1
|
Bonanno Ferraro G, Bonomo C, Brandtner D, Mancini P, Veneri C, Briancesco R, Coccia AM, Lucentini L, Suffredini E, Bongiorno D, Musso N, Stefani S, La Rosa G. Characterisation of microbial communities and quantification of antibiotic resistance genes in Italian wastewater treatment plants using 16S rRNA sequencing and digital PCR. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173217. [PMID: 38750766 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173217] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in humans, animals and environment is a growing threat to public health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are crucial in mitigating the risk of environmental contamination by effectively removing contaminants before discharge. However, the persistence of ARB and ARGs even after treatment is a challenge for the management of water system. To comprehensively assess antimicrobial resistance dynamics, we conducted a one-year monitoring study in three WWTPs in central Italy, both influents and effluents. We used seasonal sampling to analyze microbial communities by 16S rRNA, as well as to determine the prevalence and behaviour of major ARGs (sul1, tetA, blaTEM, blaOXA-48, blaCTX-M-1 group, blaKPC) and the class 1 Integron (int1). Predominant genera included in order: Arcobacter, Acinetobacter, Flavobacterium, Pseudarcobacter, Bacteroides, Aeromonas, Trichococcus, Cloacibacterium, Pseudomonas and Streptococcus. A higher diversity of bacterial communities was observed in the effluents compared to the influents. Within these communities, we also identified bacteria that may be associated with antibiotic resistance and pose a significant threat to human health. The mean concentrations (in gene copies per liter, gc/L) of ARGs and int1 in untreated wastewater (absolute abundance) were as follows: sul1 (4.1 × 109), tetA (5.2 × 108), blaTEM (1.1 × 108), blaOXA-48 (2.1 × 107), blaCTX-M-1 group (1.1 × 107), blaKPC (9.4 × 105), and int1 (5.5 × 109). The mean values in treated effluents showed reductions ranging from one to three log. However, after normalizing to the 16S rRNA gene (relative abundance), it was observed that in 37.5 % (42/112) of measurements, the relative abundance of ARGs increased in effluents compared to influents. Furthermore, correlations were identified between ARGs and bacterial genera including priority pathogens. This study improves our understanding of the dynamics of ARGs and provides insights to develop more effective strategies to reduce their spread, protecting public health and preserving the future efficacy of antibiotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giusy Bonanno Ferraro
- National Center for Water Safety (CeNSia), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Carmelo Bonomo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, Italy
| | - David Brandtner
- Departments of Infectious Disease, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Pamela Mancini
- National Center for Water Safety (CeNSia), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carolina Veneri
- National Center for Water Safety (CeNSia), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Briancesco
- National Center for Water Safety (CeNSia), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Coccia
- National Center for Water Safety (CeNSia), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Lucentini
- National Center for Water Safety (CeNSia), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Dafne Bongiorno
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Nicolò Musso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Stefania Stefani
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Rosa
- National Center for Water Safety (CeNSia), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang M, Hou J, Xia J, Wu J, Miao L, Ji D. Antibiotics can alter the bacterial extracellular polymeric substances and surface properties affecting the cotransport of bacteria and antibiotics in porous media. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132569. [PMID: 37748312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132569] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Currently, studies on the environmental impact of antibiotics have focused on toxicity and resistance genes, and gaps exist in research on the effects of antibiotics entering the environment on bacterial surface properties and the synergistic transport of antibiotics and bacteria in porous media. To fill the gaps, we investigated the interactions between bacteria and antibiotics in synergistic transport in saturated porous media and the effects of media particle size, flow rate, and ionic concentration on this synergistic transport. This study revealed that although synergistic transport was complex, the mechanism of action was clear. Antibiotics could affect bacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), thus altering their surface hydrophobicity and roughness, thereby affecting bacterial transport. The effects of antibiotics on bacterial transport were dominated by altering bacterial roughness. Antibiotics had a relatively high adsorption on bacteria, so bacterial transport directly affected antibiotic transport. The antibiotic concentrations below a certain threshold increased the bacterial EPS quality, and above the threshold decreased the bacterial EPS quality. This threshold was related to antibiotic toxicity and bacterial type. Bacterial surface hydrophobicity was determined by the combination of proteins and sugars in the EPS, and roughness was positively correlated with the EPS quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Xia
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingzhan Miao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongliang Ji
- College of Environment and Ecology, Jiangsu Open University, Nanjing 210036, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
McCorquodale-Bauer K, Grosshans R, Zvomuya F, Cicek N. Critical review of phytoremediation for the removal of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161876. [PMID: 36716878 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics in wastewater are a growing environmental concern. Increased prescription and consumption rates have resulted in higher antibiotic wastewater concentration. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are often ineffective at antibiotic removal. Given the environmental risk of antibiotics and associated antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), finding methods of improving antibiotic removal from wastewater is of great importance. Phytoremediation of antibiotics in wastewater, facilitated through constructed wetlands, has been explored in a growing number of studies. To assess the removal efficiency and treatment mechanisms of plants and microorganisms within constructed wetlands for specific antibiotics of major antibiotic classes, the present review paper considered and evaluated data from the most recent published research on the topics of bench scale hydroponic, lab and pilot scale constructed wetland, and full scale constructed wetland antibiotic remediation. Additionally, microbial and enzymatic antibiotic degradation, antibiotic-ARG correlation, and plant effect on ARGs were considered. It is concluded from the present review that plants readily uptake sulfonamide, macrolide, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolone antibiotics and that constructed wetlands are an effective applied phytoremediation strategy for the removal of antibiotics from wastewater through the mechanisms of microbial biodegradation, root sorption, plant uptake, translocation, and metabolization. More research is needed to better understand the effect of plants on microbial community and ARGs. This paper serves as a synthesis of information that will help guide future research and applied use of constructed wetlands in the field antibiotic phytoremediation and wastewater treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenton McCorquodale-Bauer
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, E2-376 Engineering and Information Technology Complex (EITC), 75A Chancellor's Circle, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6, Canada.
