Jellyfish blooms—an overlooked hotspot and potential vector for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance in marine environments

Gelatinous zooplankton (GZ) is a key component of marine food webs, causing massive blooms with severe environmental impacts. When these collapse, organic matter (GZ-OM) sinks to the seafloor or enters the ocean’s interior, promoting bacterial growth and microbial interactions. This study found that communities exposed to GZ-OM displayed increased relative ARG and MGE abundance, indicating nutrient influx and colonizable surfaces. Vibrio was identified as a key player associated with elevated ARGs and MGEs. This study establishes a link between jellyfish blooms and ARG spread, likely increasing with future ocean change.