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Gekenidis MT, Vollenweider V, Joyce A, Murphy S, Walser JC, Ju F, Bürgmann H, Hummerjohann J, Walsh F, Drissner D. Unde venis? Bacterial resistance from environmental reservoirs to lettuce: tracking microbiome and resistome over a growth period. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae118. [PMID: 39216995 PMCID: PMC11418651 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Fresh produce is suggested to contribute highly to shaping the gut resistome. We investigated the impact of pig manure and irrigation water quality on microbiome and resistome of field-grown lettuce over an entire growth period. Lettuce was grown under four regimes, combining soil amendment with manure (with/without) with sprinkler irrigation using river water with an upstream wastewater input, disinfected by UV (with/without). Lettuce leaves, soil, and water samples were collected weekly and analysed by bacterial cultivation, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and shotgun metagenomics from total community DNA. Cultivation yielded only few clinically relevant antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), but numbers of ARB on lettuce increased over time, while no treatment-dependent changes were observed. Microbiome analysis confirmed a temporal trend. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) unique to lettuce and water included multidrug and β-lactam ARGs, whereas lettuce and soil uniquely shared mainly glycopeptide and tetracycline ARGs. Surface water carried clinically relevant ARB (e.g. ESBL-producing Escherichia coli or Serratia fonticola) without affecting the overall lettuce resistome significantly. Resistance markers including biocide and metal resistance were increased in lettuce grown with manure, especially young lettuce (increased soil contact). Overall, while all investigated environments had their share as sources of the lettuce resistome, manure was the main source especially on young plants. We therefore suggest minimizing soil-vegetable contact to minimize resistance markers on fresh produce.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vera Vollenweider
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aoife Joyce
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Sinéad Murphy
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Jean-Claude Walser
- Genetic Diversity Centre (GDC), Department of Environmental System Sciences (D-USYS), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Feng Ju
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310030, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Helmut Bürgmann
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | | | - Fiona Walsh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Ireland
| | - David Drissner
- Department of Life Sciences, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, 72488 Sigmaringen, Germany
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Franchitti E, Pedullà M, Madsen AM, Traversi D. Effect of anaerobic digestion on pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in the sewage sludge. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 191:108998. [PMID: 39244956 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a global threat. AMR bacteria accumulate in sewage sludge however, knowledge on the persistence of human pathogens and AMR in the sludge line of the wastewater treatment is limited. Sludge can be used, with or without additional treatment, as fertilizer in agricultural fields. The aim of this study is to obtain knowledge about presence of human pathogens and AMR in the sewage sludge, before and after the anaerobic digestion (AD) applying innovative combinations of methods. Fifty sludge samples were collected. Cultivation methods combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and Antibiotic Susceptibility Test (AST) were used obtaining knowledge about the microbial community, pathogens, and antibiotic resistant bacteria while the droplet digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) was performed to detect most common AMR genes. In total, 231 different bacterial species were identified in the samples. The most abundant species were spore-forming facultative anaerobic bacteria belonging to Bacillus and Clostridium genera. The AD causes a shift in the microbial composition of the sludge (p = 0.04). Seven pathogenic bacterial species constituting 188 colonies were isolated and tested for susceptibility to Clindamycin, Meropenem, Norfloxacin, Penicillin G, and Tigecycline. Of the Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus isolates 67 and 50 %, respectively, were resistant to Clindamycin. Two B. cereus and two C. perfringens isolates were also resistant to other antibiotics showing multidrug resistance. ARGs (blaOXA, blaTEM, ermB, qnrB, tet(A)-(W), sulI-II) were present at 7-8 Log gene copies/kg of sludge. AD is the main driver of a reduction of some ARGs (1 Log) but resistant bacteria were still present. The results showed the usefulness of the integration of the proposed analytical methods and suggest a decrease in the risk of presence of cultivable pathogens including resistant isolates after AD but a persistent risk of ARGs' horizontal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Franchitti
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 92, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Matilde Pedullà
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 92, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Deborah Traversi
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 92, 10126 Torino, Italy.