| | - Richard Grosshans
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), 111 Lombard Avenue, Suite 325, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0T4, Canada
| | - Francis Zvomuya
- Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, 362 Ellis Building, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Nazim Cicek
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, E2-376 Engineering and Information Technology Complex (EITC), 75A Chancellor's Circle, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhou Y, Lian Y, Liu T, Jin X, Wang Z, Liu X, Zhou M, Jing D, Yin W, Feng J, Wang H, Zhang D. Impacts of high-quality coal mine drainage recycling for replenishment of aquatic ecosystems in arid regions of China: Bacterial community responses. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 223:115083. [PMID: 36529333 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Coal mine water is usually recycled as supplementary water for aquatic ecosystems in arid and semiarid mining regions of China. To ensure ecosystem health, the coal mine water is rigorously treated using several processes, including reverse osmosis, to meet surface water quality standards. However, the potential environmental impacts of this management pattern on the ecological function of receiving water bodies are unclear. In this study, we built several microcosm water ecosystems to simulate the receiving water bodies. High-quality treated coal mine drainage was mixed into the model water bodies at different concentrations, and the sediment bacterial community response and functional changes were systematically investigated. The results showed that the high-quality coal mine drainage could still shape bacterial taxonomic diversity, community composition and structure, with a concentration threshold of approximately 50%. Moreover, both the Mantel test and the structural equation model indicated that the salinity fluctuation caused by the receiving of coal mine drainage was the primary factor shaping the bacterial communities. 10 core taxa in the molecular ecological network influenced by coal mine drainage were identified, with the most critical taxa being patescibacteria and g_Geothermobacter. Furthermore, the pathway of carbohydrate metabolism as well as signaling molecules and interactions was up-regulated, whereas amino acid metabolism showed the opposite trend. All results suggested that the complex physical-chemical and biochemical processes in water ecosystems may be affected by the coal mine drainage. The bacterial community response and underlying functional changes may accelerate internal nutrient cycling, which may have a potential impact on algal bloom outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaqian Zhou
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215009, PR China
| | - Ying Lian
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Tengxiang Liu
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Xian Jin
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Xin Liu
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Mengling Zhou
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Dan Jing
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Weiwen Yin
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Jiaying Feng
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Heli Wang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215009, PR China.
| | - Daxin Zhang
- Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, PR China; School of Soil & Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Eckert EM, Galafassi S, Bastidas Navarro M, Di Cesare A, Corno G. Increased similarity of aquatic bacterial communities of different origin after antibiotic disturbance. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120568. [PMID: 36351482 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120568] [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: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Stochastic or deterministic processes control the bacterial community assembly in waters and their understanding is a fundamental question to correctly manage aquatic environments exposed to the release of antibiotics from anthropogenic sources. It has been suggested that microdiversity (i.e. the rare biosphere) convers freshwater communities with stability, meaning that previously rare taxa bloom when the community is disturbed. Since there might be a seed bank of similar, but not abundant, bacterial taxa in different waters, we tested whether a disturbance by an antibiotic cocktail would increase similarity in bacterial communities from different freshwater systems (a wastewater effluent and two lakes). In a continuous culture set-up in chemostats, we show that disturbance with antibiotics causes communities from different environments to become more similar. Once the antibiotic pressure is released the communities tend to become more dissimilar again. This shows that there is a similar shift in community composition even in waters from very different origins when they are disturbed by antibiotics, even at low concentrations. Antibiotics impact the bacterial communities at the cell and the community level, independently by the original degree of anthropogenic stress they are adapted to, altering the original phenotypes, genotypes, and the relations between bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ester M Eckert
- National Research Council of Italy, Water Research Institute, (CNR-IRSA), L.go Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Silvia Galafassi
- National Research Council of Italy, Water Research Institute, (CNR-IRSA), L.go Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Marcela Bastidas Navarro
- Laboratorio de Limnología, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional Del Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Andrea Di Cesare
- National Research Council of Italy, Water Research Institute, (CNR-IRSA), L.go Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Gianluca Corno
- National Research Council of Italy, Water Research Institute, (CNR-IRSA), L.go Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Corno G, Ghaly T, Sabatino R, Eckert EM, Galafassi S, Gillings MR, Di Cesare A. Class 1 integron and related antimicrobial resistance gene dynamics along a complex freshwater system affected by different anthropogenic pressures. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120601. [PMID: 36351483 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The risk for human health posed by polluted aquatic environments, and especially those carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of clinical interest, is still debated. This is because of our limited knowledge of the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in the environment, the selection mechanisms underlying the spread of ARGs, and the ecological factors potentially favoring their return to humans. The Class 1 integron is one of the most effective platforms for the dissemination of ARGs. In this study we investigated a freshwater system consisting of a lake-river-lake continuum, determining the abundance of class 1 integrons and their associated ARGs by a modulated metagenomic approach. Bacterial abundance and community composition were used to identify the potential carriers of class 1 integrons and their associated ARGs over a period of six months. Class 1 integrons and their ARG cargoes were significantly more abundant in riverine sampling sites receiving treated wastewater. Further, class 1 integrons carried ARGs ranked at the highest risk for human health (e.g., catB genes), in particular, genes encoding resistance to aminoglycosides. Genera of potential pathogens, such as Pseudomonas and Escherichia-Shigella, were correlated with class 1 integrons. The lake-river-lake system demonstrated a clear relationship between the integrase gene of class 1 integrons (intI1) and anthropogenic impact, but also a strong environmental filtering that favored the elimination of intI1 once the human derived stressors were reduced. Overall, the results of this study underline the role class 1 integrons as proxy of anthropogenic pollution and suggest this genetic platform as an important driver of aminoglycoside resistance genes, including high risk ARGs, of potential concern for human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Corno
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy.
