.","authors":"Urwashi Maurya Arvind, Hina Maniya, Vijay Kumar","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2729426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2026.2729426","url":null,"abstract":"Probiotic viability from manufacture to colonic delivery is compromised by thermal processing, oxidative storage conditions, and sequential gastrointestinal (GIT) stresses, with cumulative losses exceeding 8 log10 CFU in unprotected preparations. Encapsulation addresses this challenge by shielding cells within protective matrices. This review synthesizes current evidence across the full encapsulation value chain. We examine GIT stress physiology from ingestion to colonic fermentation, then analyze encapsulation architectures spanning macro-beads to single-cell metal-phenolic network (MPN) nano-coatings. Wall material performance covering sodium alginate, chitosan, whey proteins, pectin, zein, soy protein isolate, and MPNs is evaluated against six selection criteria. Four industrial processes (ionotropic gelation, spray drying, spray chilling, and freeze drying) are appraised for engineering efficiency. A critical assessment of in vitro digestion models reveals that static INFOGEST 2.0 protocols overestimate in vivo protection by 1-3 log10 CFU relative to human fecal recovery studies, owing to the absence of peristaltic mechanics, mucus interactions, and microbiome competition. Emerging frontiers including synbiotic co-encapsulation, AI-driven formulation optimization, and engineered live biotherapeutic products are discussed. A four-stage validation pipeline static in vitro screening, dynamic model validation, ex vivo/animal confirmation, and stratified human trial is proposed as a translational framework to close the gap between laboratory performance and clinical outcome. No single wall material, process, or validation stage performs optimally across all contexts; the evidence instead supports strain, matrix, and application-specific formulation, verified through staged evidence generation, as the most defensible route from laboratory protection to clinically meaningful gastrointestinal delivery.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149105240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Associating the oral microbiome across the head and neck cancer continuum: a scoping review. 将口腔微生物组与头颈癌连续体联系起来：一项范围审查。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-09-12 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2719594

Nicholas G Beacher, Marcello Riggio, Adil Khan, Mark C Butcher, Chris Delaney, David I Conway

{"title":"Associating the oral microbiome across the head and neck cancer continuum: a scoping review.","authors":"Nicholas G Beacher, Marcello Riggio, Adil Khan, Mark C Butcher, Chris Delaney, David I Conway","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2719594","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2026.2719594","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Head and neck cancers (HNC) comprise oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx tumors. The role of the oral microbiome across the continuum from risk to diagnostic stage and outcomes is not well understood.Methods: Systematic searches were undertaken; Ovid MEDLINE and Embase, Web of Science and Open Grey (2011-2024), title/abstracts were screened in duplicate. Data were collected using an extraction template and subsequently descriptively analyzed.Results: There were 105 studies included, most from Asia (n = 64, 61%), focusing on oral cavity cancer (n = 58, 55%). Sample sizes were generally small (ranging n = 5-499), with age mainly >50-years (mean n = 102, 97%), and male (n = 4044, 75%). Stage was reported in 63 studies (60%) and survival in 18 (17%). Single clinical sample's were most frequently analyzed (n = 94, 90%). DNA extraction method and primers varied but Illumina technologies were most often employed (n = 73, 70%). Fusobacterium nucleatum most frequently increased in abundance (n = 7, 7%), while Haemophilus parainfluenzae (n = 9, 9%) most frequently decreased in abundance. Over half of studies (n = 58, 55%) provided accessible links to open data.Conclusions: The abundance of microorganisms in relation to HNC is highly variable. Further large higher quality studies are required to assess the role of microbiome HNC stage, site, and prognosis.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-27"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148955128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Targeting the Candida albicans agglutinin-like sequence 3 adhesin to disrupt oral polymicrobial bacterial-fungal biofilms: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. 靶向白色念珠菌凝集素样序列3粘附素破坏口腔多微生物细菌-真菌生物膜：机制和治疗策略

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-09-08 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2727092

