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Guo Z, Tang X, Wang W, Luo Z, Zeng Y, Zhou N, Yu Z, Wang D, Song B, Zhou C, Xiong W. The photo-based treatment technology simultaneously removes resistant bacteria and resistant genes from wastewater. J Environ Sci (China) 2025; 148:243-262. [PMID: 39095161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2024.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Because of the recent widespread usage of antibiotics, the acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) were prevalent in the majority of habitats. Generally, the biological wastewater treatment processes used in wastewater treatment plants have a limited efficiencies of antibiotics resistant bacteria (ARB) disinfection and ARGs degradation and even promote the proliferation of ARGs. Problematically, ARB and ARGs in effluent pose potential risks if they are not further treated. Photocatalytic oxidation is considered a promising disinfection technology, where the photocatalytic process generates many free radicals that enhance the interaction between light and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for ARB elimination and subsequent degradation of ARGs. This review aims to illustrate the progress of photocatalytic oxidation technology for removing antibiotics resistant (AR) from wastewater in recent years. We discuss the sources and transfer of ARGs in wastewater. The overall removal efficiencies of ultraviolet radiation (UV)/chlorination, UV/ozone, UV/H2O2, and UV/sulfate-radical based system for ARB and ARGs, as well as the experimental parameters and removal mechanisms, are systematically discussed. The contribution of photocatalytic materials based on TiO2 and g-C3N4 to the inactivation of ARB and degradation of ARGs is highlighted, producing many free radicals to attack ARB and ARGs while effectively limiting the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in wastewater. Finally, based on the reviewed studies, future research directions are proposed to realize specific photocatalytic oxidation technology applications and overcome current challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zicong Guo
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Xiang Tang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Wenjun Wang
- School of Resources and Environment, Hunan University of Technology and Business, Changsha 410205, China
| | - Zhangxiong Luo
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Yuxi Zeng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Nan Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Zhigang Yu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Dongbo Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Biao Song
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Chengyun Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
| | - Weiping Xiong
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
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Xu C, Hu C, Li F, Liu W, Xu Y, Shi D. Antibiotic resistance genes risks in relation to host pathogenicity and mobility in a typical hospital wastewater treatment process. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 259:119554. [PMID: 38964571 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Hospital wastewaters (HWWs) serve as critical reservoirs for disseminating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). However, the dynamics and noteworthy shifts of ARGs and their associated pathogenicity, mobility, and resistome risks during HWWs treatment processes remain poorly understood. Utilizing metagenomic sequencing and assembly, we identified 817 ARG subtypes conferring resistance to 20 classes of antibiotics across 18 HWW samples from influent to effluent. Genes encoding resistance to multidrug, aminoglycoside and beta_lactam were the most prevalent ARG types, reflecting patterns observed in clinical settings. On-site treatment efforts decreased the relative abundance of ARGs by 77.4% from influent to secondary sedimentation, whereas chlorine disinfection significantly increased their abundance in the final effluent. Deterministic processes primarily drove the taxonomic assembly, with Proteobacteria being the most abundant phylum and serving as the primary host for 15 ARG types. Contig-based analysis further revealed 114 pathogenic ARB, with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas alcaligenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting multidrug-resistant. The contributions of host bacteria and pathogenic ARB varied throughout wastewater treatment. In addition, 7.10%-31.0 % ARGs were flanked by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), predominantly mediated by transposase (74.1%). Notably, tnpA exhibited the highest potential for ARG dissemination, frequently co-occurring with beta-lactam resistance genes (35.2%). Considering ARG profiles, pathogenic hosts, and transferability, raw influent exhibited the highest antibiotic resistome risk index (ARRI), followed by the final effluent. Chlorine disinfection exacerbated resistome risks by inducing potential pathogenic ARB and mobile ARGs, posing threats to the receiving environment. This study delineates ARG occurrence patterns, highlights mechanisms of ARG carriage and horizontal gene transfer, and provides insights for assessing resistance risks and prioritizing interventions in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenye Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Chun Hu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Fang Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Weiping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
| | - Yumin Xu
- Department of Infection Control, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
| | - Dake Shi
- Department of Infection Control, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Read DS, Gweon HS, Bowes MJ, Anjum MF, Crook DW, Chau KK, Shaw LP, Hubbard A, AbuOun M, Tipper HJ, Hoosdally SJ, Bailey MJ, Walker AS, Stoesser N. Dissemination and persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) along the wastewater-river continuum. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 264:122204. [PMID: 39116608 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health hazard. Although clinical and agricultural environments are well-established contributors to the evolution and dissemination of AMR, research on wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) has highlighted their potential role as disseminators of AMR in freshwater environments. Using metagenomic sequencing and analysis, we investigated the changes in resistomes and associated mobile genetic elements within untreated wastewater influents and treated effluents of five WwTWs, and sediments collected from corresponding river environments in Oxfordshire, UK, across three seasonal periods within a year. Our analysis demonstrated a high diversity and abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in untreated wastewater influents, reflecting the varied anthropogenic and environmental origins of wastewater. WwTWs effectively reduced AMR in the final effluent, with an average 87 % reduction in normalised ARG abundance and an average 63 % reduction in richness. However, wastewater effluents significantly impacted the antimicrobial resistome of the receiving rivers, with an average 543 % increase in ARG abundance and a 164 % increase in richness from upstream sediments to downstream sediments. The normalised abundance of the human gut-associated bacteriophage crAssphage was highly associated with both ARG abundance and richness. We observed seasonal variation in the resistome of raw influent which was not found in the effluent-receiving sediments. We illustrate the potential of WwTWs as focal points for disseminating ARGs and resistance-selecting chemicals, contributing to the elevation of environmental AMR. Our study emphasises the need for a comprehensive understanding of the anthropogenic impacts on AMR evolution and dissemination in wastewater and river environments, informing efforts to mitigate this growing public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Read
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK.
| | - H Soon Gweon
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Michael J Bowes
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Muna F Anjum
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Derrick W Crook
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin K Chau
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Liam P Shaw
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Alasdair Hubbard
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Biosciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Manal AbuOun
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Holly J Tipper
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | | | - Mark J Bailey
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - A Sarah Walker
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicole Stoesser
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Garner E, Maile-Moskowitz A, Angeles LF, Flach CF, Aga DS, Nambi I, Larsson DGJ, Bürgmann H, Zhang T, Vikesland PJ, Pruden A. Metagenomic Profiling of Internationally Sourced Sewage Influents and Effluents Yields Insight into Selecting Targets for Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:16547-16559. [PMID: 39229966 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
It has been debated whether wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) primarily act to attenuate or amplify antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, ARGs are highly diverse with respect to their resistance mechanisms, mobilities, and taxonomic hosts and therefore their behavior in WWTPs should not be expected to be universally conserved. We applied metagenomic sequencing to wastewater influent and effluent samples from 12 international WWTPs to classify the behavior of specific ARGs entering and exiting WWTPs. In total, 1079 different ARGs originating from a variety of bacteria were detected. This included ARGs that could be mapped to assembled scaffolds corresponding to nine human pathogens. While the relative abundance (per 16S rRNA gene) of ARGs decreased during treatment at 11 of the 12 WWTPs sampled and absolute abundance (per mL) decreased at all 12 WWTPs, increases in relative abundance were observed for 40% of the ARGs detected at the 12th WWTP. Also, the relative abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGE) increased during treatment, but the fraction of ARGs known to be transmissible between species decreased, thus demonstrating that increased MGE prevalence may not be generally indicative of an increase in ARGs. A distinct conserved resistome was documented in both influent and effluent across samples, suggesting that well-functioning WWTPs generally attenuate influent antibiotic resistance loads. This work helps inform strategies for wastewater surveillance of antibiotic resistance, highlighting the utility of tracking ARGs as indicators of treatment performance and relative risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Garner
- Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
| | - Ayella Maile-Moskowitz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Luisa F Angeles
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Carl-Fredrik Flach
- Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research in Gothenburg (CARe), University of Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Diana S Aga
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Indumathi Nambi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - D G Joakim Larsson
- Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research in Gothenburg (CARe), University of Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Helmut Bürgmann
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum CH-6047, Switzerland
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Peter J Vikesland
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Amy Pruden
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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5
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Cachetas D, Vaz-Moreira I, Pereira V, Manaia CM. Towards the definition of an antibiotic resistome signature in wastewater and downstream environments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 357:124424. [PMID: 38909773 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Domestic wastewater is a significant reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes, which pose environmental and public health risks. We aimed to define an antibiotic resistome signature, represented by core genes, i.e., shared by ≥ 90% of the metagenomes of each of three conceptual environmental compartments - wastewater (influent, sludge, effluent), freshwater, and agricultural soil. The definition of resistome signatures would support the proposal of a framework for monitoring treatment efficacy and assessing the impact of treated wastewater discharge into the environment, such as freshwater and agricultural soil. Metagenomic data from 163 samples originating from wastewater (n = 81), freshwater (n = 58), and agricultural soils (n = 24) across different regions (29 countries, 5 continents), were analysed regarding antibiotic resistance diversity, based on annotation against a database that merged CARD and ResFinder databases. The relative abundance of the total antibiotic resistance genes (corresponding to the ratio between the antibiotic resistance genes and total reads number) was not statistically different between raw and treated wastewater, being significantly higher than in freshwater or agricultural soils. The latter had the significantly lowest relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes. Genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, and tetracyclines were among the most abundant in wastewater environments, while multidrug resistance was equally distributed across all environments. The wastewater resistome signature included 27 antibiotic resistance genes that were detected in at least 90% of the wastewater resistomes, and that were not frequent in freshwater or agricultural soil resistomes. Among these were genes responsible for resistance to tetracyclines (n = 8), macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (n = 7), aminoglycosides (n = 4), beta-lactams (n = 3), multidrug (n = 2), sulphonamides (n = 2), and polypeptides (n = 1). This comprehensive assessment provides valuable insights into the dynamics of antibiotic resistance in urban wastewater systems and their potential ecological implications in diverse environmental settings. Furthermore, provides guidance for the implementation of One Health monitoring approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Cachetas
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ivone Vaz-Moreira
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Vítor Pereira
- Centre of Biological Engineering University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; LABBELS -Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Célia M Manaia
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005, Porto, Portugal
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6
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Sanz C, Casado M, Martinez-Landa L, Valhondo C, Amalfitano S, Di Pippo F, Levantesi C, Carrera J, Piña B. Efficient removal of antibiotic resistance genes and of enteric bacteria from reclaimed wastewater by enhanced Soil Aquifer Treatments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176078. [PMID: 39244046 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) is a robust technology to increase groundwater recharge and to improve reclaimed water quality. SAT reduces dissolved organic carbon, contaminants of emerging concern, nutrients, and colloidal matter, including pathogen indicators, but little is known about its ability to reduce loads of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from reclaimed waters. Here we test six pilot SAT systems to eliminate various biological hazards from the secondary effluents of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), equipped with reactive barriers (RBs) including different sorptive materials. Using flow cytometry, qPCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing methods, we determined that all six SAT systems reduced total loads of bacteria by 80 to 95 % and of clinically relevant ARGs by 85 to 99.9 %. These efficiencies are similar to those reported for UV/oxidation or membrane-based tertiary treatments, which require much more energy and resources. The presence and composition of reactive barriers, the season of sampling (June 2020, October 2020, and September 2021), or the flow regime (continuous versus pulsating) did not affect ARG removal efficiency, although they did alter the microbial community composition. This suggests that an adequate design of the SAT reactive barriers may significantly increase their performance. Under a mechanistic point of view, we observed an ecological succession of bacterial groups, linked to the changing physical-chemical conditions along the SAT, and likely correlated to the removal of ARGs. We concluded that SAT is as cost-efficient technology able to dramatically reduce ARG loads and other biological hazards from WWTP secondary effluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sanz
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya 08034, Spain
| | - Marta Casado
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya 08034, Spain
| | - Lurdes Martinez-Landa
- Associated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC), Spain; Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Valhondo
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya 08034, Spain; Associated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC), Spain; Geosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Stefano Amalfitano
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome 00015, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Pippo
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome 00015, Italy
| | - Caterina Levantesi
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome 00015, Italy
| | - Jesús Carrera
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya 08034, Spain; Associated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC), Spain
| | - Benjamin Piña
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya 08034, Spain.