| | - Timothy Ghaly
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Raffaella Sabatino
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| | - Ester M Eckert
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| | - Silvia Galafassi
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| | - Michael R Gillings
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrea Di Cesare
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Guan X, He R, Zhang B, Gao C, Liu F. Seasonal variations of microbial community structure, assembly processes, and influencing factors in karst river. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1133938. [PMID: 37032860 PMCID: PMC10075313 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1133938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The physicochemical properties and microbial communities have significant annual and seasonal changes in karst aquifers. To explore the changes of microbial community and their relationships with environmental factors, water samples were collected from a typical karst river. Microbial communities in winter (Jan-2017 and Jan-2019) were stable with high similarity in spite of the 2 years sampling interval, but the microbial communities in Aug-2017 was different from that in Aug-2018. In four sampling times, there were 275 shared genera, whose average relative abundance ranging from 89.04 to 96.27%. The winter and summer specific genera were mainly from the recharge of tributary site K6 and discharge of waste water treatment plant (K2 and K3), respectively. The deterministic processes had a more significant effect on the microbial community assembly in winter than that in summer, which was affected by environmental pressure from pollution. Furthermore, antibiotics and inorganic nitrogen pollution affected element cycles of nitrogen and sulfur indirectly through microbial ecological modules in karst river, and the denitrification and desulfurization processes were potentially inhibited. These findings contributed to understand the changes and its assembly mechanism of microbial community, as well as the feedback to environment in polluted karst river.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Guan
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoxue He
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Discipline Construction and Technology Development, Chengdu Technological University, Chengdu, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chengjie Gao
- Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Conservation of MWR, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Fei Liu,
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Di Cesare A, Frangipani E, Citterio B, Sabatino R, Corno G, Fontaneto D, Mangiaterra G, Bencardino D, Zoppi S, Di Blasio A, Desiato R, Ru G, Marchis D. Class 1 integron and Enterococcus spp. abundances in swine farms from the " Suckling piglets" to the "Fatteners" production category. Vet Microbiol 2022; 274:109576. [PMID: 36155350 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109576] [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: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Swine farms are considered a hotspot of antimicrobial resistance and may contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant and/or pathogenic bacteria into the environment as well as to farm workers. In this study, swine fecal samples have been collected over the primary production, selecting three categories, i.e., "Suckling piglets", "Weaning pigs" and "Fatteners", in six intensive swine farms, for two years. Feces were analysed for the detection and abundance of class 1 integrons (used as proxy of antibiotic resistance and of anthropogenic pollution), and of enterococci [fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and potentially pathogenic for humans] by quantitative Real Time PCR. Furthermore, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were isolated, analysed for the presence of the intI1 gene by Real Time PCR and genetically typed by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis. Both enterococci and class 1 integrons were significantly more abundant in the Suckling piglets (p = 0.0316 and 0.0242, respectively). About 8% of the isolated enterococci were positive for the intI1 gene by Real Time PCR. E. faecalis and E. faecium were found genetically heterogeneous and no specific pattern could be identified as the driver for their presence along the pig primary production. These findings suggest that the "Suckling piglets" category of production represents the key point where to mitigate the risk of transmission of enterococci and class 1 integrons with associated antibiotic resistance genes to humans and spread into the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Di Cesare
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Frangipani
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Barbara Citterio
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Raffaella Sabatino
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Gianluca Corno
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Diego Fontaneto
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Bencardino
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Simona Zoppi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessia Di Blasio
- S.C. Sanità Animale, Servizio Veterinario ASL TO3, Pinerolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Rosanna Desiato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ru
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Daniela Marchis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang X, Gong Z, Allinson G, Xiao M, Li X, Jia C, Ni Z. Environmental risks caused by livestock and poultry farms to the soils: Comparison of swine, chicken, and cattle farms. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 317:115320. [PMID: 35642811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The lack of treatment systems for pollutants in family-livestock and poultry sites results in large amounts of untreated manure and urine being directly discharged to environment. The risks from veterinary antibiotic (VA) and heavy metal (HM) exposure in the rural environment require further research. In this investigation, 221 samples (feed, manure, surface soil, soil profiles, water, and plant) were collected from 41 livestock and poultry farms (swine, chichen, and cattle). Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), oxytetracycline (OTC), and enrofloxacin (ENR) were frequently detected in the samples. Metals and VAs in sandy loam soils were more inclined to migrate to deep layers than those in loam soils. Copper and Zn in the polluted soils mainly existed in available forms, which facilitated their migration to deep soil layers. In this study, OTC was also observed to migrate more easily to deeper soil layers than ENR due to its relatively high pKa value. Eighteen antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and 5 metal resistance genes (MRGs) along with one mobile genetic element (MGE) occurred in the soils at 80 cm depth. Luteimonas, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, and Rhodanobacter were dominant genera detected in the soil samples from different sites, which might increase migration of ARGs or degradation of VAs. An ecological risk assessment suggested that VAs posed threats to the growth of Triticum aestivum L, Cucumis sativus L, and Brassiaca chinensis L. Remediation techniques including biochar/modified biochar, anaerobic digestion, and manure composting should be developed urgently for joint HM and VA pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Zongqiang Gong
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China.
| | - Graeme Allinson
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia
| | - Mei Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Xiaojun Li
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China
| | - Chunyun Jia
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China
| | - Zijun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Xuan Y, Mai Y, Xu Y, Zheng J, He Z, Shu L, Cao Y. Enhanced microbial nitrification-denitrification processes in a subtropical metropolitan river network. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118857. [PMID: 35868099 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban rivers are hotspots of regional nitrogen (N) pollution and N transformations. Previous studies have reported that the microbial community of urban rivers was different from that of natural rivers. However, how microbial community affects N transformations in the urban rivers is still unclear. In this study, we employed N nutrients-related isotope technology (includes natural-abundance isotopes survey and isotope-labeling method) and bioinformatics methods (includes 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR analysis) to investigate the major N transformations, microbial communities as well as functional gene abundances in a metropolitan river network. Our results suggested that the bacterial community structure in the highly urbanized rivers was characterized by higher richness, less complexity and increased abundances of nitrification and denitrifying bacterium compared to those in the suburban rivers. These differences were mainly caused by high sewage discharge and N loadings. In addition, the abundances of nitrifier gene (amoA) and denitrifier genes (nirK and nirS) were significantly higher in the highly urbanized rivers (2.36 × 103, 7.43 × 107 and 2.28 × 107 copies·mL-1) than that in the suburban rivers (0.43 × 103, 2.18 × 107 and 0.99 × 107 copies·mL-1). These changes in microbes have accelerated nitrification-denitrification processes in the highly urbanized rivers as compared to those in the suburban rivers, which was evidenced by environmental isotopes and the rates of nitrification (10.52 vs. 0.03 nmol·L-1·h-1) and denitrification (83.31 vs. 22.49 nmol·g-1·h-1). Overall, this study concluded that the excess exogenous N has significantly shaped the specific aquatic bacterial communities, which had a potential for enhancing nitrification-denitrification processes in the highly urbanized river network. This study provides a further understanding of microbial N cycling in urban river ecosystems and expands the combined application of isotopic technology and bioinformatics methods in studying biogeochemical cycling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingxue Xuan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingwen Mai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yunqiu Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianyi Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhili He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Longfei Shu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Yingjie Cao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Brienza M, Sauvêtre A, Ait-Mouheb N, Bru-Adan V, Coviello D, Lequette K, Patureau D, Chiron S, Wéry N. Reclaimed wastewater reuse in irrigation: Role of biofilms in the fate of antibiotics and spread of antimicrobial resistance. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118830. [PMID: 35841791 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Reclaimed wastewater associated biofilms are made up from diverse class of microbial communities that are continuously exposed to antibiotic residues. The presence of antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) and their associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) ensures also a continuous selection pressure on biofilms that could be seen as hotspots for antibiotic resistance dissemination but can also play a role in antibiotic degradation. In this study, the antibiotic degradation and the abundance of four ARGs (qnrS, sul1, blaTEM, ermB), and two mobile genetic elements (MGEs) including IS613 and intl1, were followed in reclaimed wastewater and biofilm samples collected at the beginning and after 2 weeks of six antibiotics exposure (10 µg L-1). Antibiotics were partially degraded and remained above lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for environmental samples described in the literature. The most abundant genes detected both in biofilms and reclaimed wastewater were sul1, ermB, and intl1. The relative abundance of these genes in biofilms increased during the 2 weeks of exposure but the highest values were found in control samples (without antibiotics pressure), suggesting that bacterial community composition and diversity are the driven forces for resistance selection and propagation in biofilms, rather than exposure to antibiotics. Planktonic and biofilm bacterial communities were characterized. Planktonic cells are classically defined "as free flowing bacteria in suspension" as opposed to the sessile state (the so-called biofilm): "a structured community of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix and adherent to an inert or living. surface" as stated by Costerton et al. (1999). The abundance of some genera known to harbor ARG such as Streptococcus, Exiguobacterium, Acholeplasma, Methylophylaceae and Porphyromonadaceae increased in reclaimed wastewater containing antibiotics. The presence of biofilm lowered the level of these genera in wastewater but, at the opposite, could also serve as a reservoir of these bacteria to re-colonize low-diversity wastewater. It seems that maintaining a high diversity is important to limit the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance among planktonic bacteria. Antibiotics had no influence on the biofilm development monitored with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Further research is needed in order to clarify the role of inter-species communication in biofilm on antibiotic degradation and resistance development and spreading.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Brienza
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza 85100, Italy; UMR HydroSciences Montpellier, Montpellier University - CNRS - IRD - IMT Mines Alès, 15 Ave Charles Flahault, Montpellier Cedex 5, 34093, France; INRAE, UMR G-EAU, Université Montpellier, Avenue Jean-François Breton, Montpellier 34000, France.
