Nano- and microplastics drive the dynamic equilibrium of amoeba-associated bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes

Simultaneously disinfection of amoebae, endosymbiotic bacteria, and resistance genes using a novel two-electron water oxidation strategy

Amoebae, which serve as important vectors for various pathogenic bacteria, are ubiquitous in natural and artificial water systems. Their robust survival capabilities and protective characteristics render conventional disinfection methods largely ineffective. Moreover, amoeba cells provide an ideal environment for the replication and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, posing a significant threat to human health and safety. In this study, an in-situ activation system for electrocatalytic water oxidation was developed. This system effectively inactivates amoeba spores and their intracellular symbiotic bacteria while simultaneously reducing the abundance of resistance genes through the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and carbonate free radicals (•CO3-). The results demonstrated a 99.9 % inactivation rate for amoeba spores and a 99.999 % inactivation rate for intracellular bacteria. In addition, the prevalence of resistant genes in bacteria within amoebae, specifically including sul1 (sulfonamide resistance), tetA (tetracycline resistance), blaFOX (cefoxitin resistance), arsB (arsenic resistance), czcA (cadmium resistance), and copA (copper resistance), was significantly reduced by approximately 16 %-62.6 %. Therefore, this study introduces a new technology capable of simultaneously treating amoeba spores, intracellular bacteria, and resistance genes, which holds significant importance for reducing the spread of resistant genes and enhancing public health safety.