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Ding Y, Feng H, Han J, Jiang W, Dong S, Cheng H, Wang M, Wang A. Effect of UV pretreatment on the source control of floR during subsequent biotreatment of florfenicol wastewater. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:120. [PMID: 38212963 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12826-4] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
UV photolysis has been recommended as an alternative pretreatment method for the elimination of antibacterial activity of antibiotics against the indicator strain, but the pretreated antibiotic intermediates might not lose their potential to induce antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) proliferation during subsequent biotreatment processes. The presence of florfenicol (FLO) in wastewater seriously inhibits the metabolic performance of anaerobic sludge microorganisms, especially the positive correlation between UV irradiation doses and ATP content, while it did not significantly affect the organics utilization ability and protein biosynthetic process of aerobic microorganisms. After sufficient UV pretreatment, the relative abundances of floR from genomic or plasmid DNA in subsequent aerobic and anaerobic biotreatment processes both decreased by two orders of magnitude, maintained at the level of the groups without FLO selective pressure. Meanwhile, the abundances of floR under anaerobic condition were always lower than that under aerobic condition, suggesting that anaerobic biotreatment systems might be more suitable for the effective control of target ARGs. The higher abundance of floR in plasmid DNA than in genome also indicated that the potential transmission risk of mobile ARGs should not be ignored. In addition, the relative abundance of intI1 was positively correlated with floR in its corresponding genomic or plasmid DNA (p < 0.05), which also increased the potential horizontal transfer risk of target ARGs. This study provides new insights into the effect of preferential UV photolysis as a pretreatment method for the enhancement of metabolic performance and source control of target ARGs in subsequent biotreatment processes. KEY POINTS: • Sufficient UV photolytic pretreatment efficiently controlled the abundance of floR • A synchronous decrease in abundance of intI1 reduced the risk of horizontal transfer • An appreciable abundance of floR in plasmid DNA was a potential source of total ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangcheng Ding
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China
- School of Statistics and Mathematics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China
| | - Huajun Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinglong Han
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenli Jiang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Shuangjing Dong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoyi Cheng
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Meizhen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China
- School of Statistics and Mathematics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China
| | - Aijie Wang
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
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2
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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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3
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Nazir R, Shua D, Shen JP, Hu HW, Wang JT, He JZ. Effect of meddling ARBs on ARGs dynamics in fungal infested soil and their selective dispersal along spatially distant mycelial networks. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174594. [PMID: 38992349 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
During the recent times, environmental antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their potential transfer to other bacterial hosts of pathogenic importance are of serious concern. However, the dissemination strategies of such ARGs are largely unknown. We tested that saprotrophic soil fungi differentially enriched antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARBs) and subsequently contributed in spatial distribution of selective ARGs. Wafergen qPCR analysis of 295 different ARGs was conducted for manure treated pre-sterilized soil incubated or not with selected bacterial-fungal consortia. The qPCR assay detected unique ARGs specifically found in the mycosphere of ascomycetous and basidiomycetous fungi. Both fungi exerted potentially different selection pressures on ARBs, resulting in different patterns of ARGs dissemination (to distant places) along their respective growing fungal highways. The relative abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was significantly decreased along fungal highways compared to the respective inoculation points. Moreover, the decrease in MGEs and ARGs (along fungal highways) was more prominent over time which depicts the continuous selection pressure of growing fungi on ARBs for enrichment of particular ARGs in mycosphere. Such data also indicate the potential role of saprotrophic soil fungi to facilitate horizontal gene transfer within mycospheric environmental settings. Our study, therefore, advocates to emphasize the future investigations for such (bacteria-fungal) interactive microbial consortia for potential (spatial) dissemination of resistance determinants which may ultimately increase the exposure risks of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashid Nazir
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Abbottabad - Campus, Tobe Camp, University Road, 22060 Abbottabad, Pakistan; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Du Shua
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Ju-Pei Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Hang-Wei Hu
- School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Jun-Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Ji-Zheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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4