| | - A Sauvêtre
- UMR HydroSciences Montpellier, Montpellier University - CNRS - IRD - IMT Mines Alès, 15 Ave Charles Flahault, Montpellier Cedex 5, 34093, France; IMT Mines Ales, IRD, CNRS, HydroSciences Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Ales 30100, France; INRAE, UMR G-EAU, Université Montpellier, Avenue Jean-François Breton, Montpellier 34000, France
| | - N Ait-Mouheb
- INRAE, UMR G-EAU, Université Montpellier, Avenue Jean-François Breton, Montpellier 34000, France
| | - V Bru-Adan
- INRAE, LBE, Université Montpellier, 102, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne 11100, France
| | - D Coviello
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza 85100, Italy; Department of Engineering, University of Naples Parthenope, Centro Direzionale Isola C/4 80 143, Naples, Italy
| | - K Lequette
- INRAE, UMR G-EAU, Université Montpellier, Avenue Jean-François Breton, Montpellier 34000, France; INRAE, LBE, Université Montpellier, 102, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne 11100, France
| | - D Patureau
- INRAE, LBE, Université Montpellier, 102, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne 11100, France.
| | - S Chiron
- UMR HydroSciences Montpellier, Montpellier University - CNRS - IRD - IMT Mines Alès, 15 Ave Charles Flahault, Montpellier Cedex 5, 34093, France
| | - N Wéry
- INRAE, LBE, Université Montpellier, 102, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne 11100, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Seyoum MM, Lichtenberg R, Orlofsky E, Bernstein N, Gillor O. Antibiotic resistance in soil and tomato crop irrigated with freshwater and two types of treated wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 211:113021. [PMID: 35276198 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural use of treated wastewater (TWW) is an effective means to reduce freshwater (FW) consumption. However, there is a growing concern regarding the potential dissemination of antibiotic resistance elements by TWW irrigation. We hypothesized that higher levels of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) would be detected in soil and crops irrigated with TWW compared to FW irrigation. To test our prediction, samples of water (FW, secondary TWW, and tertiary TWW), irrigated soils, and crops (tomato) surface wash were collected during two consecutive growing seasons. The ARGs conferring resistance to sulfonamide, fluoroquinolone, penicillin, erythromycin and tetracycline were quantified in the samples, alongside Class 1 integron-integrase and the bacterial 16 S rRNA encoding genes. Contrary to our hypothesis, ARGs in the irrigation water were not propagated to either the irrigated soil, or the tomato. The tomato surface wash featured a variety of ARGs that were undetected in neither the waters nor the irrigated soils. Therefore, we cautiously question the link between irrigation water quality and the soil and produce resistomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitiku Mihiret Seyoum
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, J. Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Midreshet Ben Gurion, 8499000, Israel
| | - Rachel Lichtenberg
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, J. Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Midreshet Ben Gurion, 8499000, Israel
| | - Ezra Orlofsky
- School of Engineering, Kinneret Academic College, Zemach, Emek HaYarden, 1513200, Israel
| | - Nirit Bernstein
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, 7505101, Israel
| | - Osnat Gillor
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, J. Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Midreshet Ben Gurion, 8499000, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhang X, Gong Z, Allinson G, Li X, Jia C. Joint effects of bacterium and biochar in remediation of antibiotic-heavy metal contaminated soil and responses of resistance gene and microbial community. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 299:134333. [PMID: 35304205 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Soils containing both veterinary antibiotics (VAs) and heavy metals necessitate effective remediation approaches, and microbial and molecular levels of the results should be further examined. Here, a novel material combining waste fungus chaff-based biochar (WFCB) and Herbaspirillum huttiense (HHS1) was established to immobilize copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) and degrade oxytetracycline (OTC) and enrofloxacin (ENR). Results showed that the combined material exhibited high immobilization of Cu (85.5%) and Zn (64.4%) and great removals of OTC (41.9%) and ENR (40.7%). Resistance genes including tet(PB), tetH, tetR, tetS, tetT, tetM, aacA/aphD, aacC, aadA9, and czcA were reduced. Abundances of potential hosts of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) including phylum Proteobacteria and genera Brevundimonas and Rhodanobacter were altered. Total phosphorus and pH were the factors driving the VA degrading microorganisms and potential hosts of ARGs. The combination of WFCB and HHS1 can serve as an important bioresource for immobilizing heavy metals and removing VAs in the contaminated soil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
| | - Zongqiang Gong
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China.
| | - Graeme Allinson
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.
| | - Xiaojun Li
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China.
| | - Chunyun Jia
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Dietary supplementation with Weissella cibaria C-10 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens T-5 enhance immunity against Aeromonas veronii infection in crucian carp (Carassiu auratus). Microb Pathog 2022; 167:105559. [PMID: 35568093 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
With the aim to discover novel lactic acid bacteria and Bacillus strains from fish as potential probiotics to replace antibiotics in aquaculture, the present study was conducted to isolate lactic acid bacteria and Bacillus from intestinal tract of healthy crucian carp (Carassiu auratus) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and evaluate their resistance against Aeromonas veronii. Based on the evaluation of antibacterial activity and tolerance test, one strain of lactic acid bacteria (Weissella cibaria C-10) and one strain of Bacillus (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens T-5) with strong environmental stability were screened out. The safety evaluation showed that these two strains were non-toxic to crucian carp and were sensitive to most antibiotics. In vivo study, the crucian carps were fed a basal diet supplemented with W. cibaria C-10 (C-10), B. amyloliquefaciens T-5 (T-5) and W. cibaria C-10 + B. amyloliquefaciens T-5 (C-10+T-5), respectively, for 5 weeks. Then, various immune parameters were measured at 35 days of post-feeding. Results showed both probiotics could improve the activities of related immune enzymes, immune factors and non-specific immune antibodies in blood and organs (gill, gut, kidney, liver, and spleen) of crucian carp in varying degrees. Moreover, after 7 days of challenge experiment, the survival rates after challenged with A. veronii of W. cibaria C-10 (C-10), B. amyloliquefaciens T-5 (T-5) and W. cibaria C-10 + B. amyloliquefaciens T-5 (C-10+T-5) supplemented groups to the crucian carps were 20%, 33% and 22%, respectively. Overall, W. cibaria C-10 and B. amyloliquefaciens T-5 could be considered to be developed into microecological preparations for the alternatives of antibiotics in aquaculture.