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Zagui GS, de Almeida OGG, Moreira NC, Silva NGA, Meschede MSC, Darini ALC, Andrade LN, Segura-Muñoz SI. Hospital wastewater as source of human pathogenic bacteria: A phenotypic and genomic analysis of international high-risk clone VIM-2-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST235/O11. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 255:119166. [PMID: 38759772 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa belong to the special pathogen group capable of causing serious infections, with high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to describe the antibiotic resistance and genomic characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa belonging to international high-risk clone ST235 (GPAE0131 isolate), obtained from hospital wastewater. P. aeruginosa GPAE0131 was isolated from ward tertiary hospital in Brazil and the antibiotic resistance profile was determined by the disc-diffusion method. Genomic characteristics related to antibiotic resistance and virulence factors were evaluated by genomic DNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform and bioinformatic analysis. GPAE0131 isolate showed resistance to piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, ceftazidime, imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and tobramycin. Resistome comprehend of resistance genes to β-lactams (blaVIM-2, blaOXA-4, blaOXA-488, blaPDC-35), aminoglycosides (aph(3')-IIb, aac(6')-IIc, aac(6')-Ib9, aadA1), fosfomycin (fosA), chloramphenicol (catB7) and sulfonamides (sul1). Genome comparisons evidence insertion of blaVIM-2 and blaOXA-4 genes. GPAE0131 isolate was predicted to be pathogenic to humans and several virulence factors were found, including encoding gene for ExoU and exotoxin A. All of these features into a pathogenic international high-risk clone (ST235), classified as critical priority, stands out as public health concern due to the widespread dispersal of human pathogens through wastewater. It is suggested that mitigating measures be implemented, such as the treatment of hospital sewage and the addition of tertiary treatment, to prevent the escape of pathogens at this level into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Sgobbi Zagui
- Water Resources Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Environmental Technology, University of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | - Marina Smidt Celere Meschede
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Institute of Collective Health (ISCO), Federal University of Western Pará, Brazil
| | | | | | - Susana Inés Segura-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Brazil
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8
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Shrestha S, Malla B, Haramoto E. High-throughput microfluidic quantitative PCR system for the simultaneous detection of antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial and viral pathogens in wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 255:119156. [PMID: 38759773 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Comprehensive data on bacterial and viral pathogens of diarrhea and studies applying culture-independent methods for examining antibiotic resistance in wastewater are lacking. This study aimed to simultaneously quantify antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), class 1 integron-integrase (int1), bacterial and viral pathogens of diarrhea, 16S rRNA, and other indicators using a high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR) system. Thirty-six grab wastewater samples from a wastewater treatment plant in Japan, collected three times a month between August 2022 and July 2023, were centrifuged, followed by nucleic acid extraction, reverse transcription, and HT-qPCR. Fourteen targets were included, and HT-qPCR was performed on the Biomark X9™ System (Standard BioTools). For all qPCR assays, R2 was ≥0.978 and the efficiencies ranged from 90.5% to 117.7%, exhibiting high performance. Of the 36 samples, 20 (56%) were positive for Norovirus genogroup II (NoV-GII), whereas Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter jejuni were detected in 24 (67%) and Campylobacter coli in 13 (36%) samples, with mean concentrations ranging from 3.2 ± 0.8 to 4.7 ± 0.3 log10 copies/L. NoV-GII detection ratios and concentrations were higher in winter and spring. None of the pathogens of diarrhea correlated with acute gastroenteritis cases, except for NoV-GII, suggesting the need for data on specific bacterial infections to validate bacterial wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). All samples tested positive for sul1, int1, and blaCTX-M, irrespective of season. The less explored blaNDM-1 showed a wide prevalence (>83%) and consistent abundance ranging from 4.3 ± 1.0 to 4.9 ± 0.2 log10 copies/L in all seasons. sul1 was the predominant ARG, whereas absolute abundances of 16S rRNA, int1, and blaCTX-M varied seasonally. int1 was significantly correlated with blaCTX-M in autumn and spring, whereas it showed no correlation with blaNDM-1, questioning the applicability of int1 as a sole indicator of overall resistance determinants. This study exhibited that the HT-qPCR system is pivotal for WBE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadhana Shrestha
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 400-8511, Japan.
| | - Bikash Malla
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 400-8511, Japan.
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 400-8511, Japan.
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9
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Pan T, Zhou YY, Xiang Q, An XL, Pu Q, Su JQ. Efficient elimination of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in hyperthermophilic sludge composting. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 479:135525. [PMID: 39217943 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Composting is widely applied in recycling ever-increasing sewage sludge. However, the insufficient elimination of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in conventional compost fertilizer poses considerable threat to agriculture safety and human health. Here we investigated the efficacy and potential mechanisms in the removal of antibiotics and ARGs from sludge in hyperthermophilic composting (HTC) plant. Our results demonstrated that the HTC product was of high maturity. HTC led to complete elimination of antibiotics and potential pathogens, as well as removal of 98.8 % of ARGs and 88.1 % of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). The enrichment of antibiotic-degrading candidates and related metabolic functions during HTC suggested that biodegradation played a crucial role in antibiotic removal. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that the reduction of ARGs was attributed to the decline of ARG-associated bacteria, mainly due to the high-temperature selection. These findings highlight the feasibility of HTC in sludge recycling and provide a deeper understanding of its mechanism in simultaneous removal of antibiotics and ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Pan
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yan-Yan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qian Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
| | - Xin-Li An
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qiang Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Jian-Qiang Su
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
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10
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Mosaka TBM, Unuofin JO, Daramola MO, Tizaoui C, Iwarere SA. Non-thermal obliteration of critically ranked carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and its resistance gene in a batch atmospheric plasma reactor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:49811-49822. [PMID: 39085689 PMCID: PMC11324781 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34475-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been implicated as direct key reservoir of both antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) associated with human infection, as high concentrations of ARBs and ARGs have been detected in recycled hospital wastewater. Among the ARBs, the carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has been ranked as priority 1 (critical) pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), due to its overwhelming burden on public health. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology as an alternative disinfection step to inactivate this bacterium and its ARGs. Culture-based method and PCR were employed in confirming the carbapenem resistance gene blaNDM-1 in A. baumannii (BAA 1605). Suspension of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (24 h culture) was prepared from the confirmed isolate and subjected to plasma treatment at varying time intervals (3 min, 6 min, 9 min, 12 min, and 15 min) in triplicates. The plasma-treated samples were evaluated for re-growth and the presence of the resistance gene. The treatment resulted in a 1.13 log reduction after 3 min and the highest log reduction of ≥ 8 after 15 min, and the results also showed that NTP was able to inactivate the blaNDM-1 gene. The log reduction and gel image results suggest that plasma disinfection has a great potential to be an efficient tertiary treatment step for WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thabang B M Mosaka
- Sustainable Energy and Environment Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - John O Unuofin
- Sustainable Energy and Environment Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Michael O Daramola
- Sustainable Energy and Environment Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Chedly Tizaoui
- Water and Resources Recovery Research Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK
| | - Samuel A Iwarere
- Sustainable Energy and Environment Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa
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11
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Ma Y, Qiao Y, Zhang X, Ye L. Filamentous bacteria-induced sludge bulking can alter antibiotic resistance gene profiles and increase potential risks in wastewater treatment systems. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108920. [PMID: 39094405 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Sludge bulking caused by filamentous bacteria is a prevalent issue in wastewater treatment systems. While previous studies have primarily concentrated on controlling sludge bulking, the biological risks associated with it have been overlooked. This study demonstrates that excessive growth of filamentous bacteria during sludge bulking can significantly increase the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in activated sludge. Through metagenomic analysis, we identified specific ARGs carried by filamentous bacteria, such as Sphaerotilus and Thiothrix, which are responsible for bulking. Additionally, by examining over 1,000 filamentous bacterial genomes, we discovered a diverse array of ARGs across different filamentous bacteria derived from wastewater treatment systems. Our findings indicate that 74.84% of the filamentous bacteria harbor at least one ARG, with the occurrence frequency of ARGs in these bacteria being approximately 1.5 times higher than that in the overall bacterial population in activated sludge. Furthermore, genomic and metagenomic analyses have shown that the ARGs in filamentous bacteria are closely linked to mobile genetic elements and are frequently found in potentially pathogenic bacteria, highlighting potential risks posed by these filamentous bacteria. These insights enhance our understanding of ARGs in activated sludge and underscore the importance of risk management in wastewater treatment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiheng Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuxiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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12
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Bombaywala S, Bajaj A, Dafale NA. Meta-analysis of wastewater microbiome for antibiotic resistance profiling. J Microbiol Methods 2024; 223:106953. [PMID: 38754482 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2024.106953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The microbial composition and stress molecules are main drivers influencing the development and spread of antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARBs) and genes (ARGs) in the environment. A reliable and rapid method for identifying associations between microbiome composition and resistome remains challenging. In the present study, secondary metagenome data of sewage and hospital wastewaters were assessed for differential taxonomic and ARG profiling. Subsequently, Random Forest (RF)-based ML models were used to predict ARG profiles based on taxonomic composition and model validation on hospital wastewaters. Total ARG abundance was significantly higher in hospital wastewaters (15 ppm) than sewage (5 ppm), while the resistance towards methicillin, carbapenem, and fluoroquinolone were predominant. Although, Pseudomonas constituted major fraction, Streptomyces, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella were characteristic of hospital wastewaters. Prediction modeling showed that the relative abundance of pathogenic genera Escherichia, Vibrio, and Pseudomonas contributed most towards variations in total ARG count. Moreover, the model was able to identify host-specific patterns for contributing taxa and related ARGs with >90% accuracy in predicting the ARG subtype abundance. More than >80% accuracy was obtained for hospital wastewaters, demonstrating that the model can be validly extrapolated to different types of wastewater systems. Findings from the study showed that the ML approach could identify ARG profile based on bacterial composition including 16S rDNA amplicon data, and can serve as a viable alternative to metagenomic binning for identification of potential hosts of ARGs. Overall, this study demonstrates the promising application of ML techniques for predicting the spread of ARGs and provides guidance for early warning of ARBs emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakina Bombaywala
- Environmental Biotechnology & Genomics Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Abhay Bajaj
- Environmental Biotechnology & Genomics Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Nishant A Dafale
- Environmental Biotechnology & Genomics Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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13
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Gheorghe-Barbu I, Surleac M, Barbu IC, Paraschiv S, Bănică LM, Rotaru LI, Vrâncianu CO, Niță Lazăr M, Oțelea D, Chifiriuc MC. Decoding the resistome, virulome and mobilome of clinical versus aquatic Acinetobacter baumannii in southern Romania. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33372. [PMID: 39035534 PMCID: PMC11259834 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii, a notorious opportunistic pathogen, presents a formidable challenge in both clinical and environmental fields due to its resilience and ability to acquire resistance. This study undertook a comprehensive analysis of 183 A. baumannii isolates collected between 2019 and 2022 from intra-hospital infections (IHI), hospital sewages (Hs), wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), and adjacent river waters from two Southern cities, focusing on their resistome, virulome, and mobilome through isolation on chromogenic media, identification by MALDI-TOF-MS and antibiotic susceptibility testing by disk diffusion) followed by genotypic characterization [Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), 3rd generation sequencing through the MinION (ONT) platform, pangenome description, and respectively horizontal gene transfer through conjugation assays]. Our findings reveal significant genomic plasticity and the prevalence of high-risk international clones, underlining the potential of these isolates to act as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that could be dynamically exchanged between clinical and environmental settings through mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as the pMAL1 plasmids and the critical role of WWTPs in the persistence and spread of A. baumannii. Moreover, our study presents the first report of the co-occurrence of bla OXA-23 and bla OXA-72 in A. baumannii ST2 clone. Thus, our research underscores the necessity for integrated surveillance and targeted interventions across healthcare and environmental sectors to mitigate the risk posed by this adaptable pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Gheorghe-Barbu
- Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marius Surleac
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Matei Balș’‘, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ilda Czobor Barbu
- Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Simona Paraschiv
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Matei Balș’‘, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Liviu-Iulian Rotaru
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Ovidiu Vrâncianu
- Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 296 Splaiul Independentei, District 6, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihai Niță Lazăr
- National Institute for Research and Development for Industrial Ecology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Dan Oțelea
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Matei Balș’‘, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
- Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
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14
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Gehlot P, P H. Unveiling the ecological landscape of bacterial β-lactam resistance in Delhi-national capital region, India: An emerging health concern. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 363:121288. [PMID: 38850900 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Inappropriate antibiotic use not only amplifies the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), moreover exacerbates the spread of resistant bacterial strains and genes in the environment, underscoring the critical need for effective research and interventions. Our aim is to assess the prevalence and resistance characteristics of β-lactam resistant bacteria (BLRB) and β-lactamase resistant bacterial genes (BLRBGs) under various environmental conditions within Delhi NCR, India. Using a culture-dependent method, we isolated 130 BLRB from 75 different environmental samples, including lakes, ponds, the Yamuna River, agricultural soil, aquatic weeds, drains, dumping yards, STPs, and gaushalas. Tests for antibiotic susceptibility were conducted in addition to phenotypic and genotypic identification of BLs and integron genes. The water and sediment samples recorded an average bacterial abundance of 3.6 × 106 CFU/mL and an average ampicillin-resistant bacterial count of 2.2 × 106 CFU/mL, which can be considered a potent reservoir of BLRB and BLRBGs. The majority of the BLRB discovered are opportunistic pathogens from the Bacillus, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Escherichia, and Klebsiella genera, with Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index ≥0.2 against a wide variety of β-lactams and β-lactamase (BLs) inhibitor combinations. The antibiotic resistance pattern was similar in the case of bacteria isolated from STPs. Meanwhile, bacteria isolated from other sources were diverse in their antibiotic resistance profile. Interestingly, we discovered that 10 isolates of various origins produce both Extended Spectrum BLs and Metallo BLs, as well as found harboring blaTEM, blaCTX, blaOXA, blaSHV, int-1, and int-3 genes. Enterobacter cloacae (S50/A), a common nosocomial pathogen isolated from Yamuna River sediment samples at Nizamuddin point, possesses three BLRBGs (blaTEM, blaCTX, and blaOXA) and a MAR index of 1.0, which is a major cause for concern. Therefore, identifying the source, origin and dissemination of BLRB and BLRGs in the environment is of the utmost importance for designing effective mitigation approaches to reduce a load of antimicrobial resistance factors in the environmental settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Gehlot
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Hariprasad P
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India.