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Li H, Liu B, Li M, Shen M. Livestock and poultry breeding farms as a fixed and underestimated source of antibiotic resistance genes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:49916-49931. [PMID: 39052112 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34413-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The excessive use of antibiotics, disinfectants, and drugs in livestock and poultry breeding has resulted in a rise in the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs have been widely found in animal feces, farm wastewater, and farm air. ARGs can not only spread across media through adsorption and migration, but also transfer resistance across bacterial genera through horizontal gene transfer. Livestock breeding has become a fixed and unavoidable source of ARGs in the environment. Existing technologies for controlling ARGs, such as composting, disinfection, and sewage treatment, are not efficient in removing ARB and ARGs from waste. Furthermore, the remaining ARGs still possess a strong capacity for dissemination. At present, antibiotics used in animal husbandry are difficult to replace in a short period of time. The growth and potential risks of resistance genes in livestock and poultry breeding sources in the receiving environment are not yet clear. In this paper, we summarize the current situation of ARGs in the livestock and poultry breeding environment. We also explain the key environmental processes, main influencing factors, and corresponding ecological risks associated with ARGs in this environment. The advantages and disadvantages of current technologies for the removal of ARGs are primarily discussed. There is a particular emphasis on clarifying the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and environmental process mechanisms of ARGs, as well as highlighting the importance and urgency of developing efficient pollution control technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haokai Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People's Republic of China
| | - Bohao Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyu Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People's Republic of China
| | - Maocai Shen
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Wen X, Xu J, Wang Y, Yang X, Peng G, Li S, Ma B, Zou Y, Liao X, Wang Y, Worrich A, Wu Y. Community coalescence and plant host filtering determine the spread of tetracycline resistance genes from pig manure into the microbiome continuum of the soil-plant system. Microbiol Res 2024; 284:127734. [PMID: 38670037 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The spread of livestock manure-borne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into agroecosystems through manure application poses a potential threat to human health. However, there is still a knowledge gap concerning ARG dissemination in coalescing manure, soil and plant microbiomes. Here, we examined the fate of tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) originating from pig manure microbiomes and spread in the soil-A thaliana system and explored the effects of microbial functions on TRGs spread at different interfaces. Our results indicate that the TRGs abundances in all microbiome continuum of the soil-A. thaliana system were significantly increased with the application of a living manure microbiome, although the addition of manure with both an active and inactive microbiome caused a shift in the microbial community composition. This was attributed to the increasing relative abundances of tetA, tetL, tetM, tetO, tetW and tolC in the system. The application of living manure with DOX residues resulted in the highest relative abundance of total TRGs (3.30×10-3 copies/16S rRNA gene copies) in the rhizosphere soil samples. Community coalescence of the manure and soil microbiomes increased the abundance of Firmicutes in the soil and root microbiome, which directly explains the increase in TRG abundance observed in these interfaces. In contrast, the leaf microbiome differed markedly from that of the remaining samples, indicating strong plant host filtering effects on Firmicutes and TRGs from pig manure. The random forest machine learning model revealed microbial functions and their significant positive correlation with TRG abundance in the microbiome continuum of the system. Our findings revealed that community coalescence is the main driver of TRG spread from manure to the soil and root microbiomes. Plant host filtering effects play a crucial role in allowing certain microbial groups to occupy ecological niches in the leaves, thereby limiting the establishment of manure-borne TRGs in aboveground plant tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wen
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China; Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | - Jiaojiao Xu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yiting Wang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Guoliang Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
| | - Siming Li
- Shimadzu (China) Co., LTD. Guangzhou Branch, Guangzhou 510656, China
| | - Baohua Ma
- Foshan Customs Comprehensive Technology Center, Foshan 528200, China
| | - Yongde Zou
- Foshan Customs Comprehensive Technology Center, Foshan 528200, China
| | - Xindi Liao
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Anja Worrich
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig 04318, Germany.