Collapse
|
15
|
Sathicq MB, Sabatino R, Di Cesare A, Eckert EM, Fontaneto D, Rogora M, Corno G. PET particles raise microbiological concerns for human health while tyre wear microplastic particles potentially affect ecosystem services in waters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 429:128397. [PMID: 35236044 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although abundant and chemically peculiar, tyre wear microplastic particles (TWP) and their impact on the microbial communities in water are largely understudied. We tested in laboratory based semi-continuous cultures the impact of TWP and of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) derived particles (following a gradient of relative abundance) on the pathobiome (the group of potential human pathogenic bacteria) of a freshwater microbial community exposed to contamination by the effluent of a urban wastewater treatment plant, for a period of 28 days. We could define the modulated impact of the two types of microplastic particles: while PET does not favour bacterial growth, it offers a refuge to several potential pathogens of allochthonous origin (from the treated sewage effluent), TWP act as an additional carbon source, promoting the development and the massive growth of a biofilm composed by fast-growing bacterial genera including species potentially harmful and competitive in abating biodiversity in surface waters. Our results demonstrate the different ecological role and impact on freshwater environments of TWP and PET particles, and the need to approach the study of this pollutant not as a whole, but considering the origin and the chemical composition of the different particles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Belen Sathicq
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| | - Raffaella Sabatino
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Cesare
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| | - Ester M Eckert
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| | - Diego Fontaneto
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy
| | - Michela Rogora
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Gianluca Corno
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Verbania, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Di Cesare A, Sabatino R, Yang Y, Brambilla D, Li P, Fontaneto D, Eckert EM, Corno G. Contribution of plasmidome, metal resistome and integrases to the persistence of the antibiotic resistome in aquatic environments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 297:118774. [PMID: 34974089 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are among the main hotspots of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. Previously, we demonstrated that, by increasing anthropogenic pollution, the antibiotic resistome persisted in the microbial community of rivers and lakes, independently by changes in community composition. In this study, we reanalysed the data to test for the relation of metal resistance genes (MRGs), plasmids, and integrons to the persistence of the antibiotic resistome. The experiment consisted in replicated co-cultures of riverine or lacustrine microbial communities and WWTP effluents in different proportions. Samples before (T0) and after a short period of incubation (TF) were collected and community metagenomic data were obtained by shotgun sequencing. The data were processed to annotate MRGs, plasmids, and integrases. The integrases stabilized in the aquatic environment following the degree of contamination with effluent water (in particular in one site), whereas MRGs and plasmids showed stochastic trajectories. These results confirm the potential correlation between integrons and anthropogenic pollution, and the reliability of intI1 as a pollution marker. Only in one site MRGs, plasmids, and ARGs were correlated, highlighting their partial contribution to the persistence of ARGs in surface waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Di Cesare
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy.
| | - Raffaella Sabatino
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Ying Yang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 519082, Zhuhai, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), 519082, Zhuhai, China; Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Diego Brambilla
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Pu Li
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 519082, Zhuhai, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), 519082, Zhuhai, China; Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Diego Fontaneto
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Ester M Eckert
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| | - Gianluca Corno
- Water Research Institute (IRSA) - MEG Molecular Ecology Group, CNR - National Research Council of Italy, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Li J, Zheng L, Ye C, Zhou Z, Ni B, Zhang X, Liu H. Unveiling organic loading shock-resistant mechanism in a pilot-scale moving bed biofilm reactor-assisted dual-anaerobic-anoxic/oxic system for effective municipal wastewater treatment. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 347:126339. [PMID: 34775052 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microbial biomass and activity are frequently subjected to organic loading shock (OLS) from decentralized municipal wastewater. A hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor-assisted dual-anaerobic-anoxic/oxic system (D-A2MBBR) was established by integrating dual-anaerobic-anoxic/oxic with moving bed biofilm reactor to resist OLS for stable nutrients removal. The D-A2MBBR achieved 91.57% of chemical oxygen demand, 93.33% of ammonia-nitrogen, 80.20% of total nitrogen and 92.68% of total phosphorus removal, respectively, under the fluctuation of organic loading rate from 417.9 to 812.0 g COD m-3 d-1. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that Gemmobacter (7.28%) was identified as dominating anoxic denitrifying genus in oxic chamber, confirming the coexistence of aerobic and anaerobic/anoxic micro-environments. This circumstance boosted simultaneous nitrification-denitrification and phosphorus removal and the microbial community evolution inside the multilayer biocarrier-attached biofilms. In general, the D-A2MBBR was able to provide unique, cooperative and robust bacterial consortia to form a buffer against OLS, and ensuring effluent stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia Li
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of River and Ocean Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, PR China; Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, PR China; Research Center for Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Yuxi Normal University, Yuxi 653100, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Lei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, PR China
| | - Changbing Ye
- Research Center for Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Yuxi Normal University, Yuxi 653100, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Zhiming Zhou
- Research Center for Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Yuxi Normal University, Yuxi 653100, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Baosen Ni
- Research Center for Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Yuxi Normal University, Yuxi 653100, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, Shandong, PR China
| | - Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yin X, Yang Y, Deng Y, Huang Y, Li L, Chan LYL, Zhang T. An assessment of resistome and mobilome in wastewater treatment plants through temporal and spatial metagenomic analysis. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 209:117885. [PMID: 34847392 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are regarded as critical points in disseminating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In particular, the discharging effluents from WWTPs generally bring downstream catchment areas exogenous ARGs and resistant bacteria. However, there lacks a sufficient assessment of the resistome and mobilome in effluents. In this study, a consecutive monthly sampling was conducted over 13 months in three Hong Kong (HK) WWTPs for metagenomic sequencing. Prevalence information of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was compared with counterparts in effluents from cities of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Moreover, a publicly accessible platform integrating the exposure ranking scheme, which was based on the global archive of ARG abundance, and a readily implementable online pipeline was developed to benefit communication in academia and government consultancy. Results demonstrated HK WWTPs were featured high ARG removal efficiency of 2.34-2.43 log reduction rate, and effluents were ranked in moderate levels of Level 2 and Level 3 in the exposure prioritizing scheme based on total ARG abundance. Moreover, absolute quantification of temporal variations of effluent resistome disclosed distinct changes over time among varied ARG types which were associated with prevalently used antibiotics, including quinolone and sulfonamide. This reinforces the need for real-time management of WWTP systems. Notably, ARGs of anthropogenic prevalence, high mobility, and potential pathogenicity were found to be present in HK effluents, drawing attention to the necessity for improved risk management. In addition, source tracking of effluent resistome and structural equation model analysis was conducted to explore the disparity in ARG abundance and diversity in different samples. The discovery of this study and the recommendation of a comprehensive exposure assessment will facilitate decision-making in resistome management in WWTPs to reduce the ARG and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) contamination in the receiving environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaole Yin
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Deng
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yue Huang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Liguan Li
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lilian Y L Chan