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15
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Galarde-López M, Velazquez-Meza ME, Godoy-Lozano EE, Carrillo-Quiroz BA, Cornejo-Juárez P, Sassoé-González A, Ponce-de-León A, Saturno-Hernández P, Alpuche-Aranda CM. Presence and Persistence of ESKAPEE Bacteria before and after Hospital Wastewater Treatment. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1231. [PMID: 38930614 PMCID: PMC11206169 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The metagenomic surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater has been suggested as a methodological tool to characterize the distribution, status, and trends of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, a cross-sectional collection of samples of hospital-associated raw and treated wastewater were obtained from February to March 2020. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were performed to characterize bacterial abundance and antimicrobial resistance gene analysis. The main bacterial phyla found in all the samples were as follows: Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. At the species level, ESKAPEE bacteria such as E. coli relative abundance decreased between raw and treated wastewater, but S. aureus, A. baumannii, and P. aeruginosa increased, as did the persistence of K. pneumoniae in both raw and treated wastewater. A total of 172 different ARGs were detected; blaOXA, blaVEB, blaKPC, blaGES, mphE, mef, erm, msrE, AAC(6'), ant(3″), aadS, lnu, PBP-2, dfrA, vanA-G, tet, and sul were found at the highest abundance and persistence. This study demonstrates the ability of ESKAPEE bacteria to survive tertiary treatment processes of hospital wastewater, as well as the persistence of clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes that are spreading in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Galarde-López
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Morelos 62100, Mexico; (M.G.-L.); (E.E.G.-L.); (B.A.C.-Q.)
| | - Maria Elena Velazquez-Meza
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Morelos 62100, Mexico; (M.G.-L.); (E.E.G.-L.); (B.A.C.-Q.)
| | - Elizabeth Ernestina Godoy-Lozano
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Morelos 62100, Mexico; (M.G.-L.); (E.E.G.-L.); (B.A.C.-Q.)
| | - Berta Alicia Carrillo-Quiroz
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Morelos 62100, Mexico; (M.G.-L.); (E.E.G.-L.); (B.A.C.-Q.)
| | - Patricia Cornejo-Juárez
- Departamento de Infectología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico;
| | - Alejandro Sassoé-González
- Unidad de Inteligencia Epidemiológica, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de Ixtapaluca, Ixtapaluca 56530, Mexico;
| | - Alfredo Ponce-de-León
- Laboratorio Nacional de Máxima Seguridad para el Estudio de Tuberculosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición “Salvador Zubirán”, Mexico City 14080, Mexico;
| | - Pedro Saturno-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Evaluación de Encuestas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Morelos 62100, Mexico;
| | - Celia Mercedes Alpuche-Aranda
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Morelos 62100, Mexico; (M.G.-L.); (E.E.G.-L.); (B.A.C.-Q.)
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16
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Alkorta I, Garbisu C. Expanding the focus of the One Health concept: links between the Earth-system processes of the planetary boundaries framework and antibiotic resistance. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2024; 0:reveh-2024-0013. [PMID: 38815132 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2024-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The scientific community warns that our impact on planet Earth is so acute that we are crossing several of the planetary boundaries that demarcate the safe operating space for humankind. Besides, there is mounting evidence of serious effects on people's health derived from the ongoing environmental degradation. Regarding human health, the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is one of the most critical public health issues worldwide. Relevantly, antibiotic resistance has been claimed to be the quintessential One Health issue. The One Health concept links human, animal, and environmental health, but it is frequently only focused on the risk of zoonotic pathogens to public health or, to a lesser extent, the impact of contaminants on human health, i.e., adverse effects on human health coming from the other two One Health "compartments". It is recurrently claimed that antibiotic resistance must be approached from a One Health perspective, but such statement often only refers to the connection between the use of antibiotics in veterinary practice and the antibiotic resistance crisis, or the impact of contaminants (antibiotics, heavy metals, disinfectants, etc.) on antibiotic resistance. Nonetheless, the nine Earth-system processes considered in the planetary boundaries framework can be directly or indirectly linked to antibiotic resistance. Here, some of the main links between those processes and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance are described. The ultimate goal is to expand the focus of the One Health concept by pointing out the links between critical Earth-system processes and the One Health quintessential issue, i.e., antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itziar Alkorta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 16402 University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) , Bilbao, Spain
| | - Carlos Garbisu
- NEIKER - Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
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17
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Park JH, Bae KS, Kang J, Yoon JK, Lee SH. Comprehensive Assessment of Multidrug-Resistant and Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1119. [PMID: 38930502 PMCID: PMC11205404 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli poses a significant threat to public health, contributing to elevated rates of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. This study focused on investigating the antibiotic resistance profiles, resistance and virulence gene distributions, biofilm formation capabilities, and sequence types of E. coli strains resistant to six or more antibiotic classes. Among 918 strains isolated from 33 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), 53.6% (492/918) demonstrated resistance, 32.5% (298/918) were MDR, and over 8% (74/918) were resistant to six or more antibiotic classes, exhibiting complete resistance to ampicillin and over 90% to sulfisoxazole, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline. Key resistance genes identified included sul2, blaTEM, tetA, strA, strB, and fimH as the predominant virulence genes linked to cell adhesion but limited biofilm formation; 69% showed no biofilm formation, and approximately 3% were strong producers. Antibiotic residue analysis detected ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim in all 33 WWTPs. Multilocus sequence typing analysis identified 29 genotypes, predominantly ST131, ST1193, ST38, and ST69, as high-risk clones of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. This study provided a comprehensive analysis of antibiotic resistance in MDR E. coli isolated from WWTPs, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance and research to effectively manage antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hyun Park
- Han River Environment Research Center, National Institute of Environment Research, Yangpyeong-gun, Incheon 12585, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Seon Bae
- Division of Water Supply and Sewerage Research, National Institute of Environment Research, Yangpyeong-gun, Incheon 22689, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (K.-S.B.); (J.K.); (J.-K.Y.); (S.-H.L.)
| | - Jihyun Kang
- Division of Water Supply and Sewerage Research, National Institute of Environment Research, Yangpyeong-gun, Incheon 22689, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (K.-S.B.); (J.K.); (J.-K.Y.); (S.-H.L.)
| | - Jeong-Ki Yoon
- Division of Water Supply and Sewerage Research, National Institute of Environment Research, Yangpyeong-gun, Incheon 22689, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (K.-S.B.); (J.K.); (J.-K.Y.); (S.-H.L.)
| | - Soo-Hyung Lee
- Division of Water Supply and Sewerage Research, National Institute of Environment Research, Yangpyeong-gun, Incheon 22689, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (K.-S.B.); (J.K.); (J.-K.Y.); (S.-H.L.)
