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Carson LR, Beaudry M, Valeo C, He J, Banting G, van Duin B, Goodman C, Scott C, Neumann NF. Occurrence, Sources and Virulence Potential of Arcobacter butzleri in Urban Municipal Stormwater Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:13065-13075. [PMID: 38989840 PMCID: PMC11271002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
A. butzleri is an underappreciated emerging global pathogen, despite growing evidence that it is a major contributor of diarrheal illness. Few studies have investigated the occurrence and public health risks that this organism possesses from waterborne exposure routes including through stormwater use. In this study, we assessed the prevalence, virulence potential, and primary sources of stormwater-isolated A. butzleri in fecally contaminated urban stormwater systems. Based on qPCR, A. butzleri was the most common enteric bacterial pathogen [25%] found in stormwater among a panel of pathogens surveyed, including Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) [6%], Campylobacter spp. [4%], and Salmonella spp. [<1%]. Concentrations of the bacteria, based on qPCR amplification of the single copy gene hsp60, were as high as 6.2 log10 copies/100 mL, suggesting significant loading of this pathogen in some stormwater systems. Importantly, out of 73 unique stormwater culture isolates, 90% were positive for the putative virulence genes cadF, ciaB, tlyA, cjl349, pldA, and mviN, while 50-75% of isolates also possessed the virulence genes irgA, hecA, and hecB. Occurrence of A. butzleri was most often associated with the human fecal pollution marker HF183 in stormwater samples. These results suggest that A. butzleri may be an important bacterial pathogen in stormwater, warranting further study on the risks it represents to public health during stormwater use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam R. Carson
- School
of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Megan Beaudry
- Daicel
Arbor Biosciences, Ann Arbor, Michigan 30606, United States
| | - Caterina Valeo
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 2Y2
| | - Jianxun He
- Department
of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
| | | | - Bert van Duin
- City &
Regional Planning, City of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 2M5
| | - Clint Goodman
- Community
Infrastructure, City of Airdrie, Airdrie, Alberta, Canada T4A 2K3
| | - Candis Scott
- School
of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Norman F. Neumann
- School
of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
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Oyelade AA, Ikhimiukor OO, Nwadike BI, Fagade OE, Adelowo OO. Assessing the risk of exposure to antimicrobial resistance at public beaches: Genome-based insights into the resistomes, mobilomes and virulomes of beta-lactams resistant Enterobacteriaceae from recreational beaches in Lagos, Nigeria. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 258:114347. [PMID: 38492327 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The role of recreational water use in the acquisition and transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is under-explored in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We used whole genome sequence analysis to provide insights into the resistomes, mobilomes and virulomes of 14 beta-lactams resistant Enterobacterales isolated from water and wet-sand at four recreational beaches in Lagos, Nigeria. Carriage of multiple beta-lactamase genes was detected in all isolates except two, including six isolates carrying blaNDM-1. Most detected antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were located within a diverse landscape of plasmids, insertion sequences and transposons including the presence of ISKpn14 upstream of blaNDM-1 in a first report in Africa. Virulence genes involved in adhesion and motility as well as secretion systems are particularly abundant in the genomes of the isolates. Our results confirmed the four beaches are contaminated with bacteria carrying clinically relevant ARGs associated with mobile genetic elements (MGE) which could promote the transmission of ARGs at the recreational water-human interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abolade A Oyelade
- New Jersey Department of Health, Public Health and Environmental Laboratories, New Jersey, USA
| | - Odion O Ikhimiukor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, New York, USA
| | - Blessing I Nwadike
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Obasola E Fagade
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Olawale O Adelowo
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