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Tavares RDS, Fidalgo C, Rodrigues ET, Tacão M, Henriques I. Integron-associated genes are reliable indicators of antibiotic resistance in wastewater despite treatment- and seasonality-driven fluctuations. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 258:121784. [PMID: 38761599 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121784] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
The present study aims to characterize the bacterial community, resistome and integron abundance of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) over the course of 12 months and evaluate the year-long performance of integron-related genes as potential indicators of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in influents and effluents. For that, total DNA was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA-targeted metabarcoding, high-throughput (HT) qPCR (48 targets) and standard qPCR (5 targets). Targets included integrase genes, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and putative pathogenic groups. A total of 16 physicochemical parameters determined in the wastewater samples were also considered. Results revealed that the WWTP treatment significantly impacted the bacterial community, as well as the content in ARGs and integrase genes. Indeed, there was a relative enrichment from influent to effluent of 13 pathogenic groups (e.g., Legionella and Mycobacterium) and genes conferring resistance to sulphonamides, aminoglycosides and disinfectants. Effluent samples (n = 25) also presented seasonal differences, with an increase of the total ARGs' concentration in summer, and differences between winter and summer on relative abundance of sulphonamide and disinfectant resistance mechanisms. From the eight putative integron-related genes selected, all were positively correlated with the total ARGs' content in wastewater and the relative abundance of resistance to most of the specific antibiotic classes. The genes intI1, blaGES and qacE∆1 were the most strongly correlated with the total concentration of ARGs. Genes blaGES and blaVIM, were better correlated to resistance to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and tetracyclines. This study supports the use of integron-related genes as powerful indicators of antibiotic resistance in wastewater, being robust despite the variability caused by wastewater treatment and seasonality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael D S Tavares
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cátia Fidalgo
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Elsa T Rodrigues
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marta Tacão
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Isabel Henriques
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
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Chen H, Ng C, Tran NH, Haller L, Goh SG, Charles FR, Wu Z, Lim JX, Gin KYH. Removal efficiency of antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and genes across parallel secondary settling tank and membrane bioreactor treatment trains in a water reclamation plant. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171723. [PMID: 38492595 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171723] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as a potent threat to human health. Wastewater treatment facilities are viewed as hotspots for the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study provides comprehensive data on the occurrences of 3 different antibiotic resistant opportunistic pathogens (with resistance to up to 5 antibiotics), 13 antibiotic resistant genes and intI1, and 22 different antimicrobial residues in a large water reclamation plant (176 million gallons per day) that runs a conventional Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) reactor followed by a secondary settling tank (SST) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) in parallel. All the antibiotic resistant bacteria and most of the antibiotic resistance genes were present in the raw influent, ranging from 2.5 × 102-3.7 × 106 CFU/mL and 1.2× 10-1-6.5 × 1010 GCN/mL, respectively. MBR outperformed the SST system in terms of ARB removal as the ARB targets were largely undetected in MBR effluent, with log removals ranging from 2.7 to 6.8, while SST only had log removals ranging from 0.27 to 4.6. Most of the ARG concentrations were found to have significantly higher in SST effluent than MBR permeate, and MBR had significantly higher removal efficiency for most targets (p < 0.05) except for sul1, sul2, blaOXA48, intI1 and 16S rRNA genes (p > 0.05). As for the antibiotic residues (AR), there was no significant removal from the start to the end of the treatment process, although MBR had higher removal efficiencies for azithromycin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, erythromycin-H2O, lincomycin, sulfamethoxazole and triclosan, compared to the SST system. In conclusion, MBR outperformed SST in terms of ARB and ARGs removal. However low removal efficiencies of most AR targets were apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Chen
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Charmaine Ng
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building (#02-01), 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Ngoc Han Tran
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building (#02-01), 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Laurence Haller
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building (#02-01), 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Shin Giek Goh
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building (#02-01), 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Francis Rathinam Charles
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building (#02-01), 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Zhixin Wu
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building (#02-01), 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Jit Xin Lim
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building (#02-01), 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building (#02-01), 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Block E1A-07-03, 1 Engineering Drive 2, 117576, Singapore.