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18
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Fu X, Gao J, Wang Q, Chen H, Liu Y, Zeng L, Yuan Y, Xu H. Mechanisms on the removal of gram-negative/positive antibiotic resistant bacteria and inhibition of horizontal gene transfer by ferrate coupled with peroxydisulfate or peroxymonosulfate. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134254. [PMID: 38615644 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The existence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has been a global public environment and health issue. Due to the different cell structures, gram-positive/negative ARB exhibit various inactivation mechanisms in water disinfection. In this study, a gram-negative ARB Escherichia coli DH5α (E. coli DH5α) was used as a horizontal gene transfer (HGT) donor, while a gram-positive ARB Bacillus as a recipient. To develop an efficient and engineering applicable method in water disinfection, ARB and ARGs removal efficiency of Fe(VI) coupled peroxydisulfate (PDS) or peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was compared, wherein hydroxylamine (HA) was added as a reducing agent. The results indicated that Fe(VI)/PMS/HA showed higher disinfection efficiency than Fe(VI)/PDS/HA. When the concentration of each Fe(VI), PMS, HA was 0.48 mM, 5.15 log E. coli DH5α and 3.57 log Bacillus lost cultivability, while the proportion of recovered cells was 0.0017 % and 0.0566 %, respectively, and HGT was blocked. Intracellular tetA was reduced by 2.49 log. Fe(IV) and/or Fe(V) were proved to be the decisive reactive species. Due to the superiority of low cost as well as high efficiency and practicality, Fe(VI)/PMS/HA has significant application potential in ARB, ARGs removal and HGT inhibition, offering a new insight for wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Fu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jingfeng Gao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Qian Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Hao Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Ying Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Liqin Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yukun Yuan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Hongxin Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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19
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Dekić Rozman S, Puljko A, Karkman A, Virta M, Udiković-Kolić N. Bacterial hosts of clinically significant beta-lactamase genes in Croatian wastewaters. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae081. [PMID: 38796694 PMCID: PMC11165274 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide a suitable environment for the interaction of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) from human, animal, and environmental sources. The aim was to study the influent and effluent of two WWTPs in Croatia to identify bacterial hosts of clinically important beta-lactamase genes (blaTEM, blaVIM, blaOXA-48-like) and observe how their composition changes during the treatment process. A culture-independent epicPCR (Emulsion, Paired isolation and Concatenation Polymerase Chain Reaction) was used to identify the ARG hosts, and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to study the entire bacterial community. Different wastewater sources contributed to the significant differences in bacterial composition of the wastewater between the two WWTPs studied. A total of 167 genera were detected by epicPCR, with the Arcobacter genus, in which all ARGs studied were present, dominating in both WWTPs. In addition, the clinically important genera Acinetobacter and Aeromonas contained all ARGs examined. The blaOXA-48-like gene had the highest number of hosts, followed by blaVIM, while blaTEM had the narrowest host range. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, ARG hosts were detected in both abundant and rare taxa. The number of hosts carrying investigated ARGs was reduced by wastewater treatment. EpicPCR provided valuable insights into the bacterial hosts of horizontally transmissible beta-lactamase genes in Croatian wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svjetlana Dekić Rozman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Puljko
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Antti Karkman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marko Virta
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nikolina Udiković-Kolić
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Keenum I, Calarco J, Majeed H, Hager-Soto EE, Bott C, Garner E, Harwood VJ, Pruden A. To what extent do water reuse treatments reduce antibiotic resistance indicators? A comparison of two full-scale systems. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121425. [PMID: 38492480 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Water reuse is an essential strategy for reducing water demand from conventional sources, alleviating water stress, and promoting sustainability, but understanding the effectiveness of associated treatment processes as barriers to the spread of antibiotic resistance is an important consideration to protecting human health. We comprehensively evaluated the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in two field-operational water reuse systems with distinct treatment trains, one producing water for indirect potable reuse (ozone/biologically-active carbon/granular activated carbon) and the other for non-potable reuse (denitrification-filtration/chlorination) using metagenomic sequencing and culture. Relative abundances of total ARGs/clinically-relevant ARGs and cultured ARB were reduced by several logs during primary and secondary stages of wastewater treatment, but to a lesser extent during the tertiary water reuse treatments. In particular, ozonation tended to enrich multi-drug ARGs. The effect of chlorination was facility-dependent, increasing the relative abundance of ARGs when following biologically-active carbon filters, but generally providing a benefit in reduced bacterial numbers and ecological and human health resistome risk scores. Relative abundances of total ARGs and resistome risk scores were lowest in aquifer samples, although resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were occasionally detected in the monitoring well 3-days downgradient from injection, but not 6-months downgradient. Resistant E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were occasionally detected in the nonpotable reuse distribution system, along with increased levels of multidrug, sulfonamide, phenicol, and aminoglycoside ARGs. This study illuminates specific vulnerabilities of water reuse systems to persistence, selection, and growth of ARGs and ARB and emphasizes the role of multiple treatment barriers, including aquifers and distribution systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishi Keenum
- Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Present address: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering, Michigan Tech, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Jeanette Calarco
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Haniyyah Majeed
- Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - E Eldridge Hager-Soto
- Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Charles Bott
- Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
| | - Emily Garner
- Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Amy Pruden
- Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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Leopold M, Kabicher A, Pap IJ, Ströbele B, Zarfel G, Farnleitner AH, Kirschner AKT. A comparative study on antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli isolates from Austrian patients and wastewater-influenced Danube River water and biofilms. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 258:114361. [PMID: 38552533 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major threat to human health worldwide. AMR can be introduced into natural aquatic ecosystems, for example, from clinical facilities via wastewater emissions. Understanding AMR patterns in environmental populations of bacterial pathogens is important to elucidate propagation routes and develop mitigation strategies. In this study, AMR patterns of Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections and colonised urinary catheters of inpatients and outpatients were compared to isolates from the Danube River within the same catchment in Austria to potentially link environmental with clinical resistance patterns. Susceptibility to 20 antibiotics was tested for 697 patient, 489 water and 440 biofilm isolates. The resistance ratios in patient isolates were significantly higher than in the environmental isolates and higher resistance ratios were found in biofilm in comparison to water isolates. The role of the biofilm as potential sink of resistances was reflected by two extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing isolates in the biofilm while none were found in water, and by higher amoxicillin/clavulanic acid resistance ratios in biofilm compared to patient isolates. Although, resistances to last-line antibiotics such as carbapenems and tigecycline were found in the patient and in the environmental isolates, they still occurred at low frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Leopold
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria; Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Kabicher
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria; Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ildiko-Julia Pap
- Clinical Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University Clinic St. Pölten, Austria
| | - Barbara Ströbele
- Clinical Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University Clinic St. Pölten, Austria
| | - Gernot Zarfel
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria; Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria; Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology - Water Microbiology, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
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22
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Sharma S, Chauhan A, Ranjan A, Mathkor DM, Haque S, Ramniwas S, Tuli HS, Jindal T, Yadav V. Emerging challenges in antimicrobial resistance: implications for pathogenic microorganisms, novel antibiotics, and their impact on sustainability. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1403168. [PMID: 38741745 PMCID: PMC11089201 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1403168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Overuse of antibiotics is accelerating the antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic microbes which is a growing public health challenge at the global level. Higher resistance causes severe infections, high complications, longer stays at hospitals and even increased mortality rates. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has a significant impact on national economies and their health systems, as it affects the productivity of patients or caregivers due to prolonged hospital stays with high economic costs. The main factor of AMR includes improper and excessive use of antimicrobials; lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for humans and animals; poor infection prevention and control measures in hospitals; poor access to medicines and vaccines; lack of awareness and knowledge; and irregularities with legislation. AMR represents a global public health problem, for which epidemiological surveillance systems have been established, aiming to promote collaborations directed at the well-being of human and animal health and the balance of the ecosystem. MDR bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp., Acinetobacter spp., and Klebsiella pneumonia can even cause death. These microorganisms use a variety of antibiotic resistance mechanisms, such as the development of drug-deactivating targets, alterations in antibiotic targets, or a decrease in intracellular antibiotic concentration, to render themselves resistant to numerous antibiotics. In context, the United Nations issued the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 to serve as a worldwide blueprint for a better, more equal, and more sustainable existence on our planet. The SDGs place antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the context of global public health and socioeconomic issues; also, the continued growth of AMR may hinder the achievement of numerous SDGs. In this review, we discuss the role of environmental pollution in the rise of AMR, different mechanisms underlying the antibiotic resistance, the threats posed by pathogenic microbes, novel antibiotics, strategies such as One Health to combat AMR, and the impact of resistance on sustainability and sustainable development goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Sharma
- Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Abhishek Chauhan
- Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Safety and Management, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anuj Ranjan
- Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
| | - Darin Mansor Mathkor
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Seema Ramniwas
- University Centre for Research & Development, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Bio-Sciences and Technology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to Be University), Ambala, India
| | - Tanu Jindal
- Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Safety and Management, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vikas Yadav
- Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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23
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Zhou S, Yang F, Wang W, Yang Z, Song J, Jiang T, Huang Z, Gao Y, Wang Y. Impact of uranium on antibiotic resistance in activated sludge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170369. [PMID: 38278272 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the environment is well established as a human health crisis. The impact of radioactive heavy metals on ecosystems and ultimately on human health has become a global issue, especially for the regions suffering various nuclear activities or accidents. However, whether the radionuclides can affect the fate of antibiotic resistance in bacteria remains poorly understood. Here, the dynamics of ARB, three forms of ARGs-intracellular ARGs (iARGs), adsorbed extracellular ARGs (aeARGs), and free extracellular ARGs (feARGs)-and microbial communities were investigated following exposure to uranium (U), a representative radioactive heavy metal. The results showed that 90-d of U exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations of 0.05 mg/L or 5 mg/L significantly increased the ARB concentration in activated sludge (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 90-d of U exposure slightly elevated the absolute abundance of aeARGs (except tetO) and sulfonamide iARGs, but decreased tetracycline iARGs. Regarding feARGs, the abundance of tetC, tetO, and sul1 decreased after 90-d of U stress, whereas sul2 showed the opposite trend. Partial least-squares path model analysis revealed that the abundance of aeARGs and iARGs under U stress was predominantly driven by increased cell membrane permeability/intI1 abundance and cell membrane permeability/reactive oxygen species concentration, respectively. Conversely, the changes in feARGs abundance depended on the composition of the microbial community and the expression of efflux pumps. Our findings shed light on the variations of ARGs and ARB in activated sludge under U exposure, providing a more comprehensive understanding of antibiotic resistance risks aggravated by radioactive heavy metal-containing wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhou
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Fengjuan Yang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Weigang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhengqing Yang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Jian Song
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Tianyun Jiang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Zefeng Huang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Yuanyuan Gao
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
| | - Yayi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
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24
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Hazra M, Watts JEM, Williams JB, Joshi H. An evaluation of conventional and nature-based technologies for controlling antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes in wastewater treatment plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170433. [PMID: 38286289 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a globally recognized health concern which leads to longer hospital stays, increased morbidity, increased mortality, and higher medical costs. Understanding how antibiotic resistance persists and exchanges in environmental systems like soil, water, and wastewater are critically important for understanding the emergence of pathogens with new resistance profiles and the subsequent exposure of people who indirectly/directly come in contact with these pathogens. There are concerns about the widespread application of prophylactic antibiotics in the clinical and agriculture sectors, as well as chemicals/detergents used in food and manufacturing industries, especially the quaternary ammonium compounds which have been found responsible for the generation of resistant genes in water and soil. The rates of horizontal gene transfer increase where there is a lack of proper water/wastewater infrastructure, high antibiotic manufacturing industries, or endpoint users - such as hospitals and intensive agriculture. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies are often inefficient in the reduction of ARB/ARGs and provide the perfect combination of conditions for the development of antibiotic resistance. The wastewater discharged from municipal facilities may therefore be enriched with bacterial communities/pathogens and provide a suitable environment (due to the presence of nutrients and other pollutants) to enhance the transfer of antibiotic resistance. However, facilities with tertiary treatment (either traditional/emerging technologies) provide higher rates of reduction. This review provides a synthesis of the current understanding of wastewater treatment and antibiotic resistance, examining the drivers that may accelerate their possible transmission to a different environment, and highlighting the need for tertiary technologies used in treatment plants for the reduction of resistant bacteria/genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moushumi Hazra
- Department of Hydrology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India; International Water Management Institute, New Delhi, India; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska Lincoln, United States.
| | - Joy E M Watts
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - John B Williams
- School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Himanshu Joshi
- Department of Hydrology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
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25
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Xiao Z, Qin Y, Han L, Liu Y, Wang Z, Huang Y, Ma Y, Zou Y. Effects of wastewater treatment plant effluent on microbial risks of pathogens and their antibiotic resistance in the receiving river. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123461. [PMID: 38286261 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The increase in effluent discharge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into urban rivers has raised concerns about the potential effects on pathogen risks. This study utilized metagenomic sequencing combined with flow cytometry to analyze pathogen concentrations and antibiotic resistance in a typical effluent-receiving river. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was employed to assess the microbial risks of pathogens. The results indicated obvious spatial-temporal differences (i.e., summer vs. winter and effluent vs. river) in microbial composition. Microcystis emerged as a crucial species contributing to these variations. Pathogen concentrations were found to be higher in the river than in the effluent, with the winter exhibiting higher concentrations compared to the summer. The effluent discharge slightly increased the pathogen concentrations in the river in summer but dramatically reduced them in winter. The combined effects of cyanobacterial bloom and high temperature were considered key factors suppressing pathogen concentrations in summer. Moreover, the prevalence of antibiotic resistance of pathogens in the river was inferior to that in the effluent, with higher levels in winter than in summer. Three high-concentration pathogens (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were selected for QMRA. The results showed that the risks of pathogens exceeded the recommended threshold value. Escherichia coli posed the highest risks. And the fishing scenario posed significantly higher risks than the walking scenario. Importantly, the effluent discharge helped reduce the microbial risks in the receiving river in winter. The study contributes to the management and decision-making regarding microbial risks in the effluent-receiving river.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Xiao
- The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; Dayu College, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Qin
- Dayu College, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Li Han
- Dayu College, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Yifan Liu
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Yanping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Yujing Ma
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Yina Zou
- The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China.