| | - Yinbao Wu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Maoming Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong 525000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Casado M, Sanz C, Cáceres R, Rufat J, Vallverdú X, Casadesús J, Matamoros V, Piña B. Evolution of microbiome composition, antibiotic resistance gene loads, and nitrification during the on-farm composting of the solid fraction of pig slurry using two bulking agents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 245:117944. [PMID: 38109952 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117944] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Composting is a nature-based method used to stabilize organic matter and to transform nitrogen from animal farm manure or solid fraction of slurry (SFS). The use of composted material as source of nutrients for agriculture is limited by its potential to facilitate the propagation of biological hazards like pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their associated antibiotic-resistance genes (ARG). We show here an experimental on-farm composting (one single batch) of pig SFS, performed under realistic conditions (under dry continental Mediterranean climate) for 280 days, and using two different bulking agents (maize straw and tree pruning residues) for the initial mixtures. The observed reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria (80-90%) and of ARG loads (60-100%) appeared to be linked to variations in the microbiome composition occurring during the first 4 months of composting, and concurrent with the reduction of water-soluble ammonium and organic matter loads. Nitrification during the composting has also been observed for both composting piles. Similar patterns have been demonstrated at small scale and the present study stresses the fact that the removal can also occur at full scale. The results suggest that adequate composition of the starting material may accelerate the composting process and improve its global performance. While the results confirm the sanitization potential of composting, they also issue a warning to limit ARG loads in soils and in animal and human gut microbiomes, as the only way to limit their presence in foodstuffs and, therefore, to reduce consumers' exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Casado
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08034, Spain
| | - Claudia Sanz
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08034, Spain
| | - Rafaela Cáceres
- IRTA. Torre Marimon, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Catalunya, Spain.
| | - Josep Rufat
- IRTA. Fruit Centre, Building of the Parc Gardeny, 25003, Lleida, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Xavier Vallverdú
- IRTA. Fruit Centre, Building of the Parc Gardeny, 25003, Lleida, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Jaume Casadesús
- IRTA. Fruit Centre, Building of the Parc Gardeny, 25003, Lleida, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Víctor Matamoros
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08034, Spain
| | - Benjamin Piña
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08034, Spain
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6
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Li T, Tao S, Ma M, Liu S, Shen M, Zhang H. Is the application of organic fertilizers becoming an undeniable source of microplastics and resistance genes in agricultural systems? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169571. [PMID: 38142997 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169571] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
The application of organic fertilizers is becoming an undeniable source of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural soils. The complex microbial activity further transfers resistance genes and their host bacteria to agricultural products and throughout the entire food chain. Therefore, the current main focus is on reducing the abundance of microplastics and ARGs in organic fertilizers at the source, as well as managing microplastics and ARGs in soil. The control of microplastic abundance in organic fertilizers is currently only achieved through pre-composting selection and other methods. However, there are still many shortcomings in the research on the distribution characteristics, propagation and diffusion mechanisms, and control technologies of ARGs, and some key scientific issues still need to be urgently addressed. The high-temperature composting of organic waste can effectively reduce the abundance of ARGs in organic fertilizers to a certain extent. However, it is also important to consider the spread of ARGs in residual antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). This article systematically explores the pathways and interactions of microplastics and resistance genes entering agricultural soils through the application of organic fertilizers. The removal of microplastics and ARGs from organic fertilizers was discussed in detail. Based on the limitations of existing research, further investigation in this area is expected to provide valuable insights for the development and practical implementation of technologies aimed at reducing soil microplastics and resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhao Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China
| | - Shiyu Tao
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China
| | - Mengjie Ma
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China
| | - Shiwei Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China
| | - Maocai Shen
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China.
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China.