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Jampani M, Mateo-Sagasta J, Chandrasekar A, Fatta-Kassinos D, Graham DW, Gothwal R, Moodley A, Chadag VM, Wiberg D, Langan S. Fate and transport modelling for evaluating antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments: Current knowledge and research priorities. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132527. [PMID: 37788551 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132527] [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: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics have revolutionised medicine in the last century and enabled the prevention of bacterial infections that were previously deemed untreatable. However, in parallel, bacteria have increasingly developed resistance to antibiotics through various mechanisms. When resistant bacteria find their way into terrestrial and aquatic environments, animal and human exposures increase, e.g., via polluted soil, food, and water, and health risks multiply. Understanding the fate and transport of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and the transfer mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments is critical for evaluating and mitigating the risks of resistant-induced infections. The conceptual understanding of sources and pathways of antibiotics, ARB, and ARGs from society to the water environments is essential for setting the scene and developing an appropriate framework for modelling. Various factors and processes associated with hydrology, ecology, and climate change can significantly affect the fate and transport of ARB and ARGs in natural environments. This article reviews current knowledge, research gaps, and priorities for developing water quality models to assess the fate and transport of ARB and ARGs. The paper also provides inputs on future research needs, especially the need for new predictive models to guide risk assessment on AR transmission and spread in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Jampani
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
| | - Javier Mateo-Sagasta
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Aparna Chandrasekar
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department Computational Hydrosystems, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Hydrobiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Despo Fatta-Kassinos
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and Nireas International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ritu Gothwal
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Arshnee Moodley
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | | | - David Wiberg
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Simon Langan
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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7
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Ovis-Sánchez JO, Perera-Pérez VD, Buitrón G, Quintela-Baluja M, Graham DW, Morales-Espinosa R, Carrillo-Reyes J. Exploring resistomes and microbiomes in pilot-scale microalgae-bacteria wastewater treatment systems for use in low-resource settings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 882:163545. [PMID: 37080313 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163545] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) released into the environment are an emerging human and environmental health concern, including ARGs spread in wastewater treatment effluents. In low-to-middle income countries (LMICs), an alternate wastewater treatment option instead of conventional systems are low-energy, high-rate algal ponds (HRAP) that use microalgae-bacteria aggregates (MABA) for waste degradation. Here we studied the robustness of ARG removal in MABA-based pilot-scale outdoor systems for 140 days of continuous operation. The HRAP system successfully removed 73 to 88 % chemical oxygen demand and up to 97.4 % ammonia, with aggregate size increasing over operating time. Fourteen ARG classes were identified in the HRAP influent, MABA, and effluent using metagenomics, with the HRAP process reducing total ARG abundances by up to 5-fold from influent to effluent. Parallel qPCR analyses showed the HRAP system significantly reduced exemplar ARGs (p < 0.05), with 1.2 to 4.9, 2.7 to 6.3, 0 to 1.5, and 1.2 to 4.8 log-removals for sul1, tetQ, blaKPC, and intl1 genes, respectively. Sequencing of influent, effluent and MABAs samples showed associated microbial communities differed significantly, with influent communities by Enterobacteriales (clinically relevant ARGs carrying bacteria), which were less evident in MABA and effluent. In this sense, such bacteria might be excluded from MABA due to their good settling properties and the presence of antimicrobial peptides. Microalgae-bacteria treatment systems steadily reduced ARGs from wastewater during operation time, using sunlight as the energetic driver, making them ideal for use in LMIC wastewater treatment applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián O Ovis-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Procesos Avanzados de Tratamiento de Aguas, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Victor D Perera-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Procesos Avanzados de Tratamiento de Aguas, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Germán Buitrón
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Procesos Avanzados de Tratamiento de Aguas, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Marcos Quintela-Baluja
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Rosario Morales-Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Genómica Bacteriana, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Julián Carrillo-Reyes
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Procesos Avanzados de Tratamiento de Aguas, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, Mexico.
