{
  "abstract": "The Ba River in Fiji is a critical livelihood source for bivalve harvesters, yet increasing anthropogenic activities threaten the safety of its aquatic food sources. This study comprehensively examines the microbial communities associated with freshwater bivalves (Batissa violacea) and river sediments, focusing on antibiotic resistance and heavy metal (HM) tolerance. Samples from soft tissues, gills, and sediments were subjected to Most Probable Number (MPN) tests, antibiotic susceptibility assays, HM tolerance analysis, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify microbial taxa and their functional characteristics. Several pathogenic bacteria were isolated and identified, including Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp., and thermotolerant Escherichia coli. Most isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, particularly against rifampicin, vancomycin, penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline, posing potential risks to public health and food safety. Conversely, HM tolerance analysis revealed limited microbial resistance to zinc, copper, cadmium, chromium, and lead, predominantly at concentrations of 1 mM. The presence of these antibiotic-resistant and HM-tolerant microbes underscores the critical interplay between environmental contamination and microbial evolution, presenting challenges for both ecosystem health and human consumption safety. The findings highlight the urgent need for integrated environmental management and interventions to mitigate microbial contamination in aquatic systems.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Discipline of Biological and Chemical Sciences, School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji",
    "Department of Biology and Environmental Technology, College of Natural Science, Seoul Women’s University, Seoul, Korea"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Divya Darshika Mala"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ashneel Ajay Singh"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ramesh Subramani"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sathiyaraj Srinivasan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Taitusi Taufa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ashok Kumar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Francis Mani"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e9yekryrfj2qf.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0359203",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "e9yekryrfj2qf",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359203",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2310|Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Biological tissue/Soft tissues"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial control/Antimicrobial resistance/Antibiotic resistance"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial control/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Vibrio"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Invertebrates/Molluscs/Bivalves"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Toxicology/Toxic agents/Toxins/Heavy metals"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Invertebrates/Molluscs/Bivalves"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Geology/Petrology/Sediment"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Geology/Sedimentary geology/Sediment"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Biological tissue/Soft tissues"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Toxicology/Toxic agents/Toxins/Heavy metals"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Antimicrobial resistance/Antibiotic resistance"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Drugs/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical elements/Heavy metals"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214303364",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0359203&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-25",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e9yekryrfj2qf.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0359203",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359203"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:microbiology",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:toxicology",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:anatomy",
      "subfield": "physiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Antibiotic-resistant pathogens and heavy metal-tolerant bacteria in Batissa violacea: A study from the Ba River, Fiji",
  "title_text": "Antibiotic-resistant pathogens and heavy metal-tolerant bacteria in Batissa violacea: A study from the Ba River, Fiji",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e9yekryrfj2qf",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}