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7
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Wu R, Fang J, Xiang X, Liu H, Zhu Y, Du S. Graphene oxide influences transfer of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes into plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 911:168652. [PMID: 37979849 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168652] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
As an emerging contaminant, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are raising concerns about its significant threat to public health. Meanwhile, graphene oxide (GO), which also has a potential ecological damage with increasingly entering the environment, has a great influence on the transfer of ARGs. However, little is known about the effects mechanisms of GO on the migration of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from bacteria into plants. In this study, we investigated the influence of GO on the transfer of ARGs carried by RP4 plasmids from Bacillus subtilis into rice plants. Our results showed that the presence of GO at concentrations ranging from 0 to 400 mg L-1 significantly reduced the transfer of ARGs into rice roots by 13-71 %. Moreover, the migration of RP4 from the roots to aboveground parts was significantly impaired by GO. These effects may be attributed to several factors. First, higher GO concentrations led to low pH in the culture solution, resulting in a substantial decrease in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Second, GO induced oxidative stress in rice, as indicated by enhanced Evans blue dye staining, and elevated levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity. The oxidative stress negatively affected plant growth, as demonstrated by the reduced fresh weight and altered lignin content in the rice. Microscopic observations confirmed the entry of GO into root cells but not leaf mesophyll cells. Furthermore, potential recipients of RP4 plasmid strains in rice after co-cultivation experiments were identified, including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Bacillus cereus. These findings clarify the influence of GO on ARGs in the bacteria-plant system and emphasize the need to consider its potential ecological risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Wu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Jin Fang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Xiaobo Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Huijun Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Yaxin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Shaoting Du
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
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8
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Bengtsson-Palme J, Abramova A, Berendonk TU, Coelho LP, Forslund SK, Gschwind R, Heikinheimo A, Jarquín-Díaz VH, Khan AA, Klümper U, Löber U, Nekoro M, Osińska AD, Ugarcina Perovic S, Pitkänen T, Rødland EK, Ruppé E, Wasteson Y, Wester AL, Zahra R. Towards monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in the environment: For what reasons, how to implement it, and what are the data needs? ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108089. [PMID: 37441817 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human and animal health and well-being. To understand AMR dynamics, it is important to monitor resistant bacteria and resistance genes in all relevant settings. However, while monitoring of AMR has been implemented in clinical and veterinary settings, comprehensive monitoring of AMR in the environment is almost completely lacking. Yet, the environmental dimension of AMR is critical for understanding the dissemination routes and selection of resistant microorganisms, as well as the human health risks related to environmental AMR. Here, we outline important knowledge gaps that impede implementation of environmental AMR monitoring. These include lack of knowledge of the 'normal' background levels of environmental AMR, definition of high-risk environments for transmission, and a poor understanding of the concentrations of antibiotics and other chemical agents that promote resistance selection. Furthermore, there is a lack of methods to detect resistance genes that are not already circulating among pathogens. We conclude that these knowledge gaps need to be addressed before routine monitoring for AMR in the environment can be implemented on a large scale. Yet, AMR monitoring data bridging different sectors is needed in order to fill these knowledge gaps, which means that some level of national, regional and global AMR surveillance in the environment must happen even without all scientific questions answered. With the possibilities opened up by rapidly advancing technologies, it is time to fill these knowledge gaps. Doing so will allow for specific actions against environmental AMR development and spread to pathogens and thereby safeguard the health and wellbeing of humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Bengtsson-Palme
- Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Life Sciences, SciLifeLab, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10, SE-413 46 Gothenburg, Sweden; Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) in Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Anna Abramova
- Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Life Sciences, SciLifeLab, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10, SE-413 46 Gothenburg, Sweden; Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) in Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas U Berendonk
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Zellescher Weg 40, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Luis Pedro Coelho
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sofia K Forslund
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rémi Gschwind
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Annamari Heikinheimo
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, P.O.Box 66, FI-00014, Finland; Finnish Food Authority, P.O.Box 100, 00027 Seinäjoki, Finland
| | - Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ayaz Ali Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir (Lower), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Uli Klümper
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Zellescher Weg 40, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ulrike Löber
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Marmar Nekoro
- Swedish Knowledge Centre on Pharmaceuticals in the Environment, Swedish Medical Products Agency, P.O Box 26, 751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Adriana D Osińska
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, P.O.Box 5003 NMBU, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Svetlana Ugarcina Perovic
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, P.O.Box 66, FI-00014, Finland; Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, P.O.Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Etienne Ruppé
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Yngvild Wasteson