- High Performance Computing Team, Information Technology Services, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zheng H, Feng N, Yang T, Shi M, Wang X, Zhang Q, Zhao J, Li F, Sun K, Xing B. Individual and combined applications of biochar and pyroligneous acid mitigate dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in agricultural soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 796:148962. [PMID: 34271377 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Remediation of agricultural soils polluted with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is important for protecting food safety and human health. However, the feasibility of co-application of biochar and pyroligneous acid, two multifunctional soil amendments, for mitigating dissemination of soil ARGs is unknown. Thus, a woody biochar (BC450) and its by-product, pyroligneous acid (PA450) simultaneously produced at 450 °C from blended wood wastes, were used to compare their individual and combined effects on soil ARG abundance using a 65-day pot experiment planted with leafy vegetable Brassica chinensis L. The individual and combined applications of PA450 and BC450 significantly reduced the absolute abundance of ARGs by 65.7-81.4% and 47.5-72.9% in the corresponding rhizosphere and bulk soil. However, the co-application showed little synergistic effect, probably due to the counteractive effect of BC450 on the PA450-mitigated soil ARG proliferation, resulted from the promoted soil bacterial growth and/or adsorption of antimicrobial components of PA450 by BC450. The decreased abundances of mobile genetic element intI1 and Tn916/1545 in the PA450 treatments demonstrated the potential of PA450 for weakening horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Furthermore, weakened HGT by individual PA450, lowered availability of heavy metals by individual BC450, and different bacterial community (e.g., reduced ARGs bacterial host) together with improved soil properties from co-application of PA450 and BC450 all contributed to the reduced ARG level. This study highlighted the feasibility of co-applications of biochar and pyroligneous acid amendment for mitigating soil ARG pollution. These findings provide important information for developing eco-friendly technologies using biochar and pyroligneous acid in remediating ARG-contaminated soils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zheng
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Nianlin Feng
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Tianning Yang
- Qingdao No. 2 Middle School of Shandong Province, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Mei Shi
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Qian Zhang
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Fengmin Li
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Ke Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Peng YP, He YW, Shen YF, Liang AM, Zhang XB, Liu YJ, Lin JH, Wang JP, Li YB, Fu YC. Fluorescence Nanobiosensor for Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Veterinary Drugs in Chicken Samples. JOURNAL OF ANALYSIS AND TESTING 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41664-021-00199-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
|
21
|
Zhang L, Zhang C, Lian K, Ke D, Xie T, Liu C. River restoration changes distributions of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes, and microbial community. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 788:147873. [PMID: 34134371 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although river restoration has been increasingly implemented to restore water quality in ecosystems, its effect on the removal of emerging pollutant antibiotics, and their resultant influence on microbial community structure and functions in river water is still unclear. This study investigated the changes of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), microbial communities, and their spatial distributions in a megacity river before and after river restoration. Results indicated that although the restoration activities including riverbed dredging, riverbank hardening, sewage and storm water separation and re-pipelining improved water quality such as by decreasing total phosphorus (TP) content from 4.60 ± 6.38 mg/L in 2018 to 0.98 ± 0.44 mg/L in 2020, the antibiotic concentrations in river water increased. Total antibiotic concentrations in the water samples were higher in 2020 (506.89-6952.50 ng/L) than those in 2018 (137.93-1751.51 ng/L), likely caused by increased usage of antibiotics in 2020 for COVID-19 treatment. The spatial distributions of antibiotics were less varied likely as a result of less retardation and fast mixing during antibiotic transport. The result also found that the abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, and their correlations with ARGs increased. The spatial distributions of ARGs and microbial communities became less varied in the river water, consistent with the antibiotic variations before and after river restoration. Physicochemical changes such as decreased TP and dissolved organic carbon content may also be a factor. The results indicated that the current river restoration efforts were not effective in removing antibiotics, and implied that further studies are needed to investigate their subsequent transformation and transport, and to assess their risks to the health of ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Keting Lian
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Dongfang Ke
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ting Xie
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chongxuan Liu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Seyoum MM, Obayomi O, Bernstein N, Williams CF, Gillor O. Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics and corresponding antibiotic resistance genes in different soil types irrigated with treated wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 782:146835. [PMID: 33838375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diminishing freshwater (FW) supplies necessitate the reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) for various purposes, like irrigation of agricultural lands. However, there is a growing concern that irrigation with TWW may transfer antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to the soil and crops. We hypothesized that TWW irrigation would increase the prevalence of antibiotic residues together with the corresponding ARGs in the irrigated soil. We further predicted that soil texture, especially pH, clay content, and organic matter variabilities, would change the antibiotic residues concentrations and thus ARGs dissemination. To test our predictions, three soils types (loamy-sand, loam, and clay) were irrigated with two water types (FW and TWW), over two consecutive seasons. We monitored physico-chemical parameters, the abundance of seven antibiotic residues, and their corresponding ARGs together with class 1 integron (intI1) in 54 water and soil samples collected at the end of the field experiments. The results revealed increase in antibiotics concentrations and ARGs relative abundance in TWW than FW. Yet, in the soil ARGs relative abundances were independent of the irrigation water quality, but dependent on the soil type, especially the clay content. Further, there were no clear associations between the targeted antibiotics or the presence of heavy metals and ARGs' relative abundance in the water or soil samples. Therefore, our results question the link between the discharge of antibiotics and heavy metals, and the dissemination of ARGs in soil environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitiku Mihiret Seyoum
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Midreshet Ben Gurion, Israel
| | - Olabiyi Obayomi
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Midreshet Ben Gurion, Israel
| | - Nirit Bernstein
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel
| | - Clinton F Williams
- USDA-ARS, US Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, 21881 N. Cardon Ln, Maricopa, AZ 85138, USA
| | - Osnat Gillor
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Midreshet Ben Gurion, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lin Z, Yuan T, Zhou L, Cheng S, Qu X, Lu P, Feng Q. Impact factors of the accumulation, migration and spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:1741-1758. [PMID: 33123928 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-020-00759-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a great concern, which leads to global public health risks and ecological and environmental risks. The presence of antibiotic-resistant genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment exacerbates the risk of spreading antibiotic resistance. Among them, horizontal gene transfer is an important mode in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, and it is one of the reasons that the antibiotic resistance pollution has become increasingly serious. At the same time, free antibiotic resistance genes and resistance gene host bacterial also exist in the natural environment. They can not only affect horizontal gene transfer, but can also migrate and aggregate among environmental media in many ways and then continue to affect the proliferate and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes. All this shows the seriousness of antibiotic resistance pollution. Therefore, in this review, we reveal the sensitive factors affecting the distribution and spread of antibiotic resistance through three aspects: the influencing factors of horizontal gene transfer, the host bacteria of resistance genes and the migration of antibiotic resistance between environmental media. This review reveals the huge role of environmental migration in the spread of antibiotic resistance, and the environmental behavior of antibiotic resistance deserves wider attention. Meanwhile, extracellular antibiotic resistance genes and intracellular antibiotic resistance genes play different roles, so they should be studied separately.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zibo Lin
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China
| | - Tao Yuan
- Department of Construction Equipment and Municipal Engineering, Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Architectural Technology, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Building Energy Saving and Construct Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| | - Lai Zhou
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China
| | - Sen Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China
| | - Xu Qu
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China
| | - Ping Lu
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China.
