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Zhang X, Ma L, Zhang XX. Neglected risks of enhanced antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity in anaerobic digestion during transition from thermophilic to mesophilic. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 475:134886. [PMID: 38878435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134886] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Minimization of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and potential pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (PARB) during anaerobic digestion (AD) is significantly impacted by temperature. However, knowledge on how ARGs and PARB respond to temperature transition from thermophilic to mesophilic is limited. Here, we combined metagenomic-based with culture-based approaches and revealed the risks of antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity during transition from 55 °C to 35 °C for AD, with strategies of sharp (ST, one-step by 20 °C/d) and mild (MT, step-wise by 1 °C/d). Results indicated a lower decrease in methane production with MT (by 38.9%) than ST (by 88.8%). Phenotypic assays characterized a significant propagation of multi-resistant lactose-fermenting Enterobacteriaceae and indicator pathogens after both transitions, especially via ST. Further genomic evidence indicated a significant increase of ARGs (29.4-fold), virulence factor genes (1.8-fold) and PARB (65.3-fold) after ST, while slight enrichment via MT. Bacterial succession and enhanced horizontal transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements promoted ARG propagation in AD during transition, which was synchronously exacerbated through horizontal transfer mechanisms mediated by cellular physiological responses (oxidative stress, membrane permeability, bacterial conjugation and transformation) and co-selection mechanisms of biomethanation metabolic functions (acidogenesis and acetogenesis). This study reveals temperature-dependent resistome and pathogenicity development in AD, facilitating microbial risk control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Zhang
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Liping Ma
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Technology Innovation Center for Land Spatial Eco-restoration in Metropolitan Area, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai 200062, PR China.
| | - Xu-Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
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Wu X, Shen D, Hui C, Yu Q, Long Y. Evaluation of pathogen spread risk from excavated landfill. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123993. [PMID: 38636838 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123993] [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: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Landfill is a huge pathogen reservoir and needs special attention. Herein, the distribution and spread risk of pathogen were assessed in excavated landfill scenario. The results show that landfill excavation will greatly increase the risk of environmental microbial contamination. The highest total concentration of culturable bacteria among landfill refuse, topsoil and plant leaves was found to be as high as 1010 CFU g-1. Total coliforms, Hemolytic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Enterococci, and Fecal coliforms were detected in the landfill surrounding environment. Notably, pathogens were more likely to adhere to plant leaves, making it an important source of secondary pathogens. The culturable bacteria concentration in the air samples differed with the landfill zone with different operation status, and the highest culturable bacteria concentration was found in the excavated area of the landfill (3.3 × 104 CFU m-3), which was the main source of bioaerosol release. The distribution of bioaerosols in the downwind outside of the landfill showed a tendency of increasing and then decreasing, and the highest concentration of bioaerosols outside of the landfill (6.56 × 104 CFU m-3) was significantly higher than that in the excavated area of the landfill. The risk of respiratory inhalation was the main pathway leading to infection, whereas the HQin (population inhalation hazardous quotient) at 500 m downwind the excavation landfill was still higher than 1, indicating that the neighboring residents were exposed to airborne microbial pollutants. The results of the study provide evidence for bioaerosols control protective measures taken to reduce health risk from the excavated landfill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Dongsheng Shen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Cai Hui
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Yuyang Long
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China.