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Zhang Y, Xu Z, Chu W, Zhang J, Jin W, Ye C. Tracking the source of antibiotic resistome in the stormwater network drainage in the presence of sewage illicit connections. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168989. [PMID: 38036118 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168989] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Stormwater pipes are illicitly connected with sewage in many countries, which means that sewage enters stormwater pipes and the drainage is discharged to surface water without any treatment. Sewage contains more pathogens and highly risky antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) than surface runoff. Therefore, sewage may alter the microbial and ARG compositions in stormwater pipe drainage, which in turn leads to an increased risk of resistance in surface water. However, the effects of sewage on ARGs in the drainage of stormwater networks have not been systematically studied. This study characterized the microbial and ARG composition of several environmental compartments of a typical stormwater network and quantified their contributions to those in the drainage. This network transported ARGs and microorganisms from sewage, sediments in stormwater pipes, and surface runoff into the drainage and thus into the river. According to metagenomic analysis, multidrug resistance genes were most abundant in all samples and the numbers and relative abundance of ARGs in the drainage collected during wet weather were comparable to that of sewage. The results of SourceTracker showed that the relative contribution of sewage was double that of rainwater and surface runoff in the drainage during wet weather for both microorganisms and ARGs. Desulfovibrio, Azoarcus, and Sulfuritalea were connected with the greatest number of ARGs and were most abundant in the sediments of stormwater pipes. Furthermore, stochastic processes were found to dominate ARG and microbial assembly, as the effects of high hydrodynamic intensity outweighed the effects of environmental filtration and species interactions. The findings of this study can increase our understanding of ARGs in stormwater pipe drainage, a crucial medium linking ARGs in sewage to environmental ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zuxin Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Wenhai Chu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Jingyi Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei Jin
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Cheng Ye
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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Saleem F, Li E, Edge TA, Tran KL, Schellhorn HE. Identification of potential microbial risk factors associated with fecal indicator exceedances at recreational beaches. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:4. [PMID: 38225663 PMCID: PMC10790499 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00547-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fecal bacterial densities are proxy indicators of beach water quality, and beach posting decisions are made based on Beach Action Value (BAV) exceedances for a beach. However, these traditional beach monitoring methods do not reflect the full extent of microbial water quality changes associated with BAV exceedances at recreational beaches (including harmful cyanobacteria). This proof of concept study evaluates the potential of metagenomics for comprehensively assessing bacterial community changes associated with BAV exceedances compared to non-exceedances for two urban beaches and their adjacent river water sources. RESULTS Compared to non-exceedance samples, BAV exceedance samples exhibited higher alpha diversity (diversity within the sample) that could be further differentiated into separate clusters (Beta-diversity). For Beach A, Cyanobacterial sequences (resolved as Microcystis and Pseudanabaena at genus level) were significantly more abundant in BAV non-exceedance samples. qPCR validation supported the Cyanobacterial abundance results from metagenomic analysis and also identified saxitoxin genes in 50% of the non-exceedance samples. Microcystis sp and saxitoxin gene sequences were more abundant on non-exceedance beach days (when fecal indicator data indicated the beach should be open for water recreational purposes). For BAV exceedance days, Fibrobacteres, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Clostridium sequences were significantly more abundant (and positively correlated with fecal indicator densities) for Beach A. For Beach B, Spirochaetes (resolved as Leptospira on genus level) Burkholderia and Vibrio sequences were significantly more abundant in BAV exceedance samples. Similar bacterial diversity and abundance trends were observed for river water sources compared to their associated beaches. Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) were also consistently detected at both beaches. However, we did not observe a significant difference or correlation in ARGs abundance between BAV exceedance and non-exceedance samples. CONCLUSION This study provides a more comprehensive analysis of bacterial community changes associated with BAV exceedances for recreational freshwater beaches. While there were increases in bacterial diversity and some taxa of potential human health concern associated with increased fecal indicator densities and BAV exceedances (e.g. Pseudomonas), metagenomics analyses also identified other taxa of potential human health concern (e.g. Microcystis) associated with lower fecal indicator densities and BAV non-exceedances days. This study can help develop more targeted beach monitoring strategies and beach-specific risk management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faizan Saleem
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Enze Li
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Thomas A Edge
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Kevin L Tran
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Herb E Schellhorn
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