| | - Qiyan Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Antibiotic Resistance in Recreational Waters: State of the Science. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17218034. [PMID: 33142796 PMCID: PMC7663426 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ambient recreational waters can act as both recipients and natural reservoirs for antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria and antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs), where they may persist and replicate. Contact with AMR bacteria and ARGs potentially puts recreators at risk, which can thus decrease their ability to fight infections. A variety of point and nonpoint sources, including contaminated wastewater effluents, runoff from animal feeding operations, and sewer overflow events, can contribute to environmental loading of AMR bacteria and ARGs. The overall goal of this article is to provide the state of the science related to recreational exposure and AMR, which has been an area of increasing interest. Specific objectives of the review include (1) a description of potential sources of antibiotics, AMR bacteria, and ARGs in recreational waters, as documented in the available literature; (2) a discussion of what is known about human recreational exposures to AMR bacteria and ARGs, using findings from health studies and exposure assessments; and (3) identification of knowledge gaps and future research needs. To better understand the dynamics related to AMR and associated recreational water risks, future research should focus on source contribution, fate and transport-across treatment and in the environment; human health risk assessment; and standardized methods.
Collapse
|
25
|
Li LG, Huang Q, Yin X, Zhang T. Source tracking of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment - Challenges, progress, and prospects. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 185:116127. [PMID: 33086465 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has become a global public health concern, rendering common infections untreatable. Given the widespread occurrence, increasing attention is being turned toward environmental pathways that potentially contribute to antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination outside the clinical realm. Studies during the past decade have clearly proved the increased ARG pollution trend along with gradient of anthropogenic interference, mainly through marker-ARG detection by PCR-based approaches. However, accurate source-tracking has been always confounded by various factors in previous studies, such as autochthonous ARG level, spatiotemporal variability and environmental resistome complexity, as well as inherent method limitation. The rapidly developed metagenomics profiles ARG occurrence within the sample-wide genomic context, opening a new avenue for source tracking of environmental ARG pollution. Coupling with machine-learning classification, it has been demonstrated the potential of metagenomic ARG profiles in unambiguously assigning source contribution. Through identifying indicator ARG and recovering ARG-host genomes, metagenomics-based analysis will further increase the resolution and accuracy of source tracking. In this review, challenges and progresses in source-tracking studies on environmental ARG pollution will be discussed, with specific focus on recent metagenomics-guide approaches. We propose an integrative metagenomics-based framework, in which coordinated efforts on experimental design and metagenomic analysis will assist in realizing the ultimate goal of robust source-tracking in environmental ARG pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Guan Li
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Qi Huang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Xiaole Yin
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, 999077, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Triggiano F, Calia C, Diella G, Montagna MT, De Giglio O, Caggiano G. The Role of Urban Wastewater in the Environmental Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance: The Current Situation in Italy (2010-2019). Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1567. [PMID: 33053645 PMCID: PMC7600224 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientific studies show that urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTP) are among the main sources of release of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) into the environment, representing a risk to human health. This review summarizes selected publications from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019, with particular attention to the presence and treatment of ARG and ARB in UWWTPs in Italy. Following a brief introduction, the review is divided into three sections: (i) phenotypic assessment (ARB) and (ii) genotypic assessment (ARG) of resistant microorganisms, and (iii) wastewater treatment processes. Each article was read entirely to extract the year of publication, the geographical area of the UWWTP, the ARB and ARG found, and the type of disinfection treatment used. Among the ARB, we focused on the antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococci in UWWTP. The results show that the information presented in the literature to date is not exhaustive; therefore, future scientific studies at the national level are needed to better understand the spread of ARB and ARG, and also to develop new treatment methods to reduce this spread.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Osvalda De Giglio
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; (F.T.); (C.C.); (G.D.); (M.T.M.); (G.C.)
| | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Li C, Zhang X, Wei L, Wei D, Chen Z, Cao Z, Zhao Q, Chang CC. Molecular biological methods in environmental engineering. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2020; 92:1786-1793. [PMID: 32762138 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microbes are sensitive to environmental changes and can respond in a short time. Genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and multigroup association are used to characterize the composition, function, and metabolism of microorganisms, and to evaluate the environment according to the changes in microorganisms, which has important reference and guiding significance of environmental monitoring, management, and repair. In this paper, the application of molecular biological methods to study environmental microorganisms in the fields of wastewater treatment, pollution control, soil improvement, and environmental monitoring in 2019 is reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunying Li
- School of Energy and Civil Engineering, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin, China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Wei
- Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Dong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Zhongxi Chen
- Daqing Oil-field Design and Research Institute, Daqing, China
| | - Zhenkun Cao
- Daqing Oil-field Design and Research Institute, Daqing, China
| | - Qiushi Zhao
- Daqing Oil-field Design and Research Institute, Daqing, China
| | - Chein-Chi Chang
- Department of Engineering and Technical Services, DC Water and Sewer Authority, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Chao Y, Tang B, Luo J, Wu P, Tao D, Chang H, Chu X, Huang Y, Li H, Zhu W. Hierarchical porous boron nitride with boron vacancies for improved adsorption performance to antibiotics. J Colloid Interface Sci 2020; 584:154-163. [PMID: 33069015 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Designing atomically defective adsorbents with high specific surface area has emerged as a promising approach to improve sorption properties. Herein, hierarchical porous boron nitride nanosheets with boron vacancies (Bv-BNNSs) were in-situ synthesized via a one-step ZnCl2-assisted strategy. Being benefitted from the dual-functional template of zinc salt, highly-active boron vacancies and abundant hierarchical pores were simultaneously generated in the Bv-BNNSs framework. By employing the boron vacancies engineering strategy, the morphological and electronic structures were controllably tuned. Meanwhile, the specific surface area was improved to as high as 1104 m2/g. Owning to the abundance of accessible surface active-sites, the sorption capacity to antibiotic tetracycline (TC) on Bv-BNNSs was boosted by 38% compared to the pristine boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs). Detailed fitting results showed that TC sorption on Bv-BNNSs obeyed the pseudo-second order kinetic equation and the Freundlich isotherm model. The pi - pi interaction with a multi-layered stacking form was proposed as the dominated sorption mechanism. Furthermore, DFT calculations verified that the interaction energy between Bv-BNNSs and TC was enhanced. The high activity, excellent selectivity, and remarkable durability of the Bv-BNNSs nanomaterial suggest the great potential in practical wastewater treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Chao
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Baichuan Tang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Jing Luo
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Peiwen Wu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Duanjian Tao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, PR China
| | - Honghong Chang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Xiaozhong Chu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, PR China
| | - Yan Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Hongping Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China.