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26
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Rivadulla M, Lois M, Elena AX, Balboa S, Suarez S, Berendonk TU, Romalde JL, Garrido JM, Omil F. Occurrence and fate of CECs (OMPs, ARGs and pathogens) during decentralised treatment of black water and grey water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:169863. [PMID: 38190906 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Decentralised wastewater treatment is becoming a suitable strategy to reduce cost and environmental impact. In this research, the performance of two technologies treating black water (BW) and grey water (GW) fractions of urban sewage is carried out in a decentralised treatment of the wastewater produced in three office buildings. An Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) treating BW and a Hybrid preanoxic Membrane Bioreactor (H-MBR) containing small plastic carrier elements, treating GW were operated at pilot scale. Their potential on reducing the release of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as Organic Micropollutants (OMPs), Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) and pathogens was studied. After 226 d of operation, a stable operation was achieved in both systems: the AnMBR removed 92.4 ± 2.5 % of influent COD, and H-MBR removed 89.7 ± 3.5 %. Regarding OMPs, the profile of compounds differed between BW and GW, being BW the matrix with more compounds detected at higher concentrations (up to μg L-1). For example, in the case of ibuprofen the concentrations in BW were 23.63 ± 3.97 μg L-1, 3 orders of magnitude higher than those detected in GW. The most abundant ARGs were sulfonamide resistant genes (sul1) and integron class 1 (intl1) in both BW and GW. Pathogenic bacteria counts were reduced between 1 and 3 log units in the AnMBR. Bacterial loads in GW were much lower than in BW, being no bacterial re-growth observed for the GW effluents after treatment in the H-MBR. None of the selected enteric viruses was detected in GW treatment line.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rivadulla
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
| | - M Lois
- CRETUS, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, CIBUS-Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - A X Elena
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden, Germany
| | - S Balboa
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - S Suarez
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - T U Berendonk
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden, Germany
| | - J L Romalde
- CRETUS, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, CIBUS-Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - J M Garrido
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - F Omil
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
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Zhang K, Li K, Hu F, Xin R, Fan P, Lu Y, Wang N, Qin M, Li R. Occurrence characteristics and influencing factors of antibiotic resistance genes in rural groundwater in Henan Province. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:16685-16695. [PMID: 38319424 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32258-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
This study determined the antibiotic-resistant gene (ARG) contents of 34 groundwater samples in Henan Province collected from September to October 2022, then assessed the roles of both water quality parameters and intI1 in ARG propagation in groundwater. The results show that there existed universal ARG pollution in groundwater, and sulfonamides-, β-lactem-, and tetracycline-resistance genes were the most prevalent gene types during the time. Sul1 contributed the majority proportion of the total resistance genes (TARGs). The prevalence of ESBLs gene blaTEM and the occurrence of Carbapenems resistant gene blaOXA-1 suggests the pollution of high-risk ARGs in groundwater demands more attention. IntI1 is prevalent and had a significantly positive correlation with almost 50% ARGs, indicating its contribution to ARG propagation in groundwater. Well types contribute little to ARG propagation in rural groundwater of Henan, which means the protective facilities established by the local government for public wells can effectively prevent contamination from exogenous ARGs. However, the economic level has no impact on the abundance of ARGs in rural groundwater, which suggests the local government should pay greater attention to investment in controlling ARG pollution in Henan rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- School of Geographic Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, 464000, China.
| | - Kuangjia Li
- Development Research Center, Ministry of Water Resources of People's Republic of China, Beijing, 100032, China
| | - Feiyue Hu
- College of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Rui Xin
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Penglin Fan
- School of Geographic Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, 464000, China
| | - Yarou Lu
- School of Geographic Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, 464000, China
| | - Ningning Wang
- School of Geographic Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, 464000, China
| | - Mengyuan Qin
- School of Geographic Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, 464000, China
| | - Ruojing Li
- School of Geographic Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, 464000, China
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28
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Patra M, Pandey B, Dubey SK. Prevalence of diverse antimicrobial resistance genes and bacteria in sewage treatment plant-derived sludge environment. FEMS MICROBES 2024; 5:xtae004. [PMID: 38463555 PMCID: PMC10923292 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) contamination in the environment is one of the most significant worldwide threats of the 21st century. Since sludge is heavily exposed to diverse contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, the inhabitant bacterial population is expected to exhibit resistance to antimicrobial agents. In this study, sewage treatment plant (STP) sludge samples were analyzed to assess the antibiotic-resistant bacterial population, abundance of AMR genes (ermF, qnrS, Sul1, blaGES, blaCTX-M, and blaNDM), and mobile genetic elements (intl1 and IS26). Out of 16, six bacterial isolates exhibited resistance to 13 antibiotics with a high multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) (0.93) and high metal tolerance. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed the abundance of target genes ranging from 6.6 × 103 to 6.5 × 108 copies g-1 sludge. The overall outcome reveals that STP sludge comprised varied multidrug-resistant bacterial populations. It will give insights into the functions of heavy metals and biofilm development in the selection and spread of AMR genes and the associated bacteria. Therefore, the application of sludge needs proper screening for AMR and metal contamination prior to its countless applications. This study will contribute immensely to the risk analysis of STP effluents on environmental health, including control of AMR transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmoy Patra
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Bhavana Pandey
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Suresh Kumar Dubey
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
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Mthethwa-Hlongwa NP, Amoah ID, Gomez A, Davison S, Reddy P, Bux F, Kumari S. Profiling pathogenic protozoan and their functional pathways in wastewater using 18S rRNA and shotgun metagenomics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169602. [PMID: 38154626 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive research, little is known about the composition of eukaryotic protists in environmental samples. This is due to low parasite concentrations, the complexity of parasite diversity, and a lack of suitable reference databases and standardized protocols. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study used 18S rRNA short amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing approaches to profile protozoan microbial communities as well as their functional pathways in treated and untreated wastewater samples collected from different regions of South Africa. Results demonstrated that protozoan diversity (Shannon index P-value = 0.03) and taxonomic composition (PERMANOVA, P-value = 0.02) was mainly driven by the type of wastewater samples (treated & untreated) and geographic location. However, these WWTPs were also found to contain a core community of protozoan parasites. The untreated wastewater samples revealed a predominant presence of free-living, parasitic, and potentially pathogenic protists typically found in humans and animals, ranging from Alveolata (27 %) phylum (Apicomplexa and Ciliophora) to Excavata (3.88 %) (Discoba and Parasalia) and Amoebozoa (2.84 %) (Entamoeba and Acanthamoeba). Shotgun metagenomics analyses in a subset of the untreated wastewater samples confirmed the presence of public health-importance protozoa, including Cryptosporidium species (3.48 %), Entamoeba hystolitica (6.58 %), Blastocystis hominis (2.91 %), Naegleria gruberi (2.37 %), Toxoplasma gondii (1.98 %), Cyclospora cayetanensis (1.30 %), and Giardia intestinalis (0.31 %). Virulent gene families linked to pathogenic protozoa, such as serine/threonine protein phosphatase and mucin-desulfating sulfatase were identified. Additionally, enriched pathways included thiamine diphosphate biosynthesis III, heme biosynthesis, Methylerythritol 4-Phosphate Pathway, methyl erythritol phosphate (MEP), and pentose phosphate pathways. These findings suggest that protozoan pathogens may possess metabolic and growth potential within WWTPs, posing a severe risk of transmission to humans and animals if inadequately disinfected before release. This study provides a baseline for the future investigation of diverse protozoal communities in wastewater, which are of public health importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonsikelelo P Mthethwa-Hlongwa
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa; Department Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Isaac D Amoah
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Shantz Building Rm 4291177 E 4th St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Andres Gomez
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Sam Davison
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Poovendhree Reddy
- Department Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Faizal Bux
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Sheena Kumari
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa.
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Owojori GO, Lateef SA, Ana GREE. Effectiveness of wastewater treatment plant at the removal of nutrients, pathogenic bacteria, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater from hospital source. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:10785-10801. [PMID: 38212560 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31829-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
This study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of hospital's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in removing nutrients, pathogenic bacteria, and addressing antibiotic resistance using a case study of a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. During the dry and wet seasons in the month of July and December, respectively, samples were collected, and analyzed using standard guidelines to examine significant physicochemical parameters of the WTTP; to evaluate the removal efficiency of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), and to examine the prevalence of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The results of this study showed that during the dry season, certain parameters exceeded acceptable limits, including temperature, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), phosphate, and nitrate. Although there were reductions in BOD (1555 mg/L to 482 mg/L) and COD levels (3160 mg/L to 972 mg/L), they remained above acceptable limits by World Health Organization. In the wet season, the level of COD (20 mg/L) in the effluent was within acceptable limit, while the BOD (160 mg/L) was above the acceptable limit. The WWTP effectively removed nutrients and reduced the microbial load, as evident from the absence of fecal coliforms in the effluent in both seasons. In respect to BOD removal efficiency, the level of purification of wastewater by the WWTP was 69% during the dry season, while the removal efficiency of COD was 83.54% which showed the efficiency of the WWTP at the removal of COD. However, antibiotic resistance was still present. The study concludes that while the WWTP effectively addressed nutrients and microbial load, additional measures such as tertiary treatment methods like chlorination and UV radiation are necessary to tackle antibiotic resistance. This is crucial to prevent the release of antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the environment, safeguarding human health, animals, plants, and overall environmental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace O Owojori
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Suraju A Lateef
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Godson R E E Ana
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Gholipour S, Shamsizadeh Z, Halabowski D, Gwenzi W, Nikaeen M. Combating antibiotic resistance using wastewater surveillance: Significance, applications, challenges, and future directions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168056. [PMID: 37914125 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
The global increase of antibiotic resistance (AR) and resistant infections call for effective surveillance methods for understanding and mitigating (re)-emerging public health risks. Wastewater surveillance (WS) of antibiotic resistance is an emerging, but currently under-utilized decision-support tool in public health systems. Recent years have witnessed an increase in evidence linking antibiotic resistance in wastewaters to that of the community. To date, very few comprehensive reviews exist on the application of WS to understand AR and resistant infections in population. Current and emerging AR detection methods, and their merits and limitations are discussed. Wastewater surveillance has several merits relative to individual testing, including; (1) low per capita testing cost, (2) high spatial coverage, (3) low requirement for diagnostic equipment, and (4) detection of health threats ahead of real outbreaks. The applications of WS as an early warning system and decision support tool to understand and mitigate AR are discussed. Wastewater surveillance could be a tool of choice in low-income settings lacking resources and diagnostic facilities for individual testing. To demonstrate the utility of WS, empirical evidence from field case studies is presented. However, constraints still exist, including; (1) lack of standardized protocols, (2) the clinical utility and sensitivity of WS-based data, (3) uncertainties in relating WS data to pathogenic and virulent bacteria, and (4) whether or not AR in stools and ultimately wastewater represent the complete human resistome. Finally, further prospects are presented, include knowledge gaps on; (1) development of low-cost biosensors for AR, (2) development of WS protocols (sampling, processing, interpretation), (3) further pilot scale studies to understand the opportunities and limits of WS, and (4) development of computer-based analytical tools to facilitate rapid data collection, visualization and interpretation. Therefore, the present paper discusses the principles, opportunities, and constraints of wastewater surveillance applications to understand AR and safeguard public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Gholipour
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Zahra Shamsizadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran
| | - Dariusz Halabowski
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, Lodz, Poland
| | - Willis Gwenzi
- Universität Kassel, Fachbereich Ökologische Agrarwissenschaften Fachgebiet Grünlandwissenschaft und Nachwachsende Rohstoffe, Steinstr. 19, 37249 Witzenhausen, Germany; Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. Max-Eyth-Allee 100, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Mahnaz Nikaeen
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Liu CHM, Dahms HU, Hsieh CY, Lin ZY, Lin TY, Huang XQ. Bacterial heavy metal resistance related to environmental conditions. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 347:140539. [PMID: 37951402 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Contaminated water bodies such as rivers provide reservoirs for bacterial resistance. This field study tested the water quality and the bacterial resistance to heavy metals of Qishan River water pollution. Wastewater discharged to environmental surface waters is a major pathway of heavy metals and heavy metal-resistant bacteria. Contaminated water bodies such as rivers provide reservoirs for bacterial resistance. This field study tested the water quality and bacterial resistance to heavy metals of Qishan River water pollution. Guided by our research hypothesis that an overall increase in downstream heavy metal resistance levels was following an increase in human settlements were eight sites sampled along the Qishan River. These were situated upstream and downstream to the confluence of the Qishan River with the Kaoping River. In the laboratory bacterial heavy metal resistance was bio-assayed by disk diffusion and micro-dilution with six widely used heavy metals. The comparison of bacterial resistance was among Qishan River upstream sites (sites 1-6) and downstream sites (sites 7-9). Multi-drug-resistant bacteria and co-resistance against heavy metals and antibacterials appeared at site 8. This research discusses the correlation between environmental factors, and antibacterial and heavy metal resistance. The results provide stakeholders and authorities responsible for environmental pollution with a reference for risk assessment and management of bacterial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Han Michael Liu
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC; Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC; University Social Responsibility Project Team, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hans-Uwe Dahms
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC; Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC; University Social Responsibility Project Team, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, College of Marine Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Chi-Ying Hsieh
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan, ROC; Water Resources Education and Research Center, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Zong-Ying Lin
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC; University Social Responsibility Project Team, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tai-Yan Lin
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC; University Social Responsibility Project Team, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Xiao-Qian Huang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC
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Czatzkowska M, Rolbiecki D, Zaborowska M, Bernat K, Korzeniewska E, Harnisz M. The influence of combined treatment of municipal wastewater and landfill leachate on the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment - A preliminary case study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 347:119053. [PMID: 37748295 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Environmentally-friendly management of landfill leachate (LL) poses a challenge, and LL is usually co-treated with municipal wastewater in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The extent to which the co-treatment of LL and municipal wastewater influences the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR) in the environment has not been examined to date. Two WWTPs with similar wastewater composition and technology were studied. Landfill leachate was co-treated with wastewater in one of the studied WWTPs. Landfill leachate, untreated and treated wastewater from both WWTPs, and river water sampled upstream and downstream from the wastewater discharge point were analyzed. Physicochemical parameters, microbial diversity, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) abundance were investigated to determine the impact of LL co-treatment on chemical and microbiological contamination in the environment. Landfill leachate increased pollutant concentrations in untreated wastewater and river water. Cotreatment of LL and wastewater could affect the abundance and diversity of microbial communities and the interactions between microbial species. Co-treatment also decreased the stability of microbial co-occurrence networks in the examined samples. The mexF gene was identified as a potential marker of environmental pollution with LL. This is the first study to explore the impact of LL on the occurrence of AR determinants in wastewater and rivers receiving effluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Czatzkowska
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Damian Rolbiecki
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Magdalena Zaborowska
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-709, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bernat
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-709, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Ewa Korzeniewska
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Monika Harnisz
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland.