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Mortezaei Y, Williams MR, Demirer GN. The fate of antibiotic resistance genes during anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge with ultrasonic pretreatment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:5513-5525. [PMID: 38127236 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31558-6] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of ultrasonic (US) pretreatment at three different contact times (30, 45, and 60 min) with a power of 240 W and frequency of 40 kHz on the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and enteric pathogens during anaerobic digestion (AD) of sludge. By using real time-qPCR, three MGEs (int1, int2, and tnpA) and seven ARGs (sul1, sul2, tetW, tetA, tetO, ermF, and aac(6')-lb) were quantified that have serious human health impacts and represent the most widely used antibiotics (tetracycline, sulfonamide, macrolide, and aminoglycoside). Results indicated that US pretreatment under different contact times improved the removal of ARGs and MGEs. Compared to 30 and 45 min of US pretreatment, 60 min of US pretreatment resulted in a higher reduction of ARGs with total ARG reduction of 41.70 ± 1.13%. Furthermore, the relative abundance of ARGs and MGEs after US pretreatment was reduced more effectively in anaerobic reactors than in a control AD without US pretreatment. The total ARGs and MGEs removal efficiency of control AD was 44.07 ± 0.72% and 63.69 ± 1.43%, and if US pretreatment at different times were applied, the total ARGs and MGEs removal efficiency of the whole pretreatment AD process improved to 59.71 ± 2.76-68.54 ± 1.58% and 69.82 ± 2.15-76.84 ± 0.22%. The highest removal of total ARGs (68.54 ± 1.58%) and MGEs (76.84 ± 0.22%) was achieved after AD with US pretreatment at 45 min. However, US pretreatment and AD with US pretreatment were not effective in inactivation of enteric pathogens (total coliforms and E. coli), suggesting that posttreatment is needed prior to land application of sludge to reduce the level of enteric pathogens. There was no detection of the studied ARGs and MGEs in the enteric pathogens after US pretreatment in subsequent AD. According to this study, long contact times of US pretreatment can mitigate ARGs and MGEs in AD processes, offering valuable insight into improving environmental safety and sustainable waste management. Additionally, the study highlights the need to investigate posttreatment techniques for reducing enteric pathogens in AD effluent, a crucial consideration for agricultural use and environmental protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasna Mortezaei
- Earth and Ecosystem Science, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
| | - Maggie R Williams
- School of Engineering and Technology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
- Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
| | - Goksel N Demirer
- School of Engineering and Technology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA.
- Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA.
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Wu Z, Gao H, Chen Z, Su W, Jie Y, Zhu J, Yu R. Effect of predatory bacterial mixtures on biolysis of waste activated sludge to improve dewatering performance. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2023:1-32. [PMID: 38041588 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2023.2291419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The generation of surplus sludge during biological wastewater treatment has become a prevalent issue, necessitating the development of a dewatering approach that is efficient, economically feasible, and ecologically sound. Bdellovibrio-and-like organisms (BALOs) are obligatory parasitic bacteria that prey on an array of bacteria. In this study, different BALO strains were isolated and purified from waste activited sludge (WAS). Anti-predation host strains were applied to screen the BALO strains with different host-range to minimize the overlap of the biolysis prey spectrum. In addition, the BALO strains with different host preferences were mixed for sludge biolysis treatment efficiency comparison. The results indicated that the capillary suction time and the bound water content in the WAS treated with the mixed BALOs were significantly decreased by 25.9% ± 1.7% and 5.2% ± 1.2%, respectively, compared to those treated with the single BALO strain. The soluble chemical oxygen demand concentration in the mixed BALOs treated group was increased by 31.2% ± 0.7% than that treated with the single strain. The findings indicate that the mixed strains used in the treatment process resulted in a notable enhancement of both sludge dewatering performance and lysis degree. In addition, the abundance of Proteobacteria treated with the BALO mixtures decreased by 69.1% than the single strain treated one which demonstrated that the BALO mixture expanded the sludge host lysis spectrum. This study revealed the different effects of single and mixed strains on sludge community structure, suggesting that the BALO host range expansion is crucial to further improve sludge dewatering performances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Wu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China 210096
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China 210009
| | - Huan Gao
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China 210096
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China 210009
| | - Zhoukai Chen
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China 210096
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China 210009
- Hangzhou Planning and Design Academy, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 310012
| | - Wenqiang Su
- Yang Zhong Bi Cheng Environmental Technology limited liability company, Yang Zhong, Jiangsu, China, 212200
| | - Yongfang Jie
- Yang Zhong Bi Cheng Environmental Technology limited liability company, Yang Zhong, Jiangsu, China, 212200
| | - Jian Zhu
- Yang Zhong Bi Cheng Environmental Technology limited liability company, Yang Zhong, Jiangsu, China, 212200
| | - Ran Yu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China 210096
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China 210009
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