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8
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Liu C, Zhu X, You L, Gin KYH, Chen H, Chen B. Per/polyfluoroalkyl substances modulate plasmid transfer of antibiotic resistance genes: A balance between oxidative stress and energy support. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 240:120086. [PMID: 37257295 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Emerging contaminants can accelerate the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from environmental bacteria to human pathogens via plasmid conjugation, posing a great challenge to the public health. Although the toxic effects of per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as persistent organic pollutants have been understood, it is still unclear whether and how PFAS modulate the transmission of ARGs. In this study, we for the first time reported that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) and ammonium perfluoro (2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate) (GenX) at relatively low concentrations (0.01, 0.1 mg/L) promoted the conjugative transfer of plasmid RP4 within Escherichia coli, while the plasmid conjugation was inhibited by PFOA, PFDoA and GenX at relatively high concentrations (1, 10 mg/L). The non-unidirectional conjugation result was ascribed to the co-regulation of ROS overproduction, enhanced cell membrane permeability, shortage of energy support as well as l-arginine pool depletion. Taking the well-known PFOA as an example, it significantly enhanced the conjugation frequency by 1.4 and 3.4 times at relatively low concentrations (0.01, 0.1 mg/L), respectively. Exposure to PFOA resulted in enhanced cell membrane permeability and ROS overproduction in donor cells. At high concentrations of PFOA (1, 10 mg/L), although enhanced oxidative stress and cell membrane permeability still occurred, the ATP contents in E. coli decreased, which contributed to the inhibited conjugation. Transcriptome analysis further showed that the expression levels of genes related to arginine biosynthesis (argA, argC, argF, argG, argI) and transport (artJ, artM, artQ) pathways were significantly increased. Intracellular l-arginine concentration deficiency were observed at high concentrations of PFOA. With the supplementary exogenous arginine, it was demonstrated that arginine upregulated conjugation transfer- related genes (trfAp, trbBp) and restores the cell number of transconjugants in PFOA-treated group. Therefore, the inhibited conjugation at high concentrations PFOA were attributed to the shortage of ATP and the depletion of L-arginine pool. These findings provide important insights into the effect environmental concentrations of PFAS on the conjugative transfer of ARGs, and update the regulation mechanism of plasmid conjugation, which is critical for the management of antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Liu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Luhua You
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Baoliang Chen
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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9
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Zeng X, Cao Y, Wang L, Wang M, Wang Q, Yang Q. Viability and transcriptional responses of multidrug resistant E. coli to chromium stress. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 324:121346. [PMID: 36868548 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121346] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The viability of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria in environment is critical for the spread of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, two Escherichia coli strains, MDR LM13 and susceptible ATCC25922, were used to elucidate differences in their viability and transcriptional responses to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) stress. The results show that the viability of LM13 was notably higher than that of ATCC25922 under 2-20 mg/L Cr(VI) exposure with bacteriostatic rates of 3.1%-57%, respectively, for LM13 and 0.9%-93.1%, respectively, for ATCC25922. The levels of reactive oxygen species and superoxide dismutase in ATCC25922 were much higher than those in LM13 under Cr(VI) exposure. Additionally, 514 and 765 differentially expressed genes were identified from the transcriptomes of the two strains (log2|FC| > 1, p < 0.05). Among them, 134 up-regulated genes were enriched in LM13 in response to external pressure, but only 48 genes were annotated in ATCC25922. Furthermore, the expression levels of antibiotic resistance genes, insertion sequences, DNA and RNA methyltransferases, and toxin-antitoxin systems were generally higher in LM13 than in ATCC25922. This work shows that MDR LM13 has a stronger viability under Cr(VI) stress, and therefore may promote the dissemination of MDR bacteria in environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangpeng Zeng
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Yu Cao
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Lanning Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Min Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China; Henan International Joint Laboratory of Agricultural Microbial Ecology and Technology, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Qingxiang Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China; Henan International Joint Laboratory of Agricultural Microbial Ecology and Technology, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China.