| | - Wenshuai Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kovalakova P, Cizmas L, McDonald TJ, Marsalek B, Feng M, Sharma VK. Occurrence and toxicity of antibiotics in the aquatic environment: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 251:126351. [PMID: 32443222 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 487] [Impact Index Per Article: 121.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, antibiotics have been used for human and animal disease treatment, growth promotion, and prophylaxis, and their consumption is rising worldwide. Antibiotics are often not fully metabolized by the body and are released into the aquatic environment, where they may have negative effects on the non-target species. This review examines the recent researches on eight representative antibiotics (erythromycin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin). A detailed overview of their concentrations in surface waters, groundwater, and effluents is provided, supported by recent global human consumption and veterinary use data. Furthermore, we review the ecotoxicity of these antibiotics towards different groups of organisms, and assessment of the environmental risks to aquatic organisms. This review discusses and compares the suitability of currently used ecotoxicological bioassays, and identifies the knowledge gaps and future challenges. The risk data indicate that selected antibiotics may pose a threat to aquatic environments. Cyanobacteria were the most sensitive organisms when using standard ecotoxicological bioassays. Further studies on their chronic effects to aquatic organisms and the toxicity of antibiotic mixtures are necessary to fully understand the hazards these antibiotics present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pavla Kovalakova
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Lidicka 25/27, 60200, Brno, Czech Republic; Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Building A29, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Leslie Cizmas
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Thomas J McDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Blahoslav Marsalek
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Lidicka 25/27, 60200, Brno, Czech Republic; Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Building A29, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mingbao Feng
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Virender K Sharma
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Zhu N, Jin H, Ye X, Liu W, Li D, Shah GM, Zhu Y. Fate and driving factors of antibiotic resistance genes in an integrated swine wastewater treatment system: From wastewater to soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 721:137654. [PMID: 32197285 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Swine wastewater (SW) represents an important source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. However, few studies have assessed the occurrence and removal of ARGs in the whole wastewater treatment process followed by its farmland application. This study investigated the ARGs profiles in an integrated SW treatment system and its receiving soil, as well as their relationships with SW parameters and bacterial communities. Results revealed that sulfonamide, tetracycline and aminoglycoside resistance genes were dominant in SW. The relative abundance of total ARGs in SW was reduced by 84% after the treatments. Among the SW treatment units, anaerobic digestion, primary sedimentation and constructed wetland contributed to ARGs removal while secondary sedimentation increased the total ARGs abundance. Farmland irrigation of the treated SW resulted in enrichment of persistent ARGs in the receiving soil, which might be attributed to the propagation of potential bacterial hosts and high horizontal gene transferability. Redundancy analysis indicated that the relative abundance of total ARGs was significantly correlated with total nitrogen, total phosphorus, antibiotics and bacterial communities. The shift in bacterial community was the major driving factor for ARGs alteration during SW treatment process. Our results highlight the effect of treated SW irrigation on the antibiotic resistome in agricultural environment, and can contribute in improving SW treatment system for better antibiotic resistance control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhu
- Recycling Agriculture Research Center, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory for Crop and Animal Integrated Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China; East China Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Development and Utilization of Rural Renewable Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Hongmei Jin
- Recycling Agriculture Research Center, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory for Crop and Animal Integrated Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China; East China Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Development and Utilization of Rural Renewable Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China.
| | - Xiaomei Ye
- Recycling Agriculture Research Center, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory for Crop and Animal Integrated Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China; East China Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Development and Utilization of Rural Renewable Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Recycling Agriculture Research Center, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory for Crop and Animal Integrated Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China; East China Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Development and Utilization of Rural Renewable Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Danyang Li
- Recycling Agriculture Research Center, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory for Crop and Animal Integrated Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China; East China Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Development and Utilization of Rural Renewable Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Ghulam Mustafa Shah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari-Campus, Vehari 61100, Pakistan
| | - Yanyun Zhu
- Recycling Agriculture Research Center, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory for Crop and Animal Integrated Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China; East China Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Development and Utilization of Rural Renewable Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Martínez A, Di Cesare A, Mari-Mena N, García-Gómez G, Garcia-Herrero A, Corno G, Fontaneto D, Eckert EM. Tossed 'good luck' coins as vectors for anthropogenic pollution into aquatic environment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113800. [PMID: 31887589 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Superstition has it that tossing coins into wells or fountains brings good luck, thereby causing a potential accumulation of microbially contaminated metal particles in the water. Here, we characterized the microbiota and the resistance profile in biofilm on such coins and their surrounding sediments. The study site was a tidal marine lake within a touristic center located in a natural reserve area. Notwithstanding the fact that coin-related biofilms were dominated by typical marine taxa, coin biofilms had specific microbial communities that were different from the communities of the surrounding sediment. Moreover, the communities were different depending on whether the coin were made mainly of steel or of copper. Sequences affiliated with putative pathogens were found on every third coin but were not found in the surrounding sediment. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were detected on most of the coins, and interestingly, sediments close to the area where coins accumulate had a higher frequency of ARGs. We suggest that the surface of the coins might offer a niche for ARGs and faecal bacteria to survive, and, thus, tossed coins are a potential source and vector for ARGs into the surrounding environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Martínez
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Cesare
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Neus Mari-Mena
- AllGenetics & Biology SL. Edificio CICA, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Guillermo García-Gómez
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy; School of Environment Sciences Earth, Ocean & Ecology Sciences Department, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Alvaro Garcia-Herrero
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Gianluca Corno
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Diego Fontaneto
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Ester M Eckert
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|