Aqib Javaid, Nazia Tabassum, Yashfeen Munib Siddiqui, Abirami Karthikeyan, Grace Naa Ayorkor Charway, Md Imtaiyaz Hassan, Young-Mog Kim, Fazlurrahman Khan

{"title":"Targeting the Candida albicans agglutinin-like sequence 3 adhesin to disrupt oral polymicrobial bacterial-fungal biofilms: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.","authors":"Aqib Javaid, Nazia Tabassum, Yashfeen Munib Siddiqui, Abirami Karthikeyan, Grace Naa Ayorkor Charway, Md Imtaiyaz Hassan, Young-Mog Kim, Fazlurrahman Khan","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2727092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2026.2727092","url":null,"abstract":"Oral polymicrobial biofilms formed between Candida albicans and bacterial pathogens underlie early childhood caries, denture stomatitis, periodontal disease, and oropharyngeal candidiasis, infections that conventional antimicrobials consistently fail to eradicate. The agglutinin-like sequence 3 (Als3) protein is a GPI-anchored hypha-specific adhesin that serves as the principal molecular scaffold for interkingdom co-aggregation in these biofilms. This review examines the molecular architecture and domain organization of Als3, including the N-terminal peptide-binding cavity (PBC) and the amyloid-forming region, as well as the regulatory network controlling ALS3 expression. The structural basis of Als3 interactions with staphylococcal MSCRAMMs, streptococcal antigen I/II adhesins, Porphyromonas gingivalis internalin InlJ, and Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferases is examined in detail. Emergent properties of Als3-dependent oral co-biofilms, including elevated antimicrobial tolerance, architectural complexity, metabolic interdependence, and interkingdom signaling amplification, are analyzed. Therapeutic strategies reviewed include the NDV-3A recombinant vaccine, anti-Als3 monoclonal antibodies, peptide-based competitive inhibitors, and small-molecule antagonists that bind the Als3 N-terminal domain. Als3 acts at the interface between bacteria and fungi. Because of this, it is one of the few targets for which a single treatment can act on both the fungal and bacterial components of these hard-to-treat oral biofilms at once.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-32"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148905284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The skin as a reservoir for Candidozyma auris: colonization dynamics, host defense, and decolonization challenges. 皮肤作为金黄色念珠菌的蓄水池：定植动态、宿主防御和去定植挑战。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-09-08 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2727050

Débora Silva Marques de Sousa, Ana Karla Lima Freire Cabral, Bruno Bulgarelli Adorno Arantes, Júlia Hatsue Araújo Sato, Gabrielle Pires de Morais Monari, Luciana da Silva Ruiz Menezes, Yehia Elgammal, Luis R Martinez, Ana Marisa Fusco Almeida, Maria José Soares Mendes Giannini

{"title":"The skin as a reservoir for Candidozyma auris: colonization dynamics, host defense, and decolonization challenges.","authors":"Débora Silva Marques de Sousa, Ana Karla Lima Freire Cabral, Bruno Bulgarelli Adorno Arantes, Júlia Hatsue Araújo Sato, Gabrielle Pires de Morais Monari, Luciana da Silva Ruiz Menezes, Yehia Elgammal, Luis R Martinez, Ana Marisa Fusco Almeida, Maria José Soares Mendes Giannini","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2727050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2026.2727050","url":null,"abstract":"Candidozyma auris has emerged as one of the most formidable fungal pathogens of the modern era, designated a critical priority pathogen by the World Health Organization due to its multidrug resistance, thermotolerance, and capacity to cause prolonged outbreaks in healthcare settings. Unlike most fungal pathogens, C. auris exhibits a remarkable tropism for human skin, where it persists asymptomatically, forms biofilm-like structures resistant to conventional antiseptics, and serves as a reservoir for nosocomial transmission. Invasive infections, particularly candidemia, carry mortality rates of 40-60% and disproportionately affect immunocompromised individuals and those with prolonged healthcare exposure. Six geographically distinct clades have been described, each differing in antifungal susceptibility, colonization capacity, and virulence. Despite the clinical urgency, the molecular and immunological mechanisms governing cutaneous colonization, persistence, and the transition to invasive infection remain poorly understood. This review examines the biology, virulence, and skin colonization dynamics of C. auris, with emphasis on experimental models (i.e. murine, porcine, and human skin systems) that have advanced our understanding of host-pathogen interactions, immune responses, and the efficacy of antifungal and decolonization strategies, highlighting critical knowledge gaps and future research priorities.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148911025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Quaternary ammonium compounds: outdated or relevant antiviral agents? A narrative review of QAC efficacy against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. 季铵类化合物：过时的抗病毒药物还是相关的？QAC对包膜病毒和非包膜病毒疗效的综述。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-09-04 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2726233