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10
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Wu D, Zhao J, Su Y, Yang M, Dolfing J, Graham DW, Yang K, Xie B. Explaining the resistomes in a megacity's water supply catchment: Roles of microbial assembly-dominant taxa, niched environments and pathogenic bacteria. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 228:119359. [PMID: 36423548 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in drinking water sources suggest the possible presence of resistant microorganisms that jeopardize human health. However, explanations for the presence of specific ARGs in situ are largely unknown, especially how their prevalence is affected by local microbial ecology, taxa assembly and community-wide gene transfer. Here, we characterized resistomes and bacterial communities in the Taipu River catchment, which feeds a key drinking water reservoir to a global megacity, Shanghai. Overall, ARG abundances decreased significantly as the river flowed downstream towards the reservoir (P < 0.01), whereas the waterborne bacteria assembled deterministically (|βNRI| > 2.0) as a function of temperature and dissolved oxygen conditions with the assembly-dominant taxa (e.g. Ilumatobacteraceae and Cyanobiaceae) defining local resistomes (P < 0.01, Cohen's D = 4.22). Bacterial hosts of intragenomic ARGs stayed at the same level across the catchment (60 ∼ 70 genome copies per million reads). Among them, the putative resistant pathogens (e.g. Burkholderiaceae) carried mixtures of ARGs that exhibited high transmission probability (transfer counts = 126, P < 0.001), especially with the microbial assembly-dominant taxa. These putative resistant pathogens had densities ranging form 3.0 to 4.0 × 106 cell/L, which was more pronouncedly affected by resistome and microbial assembly structures than environmental factors (SEM, std-coeff β = 0.62 vs. 0.12). This work shows that microbial assembly and resistant pathogens play predominant roles in prevelance and dissemination of resistomes in receiving water, which deserves greater attention in devisng control strategies for reducing in-situ ARGs and resistant strains in a catchment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou 550001, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jue Zhao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yinglong Su
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Mengjie Yang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Jan Dolfing
- Faculty Energy and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH, UK
| | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
| | - Kai Yang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Bing Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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11
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Barra Caracciolo A, Visca A, Rauseo J, Spataro F, Garbini GL, Grenni P, Mariani L, Mazzurco Miritana V, Massini G, Patrolecco L. Bioaccumulation of antibiotics and resistance genes in lettuce following cattle manure and digestate fertilization and their effects on soil and phyllosphere microbial communities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 315:120413. [PMID: 36243186 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The degradation and bioaccumulation of selected antibiotics such as the sulfonamide sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and the fluoroquinolones enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) were investigated in soil microcosm experiments where Lactuca sativa was grown with manure or digestate (1%) and spiked with a mixture of the three antibiotics (7.5 mg/kg each). The soil, rhizosphere and leaf phyllosphere were sampled (at 0 and 46 days) from each microcosm to analyze the antibiotic concentrations, main resistance genes (sul1, sul2, qnrS, aac-(6')-Ib-crand qepA), the intI1and tnpA mobile genetic elements and the microbial community structure.Overall results showed that SMX and CIP decreased (70-85% and 55-79%, respectively), and ENR was quite persistent during the 46-day experiment. In plant presence, CIP and ENR were partially up-taken from soil to plant. In fact the bioaccumulation factors were > 1, with higher values in manure than digestate amended soils. The most abundant gene in soil was sul2 in digestate- and aac-(6')-Ib-cr in the manure-amended microcosms. In soil, neither sulfamethoxazole-resistance (sul1 and sul2), nor fluoroquinolone-resistance (aac-(6')-Ib-cr, qepA and qnrS) gene abundances were correlated with any antibiotic concentration. On the contrary, in lettuce leaves, the aac-(6')-Ib-cr gene was the most abundant, in accordance with the fluoroquinolone bioaccumulation. Finally, digestate stimulated a higher soil microbial biodiversity, introducing and promoting more bacterial genera associated with antibiotic degradation and involved in soil fertility and decreased fluoroquinolone bioaccumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Visca
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Rome, Italy.