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Jampani M, Mateo-Sagasta J, Chandrasekar A, Fatta-Kassinos D, Graham DW, Gothwal R, Moodley A, Chadag VM, Wiberg D, Langan S. Fate and transport modelling for evaluating antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments: Current knowledge and research priorities. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132527. [PMID: 37788551 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics have revolutionised medicine in the last century and enabled the prevention of bacterial infections that were previously deemed untreatable. However, in parallel, bacteria have increasingly developed resistance to antibiotics through various mechanisms. When resistant bacteria find their way into terrestrial and aquatic environments, animal and human exposures increase, e.g., via polluted soil, food, and water, and health risks multiply. Understanding the fate and transport of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and the transfer mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments is critical for evaluating and mitigating the risks of resistant-induced infections. The conceptual understanding of sources and pathways of antibiotics, ARB, and ARGs from society to the water environments is essential for setting the scene and developing an appropriate framework for modelling. Various factors and processes associated with hydrology, ecology, and climate change can significantly affect the fate and transport of ARB and ARGs in natural environments. This article reviews current knowledge, research gaps, and priorities for developing water quality models to assess the fate and transport of ARB and ARGs. The paper also provides inputs on future research needs, especially the need for new predictive models to guide risk assessment on AR transmission and spread in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Jampani
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
| | - Javier Mateo-Sagasta
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Aparna Chandrasekar
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department Computational Hydrosystems, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Hydrobiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Despo Fatta-Kassinos
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and Nireas International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ritu Gothwal
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Arshnee Moodley
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | | | - David Wiberg
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Simon Langan
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Zahra Q, Gul J, Shah AR, Yasir M, Karim AM. Antibiotic resistance genes prevalence prediction and interpretation in beaches affected by urban wastewater discharge. One Health 2023; 17:100642. [PMID: 38024281 PMCID: PMC10665162 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The annual death toll of over 1.2 million worldwide is attributed to infections caused by resistant bacteria, driven by the significant impact of antibiotic misuse and overuse in spreading these bacteria and their associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). While limited data suggest the presence of ARGs in beach environments, efficient prediction tools are needed for monitoring and detecting ARGs to ensure public health safety. This study aims to develop interpretable machine learning methods for predicting ARGs in beach waters, addressing the challenge of black-box models and enhancing our understanding of their internal mechanisms. Methods In this study, we systematically collected beach water samples and subsequently isolated bacteria from these samples using various differential and selective media supplemented with different antibiotics. Resistance profiles of bacteria were determined by using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Further, ARGs were enumerated by using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect and quantify ARGs. The obtained qPCR data and hydro-meteorological were used to create an ML model with high prediction performance and we further used two explainable artificial intelligence (xAI) model-agnostic interpretation methods to describe the internal behavior of ML model. Results Using qPCR, we detected blaCTX-M, blaNDM, blaCMY, blaOXA, blatetX, blasul1, and blaaac(6'-Ib-cr) in the beach waters. Further, we developed ML prediction models for blaaac(6'-Ib-cr), blasul1, and blatetX using the hydro-metrological and qPCR-derived data and the models demonstrated strong performance, with R2 values of 0.957, 0.997, and 0.976, respectively. Conclusions Our findings show that environmental factors, such as water temperature, precipitation, and tide, are among the important predictors of the abundance of resistance genes at beaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qandeel Zahra
- Azra Naheed Medical College, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Jawaria Gul
- Al-Nafees Medical College & Hospital, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Ali Raza Shah
- Azra Naheed Medical College, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Yasir
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asad Mustafa Karim
- Department of Oriental Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, South Korea
