Study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, nanoplastics are dangerous

Nano plastics are very tiny plastic particles that usually vary in size from 1 to 100 nanometers.

They are present everywhere- on mountain peaks, in oceanic trenches, human blood, tissues, and even infants.

It is recognized for harmful effects, such as causing damage to cells and genetic material.

E. coli (Escherichia coli) – This is a category of bacteria that typically resides in your intestines without causing harm.

It is a gram-negative bacillus pathogen transmitted through food and is responsible for various diarrheal diseases.

Gram-negative bacteria display a pink or red color when viewed under a microscope in laboratory tests due to their thin cell wall and outer membrane, which inhibits the retention of the primary stain (crystal violet).

Results of the research

Effect of Nano plastics – Researchers discovered that nano plastics can increase the virulence of E. coli (Gram-negative).

The charged nano plastics heighten stress on E. coli, leading it to generate additional Shiga-like toxins — proteins that cause illness.

The charged nano plastics initially suppressed the growth of bacteria.

However, gradually, certain E. coli cells adjusted, restarted growth, and exhibited genetic alterations.

Both positively and negatively charged nanoparticles caused these effects, although positive charges resulted in more severe consequences.

Importance – Nano plastics can worsen bacterial infections by increasing virulence.

It also creates an indirect risk by enhancing the danger and antibiotic resistance of microbes.