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Tulloch CL, Bargiela R, Williams GB, Chernikova TN, Cotterell BM, Wellington EMH, Christie-Oleza J, Thomas DN, Jones DL, Golyshin PN. Microbial communities colonising plastics during transition from the wastewater treatment plant to marine waters. Environ Microbiome 2024; 19:27. [PMID: 38685074 PMCID: PMC11057073 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00569-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plastics pollution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are two major environmental threats, but potential connections between plastic associated biofilms, the 'plastisphere', and dissemination of AMR genes are not well explored. RESULTS We conducted mesocosm experiments tracking microbial community changes on plastic surfaces transitioning from wastewater effluent to marine environments over 16 weeks. Commonly used plastics, polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) incubated in wastewater effluent, river water, estuarine water, and in the seawater for 16 weeks, were analysed via 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenome sequencing. Within one week, plastic-colonizing communities shifted from wastewater effluent-associated microorganisms to marine taxa, some members of which (e.g. Oleibacter-Thalassolituus and Sphingomonas spp., on PET, Alcanivoracaceae on PET and PP, or Oleiphilaceae, on all polymers), were selectively enriched from levels undetectable in the starting communities. Remarkably, microbial biofilms were also susceptible to parasitism, with Saprospiraceae feeding on biofilms at late colonisation stages (from week 6 onwards), while Bdellovibrionaceae were prominently present on HDPE from week 2 and LDPE from day 1. Relative AMR gene abundance declined over time, and plastics did not become enriched for key AMR genes after wastewater exposure. CONCLUSION Although some resistance genes occurred during the mesocosm transition on plastic substrata, those originated from the seawater organisms. Overall, plastic surfaces incubated in wastewater did not act as hotspots for AMR proliferation in simulated marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance L Tulloch
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Rafael Bargiela
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Gwion B Williams
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Tatyana N Chernikova
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Benjamin M Cotterell
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | | | - Joseph Christie-Oleza
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122, Palma, Spain
| | - David N Thomas
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Davey L Jones
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Peter N Golyshin
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK.
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Zhao K, Li C, Li F. Research progress on the origin, fate, impacts and harm of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plants. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9719. [PMID: 38678134 PMCID: PMC11055955 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60458-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies reported microplastics (MPs), antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). There is still a lack of research progress on the origin, fate, impact and hazards of MPs and ARGs in WWTPs. This paper fills a gap in this regard. In our search, we used "microplastics", "antibiotic resistance genes", and "wastewater treatment plant" as topic terms in Web of Science, checking the returned results for relevance by examining paper titles and abstracts. This study mainly explores the following points: (1) the origins and fate of MPs, antibiotics and ARGs in WWTPs; (2) the mechanisms of action of MPs, antibiotics and ARGs in sludge biochemical pools; (3) the impacts of MPs in WWTPs and the spread of ARGs; (4) and the harm inflicted by MPs and ARGs on the environment and human body. Contaminants in sewage sludge such as MPs, ARGs, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria enter the soil and water. Contaminants can travel through the food chain and thus reach humans, leading to increased illness, hospitalization, and even mortality. This study will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of action among MPs, antibiotics, ARGs, and the harm they inflict on the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, 5088 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengzhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, 5088 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria at Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Fengxiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, 5088 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria at Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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Fang GY, Liu XQ, Jiang YJ, Mu XJ, Huang BW. Horizontal gene transfer in activated sludge enhances microbial antimicrobial resistance and virulence. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:168908. [PMID: 38013098 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Activated sludge (AS) plays a vital role in removing organic pollutants and nutrients from wastewater. However, the risks posed by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between bacteria in AS are still unclear. Here, a total of 478 high-quality non-redundant metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were obtained. >50 % and 5 % of MAGs were involved in at least one HGT and recent HGT, respectively. Most of the transfers (82.4 %) of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) occurred among the classes of Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. The bacteria involved in the transfers of virulence factor genes (VFGs) mainly include Alphaproteobacteria (42.3 %), Bacteroidia (19.2 %), and Gammaproteobacteria (11.5 %). Moreover, the number of ARGs and VFGs in the classes of Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria was higher than that in other bacteria (P < 0.001). Mobile genetic elements were important contributors to ARGs and VFGs in AS bacteria. These results have implications for the management of antimicrobial resistance and virulence in activated sludge microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Yu Fang
- College of Food and Health, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, PR China; National Grain Industry (High-Quality Rice Storage in Temperate and Humid Region) Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, PR China.