| | - Jasmin Rauseo
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council (ISP-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Spataro
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council (ISP-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Garbini
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Grenni
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Mariani
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Mazzurco Miritana
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Rome, Italy; Department of Energy Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Massini
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Rome, Italy; Department of Energy Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Patrolecco
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council (ISP-CNR), Rome, Italy
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12
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Zhu P, Wu Y, Ru Y, Hou Y, San KW, Yu X, Guo W. Industrial-scale aerobic composting of livestock manures with the addition of biochar: Variation of bacterial community and antibiotic resistance genes caused by various composting stages. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 314:120270. [PMID: 36162559 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120270] [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: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The presence of large amounts of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in livestock manures poses an impending, tough safety risk to ecosystems. To investigate more comprehensively the mechanisms of ARGs removal from industrial-scale composting of livestock manure based on biochar addition, we tracked the dynamics of bacterial community and ARGs at various stages of aerobic composting of livestock manures with 10% biochar. There were no significant effects of biochar on the bacterial community and the profiles of ARGs. During aerobic composting, the relative abundance of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) showed overall trends of decreasing and then increasing. The key factor driving the dynamics of ARGs was bacterial community composition, and the potential hosts of ARGs were Caldicoprobacter, Tepidimicrobium, Ignatzschineria, Pseudogracilibacillus, Actinomadura, Flavobacterium and Planifilum. The retention of the thermophilic bacteria and the repopulation of the initial bacteria were the dominant reasons for the increase in ARGs at maturation stage. Additionally, among the MGEs, the relative abundance of transposon gene was substantially removed, while the integron genes remained at high relative abundance. Our results highlighted that the suitability of biochar addition to industrial-scale aerobic composting needs to be further explored and that effective measures are needed to prevent the increase of ARGs content on maturation stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengcheng Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Yuxin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Yuning Ru
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Yihang Hou
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Kim Woon San
- Tounong Organic Fertilizer Co. Ltd., Qingdao, 266733, PR China
| | - Xiaona Yu
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Weihua Guo
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China.
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13
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Robins K, Leonard AFC, Farkas K, Graham DW, Jones DL, Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Bunce JT, Grimsley JMS, Wade MJ, Zealand AM, McIntyre-Nolan S. Research needs for optimising wastewater-based epidemiology monitoring for public health protection. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2022; 20:1284-1313. [PMID: 36170187 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2022.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an unobtrusive method used to observe patterns in illicit drug use, poliovirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The pandemic and need for surveillance measures have led to the rapid acceleration of WBE research and development globally. With the infrastructure available to monitor SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater in 58 countries globally, there is potential to expand targets and applications for public health protection, such as other viral pathogens, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pharmaceutical consumption, or exposure to chemical pollutants. Some applications have been explored in academic research but are not used to inform public health decision-making. We reflect on the current knowledge of WBE for these applications and identify barriers and opportunities for expanding beyond SARS-CoV-2. This paper critically reviews the applications of WBE for public health and identifies the important research gaps for WBE to be a useful tool in public health. It considers possible uses for pathogenic viruses, AMR, and chemicals. It summarises the current evidence on the following: (1) the presence of markers in stool and urine; (2) environmental factors influencing persistence of markers in wastewater; (3) methods for sample collection and storage; (4) prospective methods for detection and quantification; (5) reducing uncertainties; and (6) further considerations for public health use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Robins
- Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency, Nobel House, London SW1P 3HX, UK E-mail: ; School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Anne F C Leonard
- Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency, Nobel House, London SW1P 3HX, UK E-mail: ; University of Exeter Medical School, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Kata Farkas
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - David L Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; SoilsWest, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6105, Australia
| | | | - Joshua T Bunce
- Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency, Nobel House, London SW1P 3HX, UK E-mail: ; School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Jasmine M S Grimsley
- Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency, Nobel House, London SW1P 3HX, UK E-mail:
| | - Matthew J Wade
- Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency, Nobel House, London SW1P 3HX, UK E-mail: ; School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Andrew M Zealand
- Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency, Nobel House, London SW1P 3HX, UK E-mail:
| | - Shannon McIntyre-Nolan
- Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency, Nobel House, London SW1P 3HX, UK E-mail: ; Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, Ministry of Justice, London, SW1H 9AJ, UK