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Gholizadeh A, Khiadani M, Foroughi M, Alizade Siuki H, Mehrfar H. Wastewater treatment plants: The missing link in global One-Health surveillance and management of antibiotic resistance. J Infect Public Health 2023; 16 Suppl 1:217-224. [PMID: 37865529 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As a global public health crisis, antibiotic resistance (AR) should be monitored and managed under the One-Health concept according to the World Health Organization (WHO), considering the interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment. But this approach often remains focused on human health and rarely on the environment and its compartments, especially wastewater as the main AR receptor. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) not only are not designed for reliving AR but also provide appropriate conditions for enhancing AR through different mechanisms. METHODS By reviewing the research-based statistics on the inclusion of WWTPs in the One-Health/AR program crisis, this paper highlights the importance of paying attention to these hotspots, at first. Also, the importance and technical roadmap for the application of WWTPs in both surveillance and management of AR were provided. The current position of these facilities was also evaluated using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. In the end, the concluding knowledge gaps and research needs for future investigations were presented. RESULTS Despite the fact that wastewater matrices are the hotspot for AR dissemination, WWTPs appear under-represented in One-Health/AR literature. So, of the 414434 articles retrieved for One-Health only 1.5% (n = 6321) focused on AR and about 0.04% (n = 158) on WWTPs. The potential of WWTPs inclusion in AR surveillance has been confirmed by several studies, however, when it comes to its inclusion for management of AR, more evidence should be presented, which confirmed by SWOT results. DISCUSSION As such, WWTPs simultaneously provide opportunities for AR surveillance as it is assumed that this medium can reflect the reality of the corresponding society, and for managing unexpected crises which could impact the public. Nonetheless, there are still numerous considerations to change WWTPs role from Achilles' heel to Ajax' shield, including strengthening the research-based knowledge and conducting both surveillance and management strategies of AR under One-Health concept (One-Health/AR) in a clear straightforward framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdolmajid Gholizadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran; Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Mehdi Khiadani
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Perth WA, Australia
| | - Maryam Foroughi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran; Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.
| | - Hadi Alizade Siuki
- Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran; Department of Public Health, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Hadi Mehrfar
- Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
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Teixeira AM, Vaz-Moreira I, Calderón-Franco D, Weissbrodt D, Purkrtova S, Gajdos S, Dottorini G, Nielsen PH, Khalifa L, Cytryn E, Bartacek J, Manaia CM. Candidate biomarkers of antibiotic resistance for the monitoring of wastewater and the downstream environment. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120761. [PMID: 37918195 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) are essential for reducing the pollutants load and protecting water bodies. However, wastewater catchment areas and UWTPs emit continuously antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with recognized impacts on the downstream environments. Recently, the European Commission recommended to monitor antibiotic resistance in UWTPs serving more than 100 000 population equivalents. Antibiotic resistance monitoring in environmental samples can be challenging. The expected complexity of these systems can jeopardize the interpretation capacity regarding, for instance, wastewater treatment efficiency, impacts of environmental contamination, or risks due to human exposure. Simplified monitoring frameworks will be essential for the successful implementation of analytical procedures, data analysis, and data sharing. This study aimed to test a set of biomarkers representative of ARG contamination, selected based on their frequent human association and, simultaneously, rare presence in pristine environments. In addition to the 16S rRNA gene, ten potential biomarkers (intI1, sul1, ermB, ermF, aph(3'')-Ib, qacEΔ1, uidA, mefC, tetX, and crAssphage) were monitored in DNA extracts (n = 116) from raw wastewater, activated sludge, treated wastewater, and surface water (upstream and downstream of UWTPs) samples collected in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Each biomarker was sensitive enough to measure decreases (on average by up to 2.5 log-units gene copy/mL) from raw wastewater to surface water, with variations in the same order of magnitude as for the 16S rRNA gene. The use of the 10 biomarkers allowed the typing of water samples whose origin or quality could be predicted in a blind test. The results show that, based on appropriate biomarkers, qPCR can be used for a cost-effective and technically accessible approach to monitoring wastewater and the downstream environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Margarida Teixeira
- CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal
| | - Ivone Vaz-Moreira
- CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal
| | - David Calderón-Franco
- Department of Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology Section, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, Delft, HZ 2629, the Netherlands
| | - David Weissbrodt
- Department of Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology Section, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, Delft, HZ 2629, the Netherlands; Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 7034, Norway
| | - Sabina Purkrtova
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 5 Technická, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Gajdos
- Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 5 Technická, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Giulia Dottorini
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
| | - Per Halkjær Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
| | - Leron Khalifa
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, The Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O Box 15159, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel
| | - Eddie Cytryn
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, The Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O Box 15159, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel
| | - Jan Bartacek
- Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 5 Technická, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Célia M Manaia
- CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal.
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Fu Y, Dou Q, Smalla K, Wang Y, Johnson TA, Brandt KK, Mei Z, Liao M, Hashsham SA, Schäffer A, Smidt H, Zhang T, Li H, Stedtfeld R, Sheng H, Chai B, Virta M, Jiang X, Wang F, Zhu Y, Tiedje JM. Gut microbiota research nexus: One Health relationship between human, animal, and environmental resistomes. MLIFE 2023; 2:350-364. [PMID: 38818274 PMCID: PMC10989101 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The emergence and rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance is of global public health concern. The gut microbiota harboring diverse commensal and opportunistic bacteria that can acquire resistance via horizontal and vertical gene transfers is considered an important reservoir and sink of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this review, we describe the reservoirs of gut ARGs and their dynamics in both animals and humans, use the One Health perspective to track the transmission of ARG-containing bacteria between humans, animals, and the environment, and assess the impact of antimicrobial resistance on human health and socioeconomic development. The gut resistome can evolve in an environment subject to various selective pressures, including antibiotic administration and environmental and lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, age, gender, and living conditions), and interventions through probiotics. Strategies to reduce the abundance of clinically relevant antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their resistance determinants in various environmental niches are needed to ensure the mitigation of acquired antibiotic resistance. With the help of effective measures taken at the national, local, personal, and intestinal management, it will also result in preventing or minimizing the spread of infectious diseases. This review aims to improve our understanding of the correlations between intestinal microbiota and antimicrobial resistance and provide a basis for the development of management strategies to mitigate the antimicrobial resistance crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qingyuan Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Kornelia Smalla
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) Federal Research Centre for Cultivated PlantsBraunschweigGermany
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | | | - Kristian K. Brandt
- Section for Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology, Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
- Sino‐Danish Center (SDC)BeijingChina
| | - Zhi Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Maoyuan Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Syed A. Hashsham
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Center for Microbial EcologyMichigan State UniversityMichiganUSA
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMichigan State UniversityMichiganUSA
| | - Andreas Schäffer
- Institute for Environmental ResearchRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Hauke Smidt
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil EngineeringThe University of Hong KongPokfulamHong KongChina
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Center for Microbial EcologyMichigan State UniversityMichiganUSA
| | - Robert Stedtfeld
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMichigan State UniversityMichiganUSA
| | - Hongjie Sheng
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and EnvironmentJiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Benli Chai
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Center for Microbial EcologyMichigan State UniversityMichiganUSA
| | - Marko Virta
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Xin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yong‐Guan Zhu
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban EnvironmentChinese Academy of SciencesXiamenChina
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional EcologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - James M. Tiedje
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Center for Microbial EcologyMichigan State UniversityMichiganUSA
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Choix FJ, Palacios OA, Nevarez-Moorillón GV. Traditional and new proposals for environmental microbial indicators-a review. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1521. [PMID: 37995003 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The continuous increment in world population coupled with the greatest natural resource consumption and waste generation has an enormous impact on the environment. To date, using biological indicators (bioindicators) to evaluate the biological quality of natural environments is very common. Nonetheless, selecting those suitable for each ecosystem or contaminant is one of the most important issues for environmental sciences. Bacteria and helminths are mainly related to fecal contamination, while antibiotic-resistant bacteria, fungi, viruses, and microalgae are organisms used to determine deteriorated ecosystems by diverse contaminants. Nowadays, each bioindicator is used as a specific agent of different contaminant types, but detecting and quantifying these bioindicator microorganisms can be performed from simple microscopy and culture methods up to a complex procedure based on omic sciences. Developing new techniques based on the metabolism and physiological responses of traditional bioindicators is shown in a fast environmental sensitivity analysis. Therefore, the present review focuses on analyzing different bioindicators to facilitate developing suitable monitoring environmental systems according to different pollutant agents. The traditional and new methods proposed to detect and quantify different bioindicators are also discussed. Their vital role is considered in implementing efficient ecosystem bioprospection, restoration, and conservation strategies directed to natural resource management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Choix
- CONAHCYT - Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario S/N, C.P. 31125, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México.