Natalie Zivna, Marketa Benkova, Vanda Bostikova, Jan Korabecny, Ondrej Soukup, Radek Sleha, Roman Chlibek, Jan Marek

{"title":"Quaternary ammonium compounds: outdated or relevant antiviral agents? A narrative review of QAC efficacy against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.","authors":"Natalie Zivna, Marketa Benkova, Vanda Bostikova, Jan Korabecny, Ondrej Soukup, Radek Sleha, Roman Chlibek, Jan Marek","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2726233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2026.2726233","url":null,"abstract":"Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are widely used disinfectants, favored for their broad antimicrobial action and safety profile. However, viral disinfection is complex and affected by multiple variables, including the virus's envelope status, exposure time, temperature, and organic matter presence. This has created considerable ambiguity in the literature.We searched PubMed and Scopus using terms including \"quaternary ammonium compounds\" and \"virucidal,\" with a focus on only registered QACs (biocides), identifying 64 studies from 419 results. These studies examined viruses from 22 families (13 enveloped, 9 non-enveloped) across different experimental conditions.QACs are highly effective against enveloped viruses, even under suboptimal conditions, and remain relevant for pandemic response. However, proper cleaning protocols are essential to ensure complete virucidal activity. Against non-enveloped viruses, QAC effectiveness is less predictable. While Parvoviridae and Picornaviridae remain highly resistant, other families like Adenoviridae, Caliciviridae, and Sedoreoviridae show variable susceptibility depending on conditions. Adding synergistic agents such as acids or alkalis can improve QAC performance and mitigate this uncertainty.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148890962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Protease-driven approaches for wound eschar debridement and biofilm disruption: current advances, future prospects, and limitations. 蛋白酶驱动的伤口结痂清创和生物膜破坏方法：当前进展，未来前景和局限性。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-09-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-18 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2688093

Julia Yunus, Khairunadwa Jemon, Shaza Eva Mohamad, Mohd Anuar Jonet, Haryati Jamaluddin, Wan Rosmiza Zana Wan Dagang

引用次数: 0

Molecular mechanisms of Klebsiella pneumoniae pathogenicity: from virulence factors to emerging therapeutic strategies. 肺炎克雷伯菌致病性的分子机制：从毒力因素到新兴的治疗策略。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-09-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-30 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2648208

Hongjie Hou, Xiaohui Zhou

{"title":"Molecular mechanisms of Klebsiella pneumoniae pathogenicity: from virulence factors to emerging therapeutic strategies.","authors":"Hongjie Hou, Xiaohui Zhou","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2648208","DOIUrl":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2648208","url":null,"abstract":"Klebsiella pneumoniae has emerged as a major global health threat, contributing significantly to neonatal sepsis, childhood mortality, and antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported the widespread detection of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP) strains carrying carbapenem resistance genes across all WHO regions, prompting a formal warning from the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System. Despite growing concerns, the mechanisms driving the enhanced pathogenicity and adaptability of these strains remain incompletely understood. Recent research has uncovered novel virulence factors and elucidated key adaptations enabling K. pneumoniae to thrive in diverse host tissues. This review synthesizes current knowledge on K. pneumoniae pathogenicity, focusing on virulence factors, immune evasion strategies, and phenotypic plasticity. Additionally, we explore emerging anti-virulence strategies as potential therapeutic interventions. By consolidating these insights, this review aims to guide future research and inform the development of new approaches to address this escalating public health challenge.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"763-794"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147572827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The dCas9-SSAP as a promising genome editing tool in malaria parasites. dCas9-SSAP作为一种有前途的疟疾寄生虫基因组编辑工具。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-09-01 Epub Date: 2026-05-07 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2667183

