Fig. 4: Different concentrations of PS M/NPs affected ARG dissemination.

a Fold changes in conjugative ARG transfer frequencies from E. coli K-12 LE392 to E. coli BL21 (DE3) under varying PS concentrations. b Fold changes in conjugative ARG transfer frequencies from E. coli K-12 LE392 to P. putida KT2440 under varying PS concentrations. c ROS production of the intrageneric recipient E. coli BL21 (DE3). d ROS production of the intrageneric recipient P. putida KT2440. e Cell membrane permeability of the intrageneric recipient E. coli BL21 (DE3). f Cell membrane permeability of the intrageneric recipient P. putida KT2440. g Genes related to cell membrane permeability in the intrageneric recipient E. coli BL21 (DE3). h Genes related to cell membrane permeability in the intergeneric recipient P. putida KT2440. Statistically significant differences between the PS M/NP-treated groups and the control group were tested with a two-sided independent-sample t test with Benjamini–Hochberg correction and are indicated by *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01. All genes shown in the figure were significantly (p < 0.05) up- or downregulated under exposure to the tested PS M/NPs. Error bars represent the standard deviation (SD).