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario S/N, C.P. 31125, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México.
| | - Oskar A Palacios
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario S/N, C.P. 31125, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México
- The Bashan Institute of Science, 1730 Post Oak Court, Auburn, AL, 36830, USA
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Moreira Pinto AR, Martins CR, Carvalho JFD, Ferrari VB, Vasconcellos SPD, Moraes JEFD. Degradation of amoxicillin applying photo-Fenton and acid hydrolysis processes with toxicity evaluation via antimicrobial susceptibility tests. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2023; 44:4248-4259. [PMID: 35694867 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2022.2089056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
ABSTARCTThe antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX) is a semisynthetic aminopenicillin, classified as an β-lactam antibiotic. This work aims to evaluate the AMX degradation (190 mg L-1), in aqueous medium, applying photo-Fenton ([TOC]0 = 100 mgC L-1; FH2O2 = 3.27 mmol min-1; [Fe2+] = 0.27 mmol L-1; pH = 3.0; T = 40°C) and acid hydrolysis processes. Along the experiments, samples were withdrawn and analyzed by a total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer and a liquid chromatography system coupled to diode array (HPLC-DAD) and mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) detectors. The hydrolysis process proved to be less efficient, because AMX removals greater than 80% were observed only after 24 hours of reaction (pH 2). Conversely, the photo-Fenton process removed completely AMX in just 20 minutes, reaching 85% of TOC removal in 2 hours. Finally, the AMX aqueous solutions treated by the studied processes was also evaluated in respect of its toxicity to some microorganisms, applying two antimicrobial susceptibility tests: disk-diffusion and broth microdilution methods. It was observed that the AMX aqueous solutions, pretreated by the photo-Fenton process, for just 7.5 min of reaction time, did not inhibit the microorganisms growth. The obtained results show that the photo-Fenton process was able to degrade AMX, in a relatively short time, and that the generated degradation products did not inhibit the microorganisms growth, when compared to acid hydrolysis process. Thus, it was verified the potential application of the photo-Fenton system as a pretreatment step to conventional biological oxidation processes for the treatment of industrial wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Rodrigo Moreira Pinto
- Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Laboratório de Engenharia e Controle Ambiental (LENCA), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Reis Martins
- Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Laboratório de Engenharia e Controle Ambiental (LENCA), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joyce Ferreira de Carvalho
- Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Laboratório de Engenharia e Controle Ambiental (LENCA), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vitor Baptista Ferrari
- Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Laboratório de Engenharia e Controle Ambiental (LENCA), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Suzan Pantaroto de Vasconcellos
- Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Laboratório de Engenharia e Controle Ambiental (LENCA), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Ermírio Ferreira de Moraes
- Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Laboratório de Engenharia e Controle Ambiental (LENCA), São Paulo, Brazil
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Wang YQ, Wang HC, Song YP, Zhou SQ, Li QN, Liang B, Liu WZ, Zhao YW, Wang AJ. Machine learning framework for intelligent aeration control in wastewater treatment plants: Automatic feature engineering based on variation sliding layer. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 246:120676. [PMID: 37806124 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Intelligent control of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has the potential to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions significantly. Machine learning (ML) provides a promising solution to handle the increasing amount and complexity of generated data. However, relationships between the features of wastewater datasets are generally inconspicuous, which hinders the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in WWTPs intelligent control. In this study, we develop an automatic framework of feature engineering based on variation sliding layer (VSL) to control the air demand precisely. Results demonstrated that using VSL in classic machine learning, deep learning, and ensemble learning could significantly improve the efficiency of aeration intelligent control in WWTPs. Bayesian regression and ensemble learning achieved the highest accuracy for predicting air demand. The developed models with VSL-ML models were also successfully implemented under the full-scale wastewater treatment plant, showing a 16.12 % reduction in demand compared to conventional aeration control of preset dissolved oxygen (DO) and feedback to the blower. The VSL-ML models showed great potential to be applied for the precision air demand prediction and control. The package as a tripartite library of Python is called wwtpai, which is freely accessible on GitHub and CSDN to remove technical barriers to the application of AI technology in WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hong-Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Yun-Peng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Shi-Qing Zhou
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Water Security Technology and Application, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Qiu-Ning Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Bin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wen-Zong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yi-Wei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ai-Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
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40
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K S, Vasanthrao R, Chattopadhyay I. Impact of environment on transmission of antibiotic-resistant superbugs in humans and strategies to lower dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2023; 68:657-675. [PMID: 37589876 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-023-01083-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics are the most efficient type of therapy developed in the twentieth century. From the early 1960s to the present, the rate of discovery of new and therapeutically useful classes of antibiotics has significantly decreased. As a result of antibiotic use, novel strains emerge that limit the efficiency of therapies in patients, resulting in serious consequences such as morbidity or mortality, as well as clinical difficulties. Antibiotic resistance has created major concern and has a greater impact on global health. Horizontal and vertical gene transfers are two mechanisms involved in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through environmental sources such as wastewater treatment plants, agriculture, soil, manure, and hospital-associated area discharges. Mobile genetic elements have an important part in microbe selection pressure and in spreading their genes into new microbial communities; additionally, it establishes a loop between the environment, animals, and humans. This review contains antibiotics and their resistance mechanisms, diffusion of ARGs, prevention of ARG transmission, tactics involved in microbiome identification, and therapies that aid to minimize infection, which are explored further below. The emergence of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) is an unavoidable threat to global health. The discovery of novel antimicrobial agents derived from natural products shifts the focus from chemical modification of existing antibiotic chemical composition. In the future, metagenomic research could aid in the identification of antimicrobial resistance genes in the environment. Novel therapeutics may reduce infection and the transmission of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suganya K
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, 610101, India
| | - Ramavath Vasanthrao
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, 610101, India
| | - Indranil Chattopadhyay
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, 610101, India.
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41
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Borella da Silva TC, Dos Santos DL, Rott MB. First report of free-living amoebae in sewage treatment plants in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023; 21:1611-1624. [PMID: 37902214 PMCID: wh_2023_261 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Free-living amoebae (FLA) are amphizoic protozoans with a cosmopolitan distribution. Some strains of species are associated with infections in humans. They feed on microorganisms by phagocytosis; however, some of these can become endocytobionts by resisting this process and taking shelter inside the amoeba. The whole world is experiencing increasing shortage of water, and sewage is being reused, so the study of this environment is important in public health context. The objective of this work was to identify FLA present in sewage treatment plants in Porto Alegre, Brazil. About 1 L samples were collected from eight stations (raw and treated sewage) in January, February, July, and August 2022. The samples were sown in monoxenic culture, and the isolated amoebae were subjected to morphological and molecular identification. Polymerase chain reaction results indicated the presence of the genus Acanthamoeba in 100% of the samples. Gene sequencing showed the presence of Acanthamoeba lenticulata and Acanthamoeba polyphaga - T5 and T4 genotypes - respectively, which are related to pathogenicity. The environment where the sewage is released can be used in recreational activities, exposing individuals to potential interactions with these amoebae and their potential endocytobionts, which may pose risks to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaisla Cristiane Borella da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil E-mail:
| | - Daniel Leal Dos Santos
- Faculty of Geography, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Avenue, N 6681, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Marilise Brittes Rott
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Chen JS, Hsu BM, Ko WC, Wang JL. Comparison of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli from main river basins under different levels of the sewer system development. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115372. [PMID: 37619401 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in the aquatic environments is considered a strong indicator of sewage or animal waste contamination and antibiotic pollution. Sewer construction and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) infrastructure may serve as concentrated point sources of contamination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. In this study, we focused on the distribution of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in two rivers with large drainage areas and different urbanisation levels. E. coli from Kaoping River with drainage mainly from livestock farming had higher resistance to antibiotics (e.g. penicillins, tetracyclines, phenicols, aminoglycosides, and sulpha drugs) and presented more positive detection of antibiotic-resistance genes (e.g. ampC, blaTEM, tetA, and cmlA1) than that from Tamsui River. In Kaoping River with a lower percentage of sewer construction nearby (0-30%) in contrast to a higher percentage of sewer construction (55-92%) in Tamsui River, antimicrobial-resistant E. coli distribution was related to livestock farming waste. In Tamsui River, antimicrobial resistant E. coli isolates were found more frequently in the downstream drainage area of WWTPs with secondary water treatment than that of WWTPs with tertiary water treatment. The Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) PCR showed that the fingerprinting group was significantly related to the sampling site (p < 0.01) and sampling date (p < 0.05). By utilising ERIC-PCR in conjunction with antibiotic susceptibility and antibiotic-resistance gene detection, the relationship among different strains of E. coli could be elucidated. Furthermore, we identified the presence of six extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli isolates and antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolates near drinking water sources, posing a potential risk to public health through community transmission. In conclusion, this study identified environmental factors related to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance gene contamination in rivers during urban development. The results facilitate the understanding of specific management of different waste streams across different urban areas. Periodic surveillance of the effects of WWTPs and livestock waste containing antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes on river contamination is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Sheng Chen
- Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Mu Hsu
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chien Ko
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Ling Wang
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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Zagui GS, Moreira NC, Santos DV, Paschoalato CFPR, Sierra J, Nadal M, Domingo JL, Darini ALC, Andrade LN, Segura-Muñoz SI. Multidrug-resistant Enterobacter spp. in wastewater and surface water: Molecular characterization of β-lactam resistance and metal tolerance genes. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 233:116443. [PMID: 37356524 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Among the ESKAPE group pathogens, Enterobacter spp. is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacillus, widely dispersed in the environment, that causes infections. In the present study, samples of hospital wastewater, raw and treated urban wastewater, as well as surface receiving water, were collected to assess the occurrence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacter spp. A molecular characterization of β-lactam antibiotic resistance and metal tolerance genes was performed. According to identification by MALDI-TOF MS, 14 isolates were obtained: 7 E. bugandensis, 5 E. kobei, and 2 E. cloacae. The isolates showed resistance mainly to β-lactam antibiotics, including those used to treat infections caused by MDR bacteria. Multiple antibiotic resistance index was calculated for all isolates. It allowed verify whether sampling points showed a high risk due to antibiotic resistant Enterobacter spp., as well as to determine if the isolates have been in environments with a frequent antibiotic use. Twelve isolates showed β-lactam antibiotic resistance gene, being the blaKPC widely detected. Regarding metal tolerance, 13 isolates showed at least two genes that encode metal tolerance mechanisms. Overall, metal tolerance mechanisms to silver, copper, mercury, arsenic and tellurium were found. New data on metal tolerance mechanisms dispersion and antibiotic-resistance characterization of the E. bugandensis and E. kobei species were here provided. The occurrence of MDR Enterobacter spp. in analyzed samples draws attention to an urgent need to put control measures into practice. It also evidences waterborne spread of clinically important antibiotic-resistant bacteria recognized as critical priority pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Sgobbi Zagui
- Water Resources Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Environmental Technology, University of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Natália Columbaro Moreira
- Special Laboratory of Bacteriology and Molecular Epidemiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danilo Vitorino Santos
- Chemical Residue Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Jordi Sierra
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de Barcelona, Joan XXIII s/n Avenue, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Martí Nadal
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - José L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ana Lúcia Costa Darini
- Special Laboratory of Bacteriology and Molecular Epidemiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Neves Andrade
- Research Laboratory in Bacterial Resistance and Virulence, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Susana Inés Segura-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
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Sambaza SS, Naicker N. Contribution of wastewater to antimicrobial resistance: A review article. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2023; 34:23-29. [PMID: 37285914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global challenge that has raised concern globally, owing to its detrimental effects on the health and economy of countries. The ever-growing threat of AMR and sources of AMR are still being investigated. Wastewater plays an important role as a habitat for bacteria and an environment conducive to gene transfer. The primary aim of this review was to highlight the contribution of wastewater to AMR. METHODS Evidence of AMR in wastewater was drawn from literature published in the last 10 years, from 2012 to 2022. RESULTS Wastewater from agricultural practices, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, and hospital effluents was established to promote AMR. Furthermore, stress factors such as the presence of antibiotics, heavy metals, pH, and temperature initiate and propagate AMR in bacteria living in wastewater. AMR in bacteria from wastewater was established to be either natural or acquired. Wastewater treatment techniques such as membrane filtration, coagulation, adsorption, and advanced oxidation processes have been used to remove resistant bacteria with varying success levels. CONCLUSION Wastewater is a major contributor to AMR, and an understanding of its role in AMR is necessary to find a lasting solution. In this regard, the spread of AMR in wastewater should be considered a threat that requires a strategy to stop further damage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nisha Naicker
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Services, Braamfontein, South Africa
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Náfrádi M, Alapi T, Veres B, Farkas L, Bencsik G, Janáky C. Comparison of TiO 2 and ZnO for Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Activation of the Peroxydisulfate Ion in Trimethoprim Degradation. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:5920. [PMID: 37687613 PMCID: PMC10489049 DOI: 10.3390/ma16175920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The persulfate-based advanced oxidation process is a promising method for degrading organic pollutants. Herein, TiO2 and ZnO photocatalysts were combined with the peroxydisulfate ion (PDS) to enhance the efficiency. ZnO was significantly more efficient in PDS conversion and SO4•- generation than TiO2. For ZnO, the PDS increased the transformation rate of the trimethoprim antibiotic from 1.58 × 10-7 M s-1 to 6.83 × 10-7 M s-1. However, in the case of TiO2, the moderated positive effect was manifested mainly in O2-free suspensions. The impact of dissolved O2 and trimethoprim on PDS transformation was also studied. The results reflected that the interaction of O2, PDS, and TRIM with the surface of the photocatalyst and their competition for photogenerated charges must be considered. The effect of radical scavengers confirmed that in addition to SO4•-, •OH plays an essential role even in O2-free suspensions, and the contribution of SO4•- to the transformation is much more significant for ZnO than for TiO2. The negative impact of biologically treated domestic wastewater as a matrix was manifested, most probably because of the radical scavenging capacity of Cl- and HCO3-. Nevertheless, in the case of ZnO, the positive effect of PDS successfully overcompensates that, due to the efficient SO4•- generation. Reusability tests were performed in Milli-Q water and biologically treated domestic wastewater, and only a slight decrease in the reactivity of ZnO photocatalysts was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máté Náfrádi
- Department of Inorganic, Organic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm Square 7-8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (M.N.); (B.V.); (L.F.)
| | - Tünde Alapi
- Department of Inorganic, Organic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm Square 7-8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (M.N.); (B.V.); (L.F.)
| | - Bence Veres
- Department of Inorganic, Organic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm Square 7-8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (M.N.); (B.V.); (L.F.)
| | - Luca Farkas
- Department of Inorganic, Organic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm Square 7-8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (M.N.); (B.V.); (L.F.)
| | - Gábor Bencsik
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi Square 1, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (G.B.); (C.J.)
| | - Csaba Janáky
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi Square 1, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (G.B.); (C.J.)