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14
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Gupta S, Graham DW, Sreekrishnan TR, Ahammad SZ. Effects of heavy metals pollution on the co-selection of metal and antibiotic resistance in urban rivers in UK and India. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119326. [PMID: 35491000 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution and the potential for co-selection of resistance to antibiotics in the environment is growing concern. However, clear associations between heavy metals and antibiotic resistance in river systems have not been developed. Here we investigated relationships between total and bioavailable heavy metals concentrations; metal resistance gene (MRG) and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) abundances; mobile genetic elements; and the composition of local bacterial communities in low and high metal polluted rivers in UK and India. The results indicated that MRGs conferring resistance to cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) (rcnA), and Co, zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) (czcA), and ARGs conferring resistance to carbapenem and erythromycin were the dominating resistant genes across the samples. The relative MRGs, ARGs, and integrons abundances tended to increase at high metal polluted environments, suggesting high metals concentrations have a strong potential to promote metal and antibiotic resistance by horizontal gene transmission and affecting bacterial communities, leading to the development of multi-metal and multi-antibiotic resistance. Network analysis demonstrated the positive and significant relationships between MRGs and ARGs as well as the potential for integrons playing a role in the co-transmission of MRGs and ARGs (r > 0.80, p < 0.05). Additionally, the major host bacteria of various MRGs and ARGs that could be accountable for greater MRGs and ARGs levels at high metal polluted environments were also identified by network analysis. Spearman's rank-order correlations and RDA analysis further confirm relationships between total and bioavailable heavy metals concentrations and the relative MRG, ARG, and integron abundances, as well as the composition of related bacterial communities (r > 0.80 (or < -0.80), p < 0.05). These findings are critical for assessing the possible human health concerns associated with metal-driven antibiotic resistance and highlight the need of considering metal pollution for developing appropriate measures to control ARG transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Gupta
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - T R Sreekrishnan
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Shaikh Ziauddin Ahammad
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India.
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15
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Liguori K, Keenum I, Davis BC, Calarco J, Milligan E, Harwood VJ, Pruden A. Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring of Water Environments: A Framework for Standardized Methods and Quality Control. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:9149-9160. [PMID: 35732277 DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2021.2024739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a grand societal challenge with important dimensions in the water environment that contribute to its evolution and spread. Environmental monitoring could provide vital information for mitigating the spread of AMR; this includes assessing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) circulating among human populations, identifying key hotspots for evolution and dissemination of resistance, informing epidemiological and human health risk assessment models, and quantifying removal efficiencies by domestic wastewater infrastructure. However, standardized methods for monitoring AMR in the water environment will be vital to producing the comparable data sets needed to address such questions. Here we sought to establish scientific consensus on a framework for such standardization, evaluating the state of the science and practice of AMR monitoring of wastewater, recycled water, and surface water, through a literature review, survey, and workshop leveraging the expertise of academic, governmental, consulting, and water utility professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Liguori
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Ishi Keenum
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Benjamin C Davis
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Jeanette Calarco
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Erin Milligan
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Amy Pruden
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
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16
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Ott A, Quintela-Baluja M, Zealand AM, O'Donnell G, Haniffah MRM, Graham DW. Improved quantitative microbiome profiling for environmental antibiotic resistance surveillance. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2021; 16:21. [PMID: 34794510 PMCID: PMC8600772 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-021-00391-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding environmental microbiomes and antibiotic resistance (AR) is hindered by over reliance on relative abundance data from next-generation sequencing. Relative data limits our ability to quantify changes in microbiomes and resistomes over space and time because sequencing depth is not considered and makes data less suitable for Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessments (QMRA), critical in quantifying environmental AR exposure and transmission risks. RESULTS Here we combine quantitative microbiome profiling (QMP; parallelization of amplicon sequencing and 16S rRNA qPCR to estimate cell counts) and absolute resistome profiling (based on high-throughput qPCR) to quantify AR along an anthropogenically impacted river. We show QMP overcomes biases caused by relative taxa abundance data and show the benefits of using unified Hill number diversities to describe environmental microbial communities. Our approach overcomes weaknesses in previous methods and shows Hill numbers are better for QMP in diversity characterisation. CONCLUSIONS Methods here can be adapted for any microbiome and resistome research question, but especially providing more quantitative data for QMRA and other environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Ott
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Marcos Quintela-Baluja
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Andrew M Zealand
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Greg O'Donnell
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | | | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
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