Elvis Quansah, Shijie Yang, Yonggen Jia, Li Yu, Chao Zhang

{"title":"The dCas9-SSAP as a promising genome editing tool in malaria parasites.","authors":"Elvis Quansah, Shijie Yang, Yonggen Jia, Li Yu, Chao Zhang","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2667183","DOIUrl":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2667183","url":null,"abstract":"Measures to combat the Plasmodium parasites which cause malaria have become compromised because of reliance on a small arsenal of drugs, emerging drug resistance and the lack of effective vaccines. A promising avenue for addressing these challenges is the revolutionary gene-editing technology CRISPR-Cas9, due to its high efficiency and ease of design for genetic manipulation. The catalytically inactive Cas9 (dCas9)-microbial single-stranded annealing proteins (SSAP)(dCas9-SSAP) is a recently emerged next-generation gene editing system added to the ever-growing CRISPR-Cas9-based technologies. While the classical Cas9-nuclease technologies are \"double-strand break, damage-repair systems\", the dCas9-SSAP is distinctively a \"cleavage-free\" editing tool. Unlimited to the Plasmodium genome, Cas9-nucleases imprint inheritable genetic scars on the subject genomes when applied. Here, we discussed the DSB genotoxicity pitfalls of existing nuclease-based editing tools, especially CRISPR-Cas9, and how the dCas9-SSAP presents a formidable option to the drawbacks within the context of Plasmodium genome editing. Then, we sought to infer a plausible mechanistic framework that could account for dCas9-SSAP-mediated genome editing. Finally, we discussed how dCas9-SSAP aligns with Plasmodium parasites' biology. This review would set the stage for continued research into the potential of this new, exciting technology in malaria parasites.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"864-873"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147834678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Macroplastics as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance: a systematic review of evidence, variability and methodological constraints. 宏观塑料作为抗菌素耐药性的储存库：证据，变异性和方法限制的系统回顾。

IF 7 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-09-01 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2026.2721421

Cátia Costa, Guilherme Duarte Ferreira, Isabel Henriques, Marta Tacão, Maria Jorge Campos

{"title":"Macroplastics as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance: a systematic review of evidence, variability and methodological constraints.","authors":"Cátia Costa, Guilherme Duarte Ferreira, Isabel Henriques, Marta Tacão, Maria Jorge Campos","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2026.2721421","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2026.2721421","url":null,"abstract":"The environmental accumulation of macroplastics has raised concerns regarding their role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As persistent and mobile substrates, macroplastics provide surfaces for microbial colonization and may act as reservoirs and vectors of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, their ecological significance remains insufficiently resolved. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of 55 peer-reviewed studies investigating environmentally collected and experimentally exposed macroplastics across marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems. Macroplastics consistently harbor clinically relevant ARB and ARGs, supporting their role as AMR reservoirs. However, evidence for systematic enrichment relative to surrounding matrices is inconsistent, and direct evidence of AMR transfer during environmental transport remains limited. Anthropogenic pressure, ecosystem type, and plastic weathering emerged as key drivers of AMR patterns, with freshwater systems typically showing higher abundance and diversity of ARB and ARGs. Weathering enhances biofilm development and the adsorption of selective agents, whereas the influence of polymer type remains inconclusive. Methodological heterogeneity, including inconsistent quantification strategies, limited environmental controls, and lack of phenotype-genotype linkage, constrains robust inference. We propose a standardized, integrative framework combining environmental baselines, harmonized AMR quantification, and functional validation to improve comparability and support reliable evaluation of macroplastic-associated AMR.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-25"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148863806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0