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Vasilieva S, Lukyanov A, Antipova C, Grigoriev T, Lobakova E, Chivkunova O, Scherbakov P, Zaytsev P, Gorelova O, Fedorenko T, Kochkin D, Solovchenko A. Interactive Effects of Ceftriaxone and Chitosan Immobilization on the Production of Arachidonic Acid by and the Microbiome of the Chlorophyte Lobosphaera sp. IPPAS C-2047. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10988. [PMID: 37446166 PMCID: PMC10341515 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals including antibiotics are among the hazardous micropollutants (HMP) of the environment. Incomplete degradation of the HMP leads to their persistence in water bodies causing a plethora of deleterious effects. Conventional wastewater treatment cannot remove HMP completely and a promising alternative comprises biotechnologies based on microalgae. The use of immobilized microalgae in environmental biotechnology is advantageous since immobilized cultures allow the recycling of the microalgal cells, support higher cell densities, and boost tolerance of microalgae to stresses including HMP. Here, we report on a comparative study of HMP (exemplified by the antibiotic ceftriaxone, CTA) removal by suspended and chitosan-immobilized cells of Lobosphaera sp. IPPAS C-2047 in flasks and in a column bioreactor. The removal of CTA added in the concentration of 20 mg/L was as high as 65% (in the flasks) or 85% (in the bioreactor). The adsorption on the carrier and abiotic oxidation were the main processes contributing 65-70% to the total CTA removal, while both suspended and immobilized cells took up 25-30% of CTA. Neither the immobilization nor CTA affected the accumulation of arachidonic acid (ARA) by Lobosphaera sp. during bioreactor tests but the subsequent nitrogen deprivation increased ARA accumulation 2.5 and 1.7 times in the suspended and chitosan-immobilized microalgae, respectively. The study of the Lobosphaera sp. microbiome revealed that the immobilization of chitosan rather than the CTA exposure was the main factor displacing the taxonomic composition of the microbiome. The possibility and limitations of the use of chitosan-immobilized Lobosphaera sp. IPPAS C-2047 for HMP removal coupled with the production of valuable long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Vasilieva
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Derzhavin Tambov State University, Komsomolskaya Square 5, 392008 Tambov, Russia
| | - Alexandr Lukyanov
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
| | - Christina Antipova
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Square 1, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (C.A.); (T.G.)
| | - Timofei Grigoriev
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Square 1, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (C.A.); (T.G.)
| | - Elena Lobakova
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Derzhavin Tambov State University, Komsomolskaya Square 5, 392008 Tambov, Russia
| | - Olga Chivkunova
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
| | - Pavel Scherbakov
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
| | - Petr Zaytsev
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Derzhavin Tambov State University, Komsomolskaya Square 5, 392008 Tambov, Russia
| | - Olga Gorelova
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
| | - Tatiana Fedorenko
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
| | - Dmitry Kochkin
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
- Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya St. 35, 127276 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexei Solovchenko
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (S.V.); (A.L.); (E.L.); (O.C.); (P.S.); (P.Z.); (O.G.); (T.F.); (D.K.)
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Derzhavin Tambov State University, Komsomolskaya Square 5, 392008 Tambov, Russia
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47
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Wan C, Tang R, Deng L, Fu L, Wang P, Liu X, Wu C. Illustration on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of typical multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria in aquatic environments through complete genomes and comparative genomics. CHEMOSPHERE 2023:139386. [PMID: 37394187 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially multi-antibiotic-resistant bacteria (MARBs), greatly threaten environmental safety and human health. However, studies on the phenotypic resistance and complete genotypic characterization of MARB in aquatic environments are lacking. In this study, a multi-resistant superbug (TR3) was screened by the selective pressure of multi-antibiotics from the activated sludge of the aeration tanks of urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in 5 different regions of China. Based on the 16 S rDNA sequence alignment it was found that the sequence similarity between strain TR3 and Aeromonas was as high as 99.50%. The genome-wide sequence showed that the base content of the chromosome of strain TR3 is 4,521,851 bp. It contains a plasmid with a length of 9182 bp. All antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of strain TR3 are located on the chromosome, which means that it has passage stability. There are multiple types of resistance genes in the genome and plasmid of strain TR3, enduing it with resistance to 5 antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, ampicillin, clarithromycin, and kanamycin), accompanied by the strongest resistance to kanamycin (aminoglycosides) and the worst resistance to clarithromycin (quinolones). From the perspective of gene expression, we show the resistance mechanism of strain TR3 to different types of antibiotics. In addition, the potential pathogenicity of strain TR3 is also discussed. Chlorine and ultraviolet (UV) sterilization on strain TR3 showed that UV is ineffective at low intensity, and it is easy to be revived by light. A low concentration of hypochlorous acid is effective for sterilization, but it can cause the release of DNA, becoming a potential source of ARGs discharged from WWTPs to environmental water bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunli Wan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Rui Tang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Liyan Deng
- Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Liya Fu
- Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Panxin Wang
- Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Changyong Wu
- Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
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48
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Leão I, Khalifa L, Gallois N, Vaz-Moreira I, Klümper U, Youdkes D, Palmony S, Dagai L, Berendonk TU, Merlin C, Manaia CM, Cytryn E. Microbiome and Resistome Profiles along a Sewage-Effluent-Reservoir Trajectory Underline the Role of Natural Attenuation in Wastewater Stabilization Reservoirs. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0017023. [PMID: 37199629 PMCID: PMC10304787 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00170-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs) loads dissipate through sewage treatment plants to receiving aquatic environments, but the mechanisms that mitigate the spread of these ARGs are not well understood due to the complexity of full-scale systems and the difficulty of source tracking in downstream environments. To overcome this problem, we targeted a controlled experimental system comprising a semicommercial membrane-aerated bioreactor (MABR), whose effluents fed a 4,500-L polypropylene basin that mimicked effluent stabilization reservoirs and receiving aquatic ecosystems. We analyzed a large set of physicochemical measurements, concomitant with the cultivation of total and cefotaxime-resistant Escherichia coli, microbial community analyses, and quantitative PCR (qPCR)/digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) quantification of selected ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). The MABR removed most of the sewage-derived organic carbon and nitrogen, and simultaneously, E. coli, ARG, and MGE levels dropped by approximately 1.5- and 1.0-log unit mL-1, respectively. Similar levels of E. coli, ARGs, and MGEs were removed in the reservoir, but interestingly, unlike in the MABR, the relative abundance (normalized to 16S rRNA gene-inferred total bacterial abundance) of these genes also decreased. Microbial community analyses revealed the substantial shifts in bacterial and eukaryotic community composition in the reservoir relative to the MABR. Collectively, our observations lead us to conclude that the removal of ARGs in the MABR is mainly a consequence of treatment-facilitated biomass removal, whereas in the stabilization reservoir, mitigation is linked to natural attenuation associated with ecosystem functioning, which includes abiotic parameters, and the development of native microbiomes that prevent the establishment of wastewater-derived bacteria and associated ARGs. IMPORTANCE Wastewater treatment plants are sources of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which can contaminate receiving aquatic environments and contribute to antibiotic resistance. We focused on a controlled experimental system comprising a semicommercial membrane-aerated bioreactor (MABR) that treated raw sewage, whose effluents fed a 4,500-L polypropylene basin that mimicked effluent stabilization reservoirs. We evaluated ARB and ARG dynamics across the raw-sewage-MABR-effluent trajectory, concomitant with evaluation of microbial community composition and physicochemical parameters, in an attempt to identify mechanisms associated with ARB and ARG dissipation. We found that removal of ARB and ARGs in the MABR was primarily associated with bacterial death or sludge removal, whereas in the reservoir it was attributed to the inability of ARBs and associated ARGs to colonize the reservoir due to a dynamic and persistent microbial community. The study demonstrates the importance of ecosystem functioning in removing microbial contaminants from wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Leão
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Porto, Portugal
| | - Leron Khalifa
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon-Lezion, Israel
| | | | - Ivone Vaz-Moreira
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Porto, Portugal
| | - Uli Klümper
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniel Youdkes
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon-Lezion, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | - Célia M. Manaia
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eddie Cytryn
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon-Lezion, Israel
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49
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Wang J, Xu S, Zhao K, Song G, Zhao S, Liu R. Risk control of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) during sewage sludge treatment and disposal: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 877:162772. [PMID: 36933744 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Sewage sludge is an important reservoir of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and the reclamation of sewage sludge potentially threats human health and environmental safety. Sludge treatment and disposal are expected to control these risks, and this review summarizes the fate and controlling efficiency of antibiotics, ARGs, and ARB in sludge involved in different processes, i.e., disintegration, anaerobic digestion, aerobic composting, drying, pyrolysis, constructed wetland, and land application. Additionally, the analysis and characterization methods of antibiotics, ARGs, and ARB in complicate sludge are reviewed, and the quantitative risk assessment approaches involved in land application are comprehensively discussed. This review benefits process optimization of sludge treatment and disposal, with regard to environmental risks control of antibiotics, ARGs, and ARB in sludge. Furthermore, current research limitations and gaps, e.g., the antibiotic resistance risk assessment in sludge-amended soil, are proposed to advance the future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Yangze Eco-Environment Engineering Research Center, China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing 100038, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Siqi Xu
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ge Song
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shunan Zhao
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ruiping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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50
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Liu Y, Wu B, Cui X, Ren Q, Ren T, Zhou Y. Distribution and dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes in a three-dimensional multifunctional biofilm during greywater treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 327:121533. [PMID: 36997145 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been identified as serious threats to public health. Despite the widespread in various systems, dynamics of ARGs in three-dimensional multifunctional biofilm (3D-MFB) treating greywater are largely undefined. This work tracked the distributions and dynamics of eight target genes (intI1, korB, sul1, sul2, tetM, ermB, blaCTX-M and qnrS) in a 3D-MFB during greywater treatment. Results showed that hydraulic retention times at 9.0 h achieved the highest linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and total nitrogen removal rates at 99.4% and 79.6%, respectively. ARGs presented significant liquid-solid distribution feature, but non-significant with biofilm position. Intracellular ARGs (predominant by intI1, korB, sul1 and sul2) at bottom biofilm were 210- to 4.2 × 104- fold higher than that in cell-free liquid. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)-attached LAS showed linear relationship with most of ARGs (R2 > 0.90, P < 0.05). Sphingobacteriales, Chlamydiales, Microthrixaceae, SB-1, Cryomorphaceae, Chitinophagaceae, Leadbetterella and Niabella were tightly bound up with target ARGs. Key is that EPS-attached LAS considerably determines the occurrence of ARGs, and microbial taxa play an important role in the dissemination of ARGs in the 3D-MFB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Beibei Wu
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiaocai Cui
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Qingqing Ren
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Tian Ren
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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