| | - Xing-Quan Liu
- College of Food and Health, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, PR China; National Grain Industry (High-Quality Rice Storage in Temperate and Humid Region) Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, PR China
| | - Yu-Jian Jiang
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Xiao-Jing Mu
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Bing-Wen Huang
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
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Pitt SJ, Gunn A. The One Health Concept. Br J Biomed Sci 2024; 81:12366. [PMID: 38434675 PMCID: PMC10902059 DOI: 10.3389/bjbs.2024.12366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The concept of One Health has been developed as the appreciation that human health is intricately connected to those of other animals and the environment that they inhabit. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and noticeable effects of climate change have encouraged national and international cooperation to apply One Health strategies to address key issues of health and welfare. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals have established targets for health and wellbeing, clean water and sanitation, climate action, as well as sustainability in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The One Health Quadripartite comprises the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH-formerly OIE), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). There are six areas of focus which are Laboratory services, Control of zoonotic diseases, Neglected tropical diseases, Antimicrobial resistance, Food safety and Environmental health. This article discusses the concept of One Health by considering examples of infectious diseases and environmental issues under each of those six headings. Biomedical Scientists, Clinical Scientists and their colleagues working in diagnostic and research laboratories have a key role to play in applying the One Health approach to key areas of healthcare in the 21st Century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Pitt
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Gunn
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Stevenson EM, Buckling A, Cole M, Lindeque PK, Murray AK. Culturing the Plastisphere: comparing methods to isolate culturable bacteria colonising microplastics. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1259287. [PMID: 37854340 PMCID: PMC10579789 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1259287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics quickly become colonised by diverse microbial communities, known as the Plastisphere. There is growing concern that microplastics may support the enrichment and spread of pathogenic or antimicrobial resistant microorganisms, although research to support the unique role of microplastics in comparison to control particles remains inconclusive. Limitations to this research include the microbiological methods available for isolating adhered microbes. Culture-based methods provide some of the most established, accessible and cost-effective microbiological protocols, which could be extremely useful in helping to address some of the remaining key questions in Plastisphere research. Previous works have successfully cultured bacteria from plastics, but these have not yet been reviewed, nor compared in efficiency. In this study, we compared four common biofilm extraction methods (swabbing, sonication, vortexing, sonication followed by vortexing) to extract and culture a mixed community of bacteria from both microplastic (polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene) and control (wood and glass) particles. Biofilm extraction efficiency and viability of bacterial suspension was determined by comparing CFU/mL of four different groups of bacteria. This was verified against optical density and 16S rRNA qPCR. Overall, we found that all tested methods were able to remove biofilms, but to varying efficiencies. Sonicating particles with glass beads for 15 min, followed by vortexing for a further minute, generated the highest yield and therefore greatest removal efficiency of culturable, biofilm-forming bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M. Stevenson
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter Medical School, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, United Kingdom
- Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Angus Buckling
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Cole
- Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Penelope K. Lindeque
- Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Aimee K. Murray
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter Medical School, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, United Kingdom
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Li YQ, Zhang CM, Yuan QQ, Wu K. New insight into the effect of microplastics on antibiotic resistance and bacterial community of biofilm. Chemosphere 2023:139151. [PMID: 37290506 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) could serve as substrates for microbial colonization and biofilm formation. However, research on the effects of different types of microplastics and natural substrates on biofilm formation and community structure in the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) is limited. In this study, we employed by means of microcosm experiments to analyze the situation of biofilms conditions, bacterial resistance patterns, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) distribution, and bacterial community on different substrates using microbial cultivation, high throughtput sequencing and PCR. The result showed that biofilms on different substrates markedly increased with time, with MPs surfaces formed more biofilm than stone. Analyses of antibiotic resistant showed negligible differences in the resistance rate to the same antibiotic at 30 d, but tetB would be selectively enriched on PP and PET. The microbial communities associated with biofilms on MPs and stones exhibited variations during different stages of formation. Notably, phylum WPS-2 and Epsilonbacteraeota were identified as the dominant microbiomes of biofilms on MPs and stones at 30 d, respectively. Correlation analysis suggested that WPS-2 could potentially be a tetracycline-resistant bacterium, while Epsilonbacteraeota did not correlate with any detected ARB. Our results emphasized the potential threat posed by MPs as attachment carriers for bacteria, particularly ARB, in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Qiang Li
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Chong-Miao Zhang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.
| | - Qiao-Qiao Yuan
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Kai Wu
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
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Azuma T, Katagiri M, Sasaki N, Kuroda M, Watanabe M. Performance of a Pilot-Scale Continuous Flow Ozone-Based Hospital Wastewater Treatment System. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12050932. [PMID: 37237835 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12050932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a global concern. Recently, research has emerged to evaluate the human and environmental health implications of wastewater from medical facilities and to identify acceptable wastewater treatment methods. In this study, a disinfection wastewater treatment system using an ozone-based continuous flow system was installed in a general hospital located in Japan. The effectiveness of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobials in mitigating the environmental impact of hospital wastewater was evaluated. Metagenomic analysis was conducted to characterize the microorganisms in the wastewater before and after treatment. The results demonstrated that ozone treatment enables effective inactivation of general gut bacteria, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, DNA molecules, and ARGs, as well as antimicrobials. Azithromycin and doxycycline removal rates were >99% immediately after treatment, and levofloxacin and vancomycin removal rates remained between 90% and 97% for approximately one month. Clarithromycin was more readily removed than the other antimicrobials (81-91%), and no clear removal trend was observed for ampicillin. Our findings provide a better understanding of the environmental management of hospital wastewater and enhance the effectiveness of disinfection wastewater treatment systems at medical facilities for mitigating the discharge of pollutants into aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Azuma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Japan
| | - Miwa Katagiri
- Department of Surgery, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo 153-8515, Japan
| | - Naobumi Sasaki
- Pathogen Genomics Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Makoto Kuroda
- Pathogen Genomics Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Manabu Watanabe
- Department of Surgery, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo 153-8515, Japan
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