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, P.O.Box 5003 NMBU, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | | | - Rabaab Zahra
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
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Zhang Y, Cheng D, Xie J, Hu Q, Xie J, Shi X. Long-term field application of manure induces deep selection of antibiotic resistomes in leaf endophytes of Chinese cabbage. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 882:163334. [PMID: 37061064 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistomes in leaf endophytes of vegetables threaten human health through the food chain. However, little is known about the ability of long-term manure fertilization to impact the deep selection of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in leaf endophytes of vegetables planted in different types of soils. Here, by high-throughput quantitative PCR, we characterized the ARGs of leaf endophytes of Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis (Lour.) Rupr.) grown in long-term (14 year) manure-amended acidic, neutral and calcareous soils. In total, 87 ARGs and 4 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected in all the samples. Manure fertilization significantly increased the ARG numbers and normalized abundance in leaf endophytes, especially in acidic soil. Moreover, in acidic soil, manure application also led to a higher increase in the normalized abundance of opportunist and specialist ARGs, and more opportunist and specialist ARGs posed a high risk according to their risk ranks. Random forest analysis revealed that Proteobacteria and MGEs were the major drivers affecting the normalized abundance of opportunist and specialist ARGs in both acidic and neutral soils, respectively. In calcareous soil, Cyanobacteria and Actinobacteria were the most important contributors. Collectively, this study expands our knowledge about the deep selection of plant resistomes under long-term manure application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Dengmiao Cheng
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Jun Xie
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qijuan Hu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Jiawei Xie
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiaojun Shi
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
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Fu C, Qin Y, Xiang Q, Qiao M, Zhu Y. pH drives the spatial variation of antibiotic resistance gene profiles in riparian soils at a watershed scale. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 326:121486. [PMID: 36963452 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121486] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Owing to convenient water access, riparian areas are often sites for intensive livestock breeding industries and agriculture, which can increase the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, studies on ARG profiles in riparian soils are limited and there is little information regarding the factors influencing ARGs at a watershed scale. Here, we analyzed ARG profiles, bacterial communities, and soil properties in riparian soils under different land-use types. A total of 124 ARGs and 25 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected in the riparian soils, which covered almost all major classes of antibiotics. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that both the distance to the water reservoir and land-use types played important roles in shaping ARG profiles in riparian soils at a watershed scale. Downstream soils harbored three times the abundance of ARGs compared with upstream and midstream soils. Distance-decay analysis indicated that the similarity of ARG profiles and bacterial community composition decreased significantly with the increase of geographical distance (p < 0.001). When taking the land-use type into consideration, the relative abundance and diversity of ARGs and MGEs in orchard and farmland soils were significantly higher than those in wasteland soils. This indicated that anthropogenic activities can also affect ARG patterns in riparian soils. MGE abundance was identified as major driving factors of ARG profiles. In addition, among all the examined soil properties, soil pH was found to be more important than nutrients and organic carbon in shaping ARG profiles. Our findings provide valuable data on ARG distribution in riparian soils in a reservoir catchment and highlight downstream soils is crucial for ensuring water source security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yuan Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qian Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo, 315830, China
| | - Min Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Yongguan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China; Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
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11
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Liu Y, Feng M, Johansen A, Cheng D, Xue J, Feng Y, Fan S, Li Z. Composting reduces the risks of antibiotic resistance genes in maize seeds posed by gentamicin fermentation waste. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161785. [PMID: 36736399 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Using high-throughput quantitative PCR and next generation sequencing, the impact of land application of raw and composted gentamicin fermentation waste (GFW) on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in maize seeds was studied in a three-year field trial. The raw and composted GFW changed both the bacterial community composition and the ARGs diversity in the maize seeds compared to non-amended controls and chemical fertilizer. The abundance of ARGs after raw GFW amendment was significantly higher than other treatments because of a high abundance of aadA1, qacEdeltal and aph(2')-Id-02; probably induced by gentamicin selection pressure in maize tissues. Meanwhile, the potential host of these three ARGs, pathogenic bacteria Tenacibaculum, also increased significantly in maize seeds after the application of raw GFW. But our result proved that composting could weaken the risk posed by GFW. We further reveal that the key biotic driver for shaping the ARG profiles in maize seeds is bacterial community followed by heavy metal resistance genes, and ARGs are more likely located on bacterial chromosomes. Our findings provide new insight into ARGs dispersal mechanism in maize seeds after long-term GFW application, demonstrate the potential benefits of composting the GFW to reduce risks as well as the potential efficient management method to GFW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanwang Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Heavy Metal Deep-Remediation in Water and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Ministry of Agriculture, China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory for Soil Molecular Ecology, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Minmin Feng
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Heavy Metal Deep-Remediation in Water and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Anders Johansen
- Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Dengmiao Cheng
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Jianming Xue
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Scion, Private Bag 29237, Christchurch 8440, New Zealand
| | - Yao Feng
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Ministry of Agriculture, China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory for Soil Molecular Ecology, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shuanghu Fan
- College of Life Science, Langfang Normal University, Langfang 065000, China
| | - Zhaojun Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Ministry of Agriculture, China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory for Soil Molecular Ecology, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Baquero F, Coque TM, Martínez JL. Natural detoxification of antibiotics in the environment: A one health perspective. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1062399. [PMID: 36504820 PMCID: PMC9730888 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1062399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The extended concept of one health integrates biological, geological, and chemical (bio-geo-chemical) components. Anthropogenic antibiotics are constantly and increasingly released into the soil and water environments. The fate of these drugs in the thin Earth space ("critical zone") where the biosphere is placed determines the effect of antimicrobial agents on the microbiosphere, which can potentially alter the composition of the ecosystem and lead to the selection of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms including animal and human pathogens. However, soil and water environments are highly heterogeneous in their local composition; thus the permanence and activity of antibiotics. This is a case of "molecular ecology": antibiotic molecules are adsorbed and eventually inactivated by interacting with biotic and abiotic molecules that are present at different concentrations in different places. There are poorly explored aspects of the pharmacodynamics (PD, biological action) and pharmacokinetics (PK, rates of decay) of antibiotics in water and soil environments. In this review, we explore the various biotic and abiotic factors contributing to antibiotic detoxification in the environment. These factors range from spontaneous degradation to the detoxifying effects produced by clay minerals (forming geochemical platforms with degradative reactions influenced by light, metals, or pH), charcoal, natural organic matter (including cellulose and chitin), biodegradation by bacterial populations and complex bacterial consortia (including "bacterial subsistence"; in other words, microbes taking antibiotics as nutrients), by planktonic microalgae, fungi, plant removal and degradation, or sequestration by living and dead cells (necrobiome detoxification). Many of these processes occur in particulated material where bacteria from various origins (microbiota coalescence) might also attach (microbiotic particles), thereby determining the antibiotic environmental PK/PD and influencing the local selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The exploration of this complex field requires a multidisciplinary effort in developing the molecular ecology of antibiotics, but could result in a much more precise determination of the one health hazards of antibiotic production and release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Baquero
- Division of Biology and Evolution of Microorganisms, Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain,*Correspondence: Fernando Baquero,
| | - Teresa M. Coque
- Division of Biology and Evolution of Microorganisms, Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFECT), Madrid, Spain
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Sanz C, Casadoi M, Tadic Đ, Pastor-López EJ, Navarro-Martin L, Parera J, Tugues J, Ortiz CA, Bayona JM, Piña B. Impact of organic soil amendments in antibiotic levels, antibiotic resistance gene loads, and microbiome composition in corn fields and crops. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:113760. [PMID: 35753374 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113760] [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: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The potential spreading of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) into agricultural fields and crops represent a fundamental limitation on the use of organic fertilization in food production systems. We present here a study of the effect of spreading four types of organic soil amendments (raw pig slurry, liquid and solid fractions, and a digested derivative) on demonstrative plots in two consecutive productive cycles of corn harvest (Zea mays), using a mineral fertilizer as a control, following the application of organic amendments at 32-62 T per ha (150 kg total N/ha) and allowing 5-8 months between fertilization and harvest. A combination of qPCR and high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing methods showed a small, but significant impact of the fertilizers in both ARG loads and microbiomes in soil samples, particularly after the second harvesting cycle. The slurry solid fraction showed the largest impact on both ARG loads and microbiome variation, whereas its digestion derivatives showed a much smaller impact. Soil samples with the highest ARG loads also presented increased levels of tetracyclines, indicating a potential dual hazard by ARG and antibiotic residues linked to some organic amendments. Unlike soils, no accumulation of ARG or antibiotics was observed in corn leaves (used as fodder) or grains, and no grain sample reached detection limits for neither parameter. These results support the use of organic soil amendments in corn crops, while proposing the reduction of the loads of ARGs and antibiotics from the fertilizers to greatly reduce their potential risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sanz
- IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18. E-08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Casadoi
- IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18. E-08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Đorde Tadic
- IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18. E-08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Joan Parera
- DACC, Departament d'Acció Climàtica, Alimentació i Agenda Rural, Generalitat de Catalunya, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 612-614, E-08007, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Tugues
- DACC, Departament d'Acció Climàtica, Alimentació i Agenda Rural, Generalitat de Catalunya, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 612-614, E-08007, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos A Ortiz
- DACC, Departament d'Acció Climàtica, Alimentació i Agenda Rural, Generalitat de Catalunya, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 612-614, E-08007, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Benjamin Piña
- IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18. E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
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