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Lin D, Hong J, Sanogo B, Du S, Xiang S, Hui JHL, Ding T, Wu Z, Sun X. Core gut microbes Cloacibacterium and Aeromonas associated with different gastropod species could be persistently transmitted across multiple generations. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:267. [PMID: 38017581 PMCID: PMC10685545 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01700-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on the gut microbiota of animals have largely focused on vertebrates. The transmission modes of commensal intestinal bacteria in mammals have been well studied. However, in gastropods, the relationship between gut microbiota and hosts is still poorly understood. To gain a better understanding of the composition of gut microbes and their transmission routes in gastropods, a large-scale and long-term experiment on the dynamics and transmission modes of gut microbiota was conducted on freshwater snails. RESULTS We analyzed 244 microbial samples from the digestive tracts of freshwater gastropods and identified Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes as dominant gut microbes. Aeromonas, Cloacibacterium, and Cetobacterium were identified as core microbes in the guts, accounting for over 50% of the total sequences. Furthermore, both core bacteria Aeromonas and Cloacibacterium, were shared among 7 gastropod species and played an important role in determining the gut microbial community types of both wild and cultured gastropods. Analysis of the gut microbiota at the population level, including wild gastropods and their offspring, indicated that a proportion of gut microbes could be consistently vertically transmitted inheritance, while the majority of the gut microbes resulted from horizontal transmission. Comparing cultured snails to their wild counterparts, we observed an increasing trend in the proportion of shared microbes and a decreasing trend in the number of unique microbes among wild gastropods and their offspring reared in a cultured environment. Core gut microbes, Aeromonas and Cloacibacterium, remained persistent and dispersed from wild snails to their offspring across multiple generations. Interestingly, under cultured environments, the gut microbiota in wild gastropods could only be maintained for up to 2 generations before converging with that of cultured snails. The difference observed in gut bacterial metabolism functions was associated with this transition. Our study also demonstrated that the gut microbial compositions in gastropods are influenced by developmental stages and revealed the presence of Aeromonas and Cloacibacterium throughout the life cycle in gastropods. Based on the dynamics of core gut microbes, it may be possible to predict the health status of gastropods during their adaptation to new environments. Additionally, gut microbial metabolic functions were found to be associated with the adaptive evolution of gastropods from wild to cultured environments. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide novel insights into the dynamic processes of gut microbiota colonization in gastropod mollusks and unveil the modes of microbial transmission within their guts. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Datao Lin
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jinni Hong
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Benjamin Sanogo
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institut National de Recherche en Sante Publique, Bamako, Mali
| | - Shuling Du
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suoyu Xiang
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jerome Ho-Lam Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Ajani PA, Savela H, Kahlke T, Harrison D, Jeffries T, Kohli GS, Verma A, Laczka O, Doblin MA, Seymour JR, Larsson ME, Potts J, Scanes P, Gribben PE, Harrison L, Murray SA. Response of planktonic microbial assemblages to disturbance in an urban sub-tropical estuary. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 243:120371. [PMID: 37506634 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120371] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Microbes are sensitive indicators of estuarine processes because they respond rapidly to dynamic disturbance events. As most of the world's population lives in urban areas and climate change-related disturbance events are becoming more frequent, estuaries bounded by cities are experiencing increasing stressors, at the same time that their ecosystem services are required more than ever. Here, using a multidisciplinary approach, we determined the response of planktonic microbial assemblages in response to seasonality and a rainfall disturbance in an urban estuary bounded by Australia's largest city, Sydney. We used molecular barcoding (16S, 18S V4 rRNA) and microscopy-based identification to compare microbial assemblages at locations with differing characteristics and urbanisation histories. Across 142 samples, we identified 8,496 unique free-living bacterial zOTUs, 8,175 unique particle associated bacterial zOTUs, and 1,920 unique microbial eukaryotic zOTUs. Using microscopy, we identified only the top <10% abundant, larger eukaryotic taxa (>10 µm), however quantification was possible. The site with the greater history of anthropogenic impact showed a more even community of associated bacteria and eukaryotes, and a significant increase in dissolved inorganic nitrogen following rainfall, when compared to the more buffered site. This coincided with a reduced proportional abundance of Actinomarina and Synechococcus spp., a change in SAR 11 clades, and an increase in the eukaryotic microbial groups Dinophyceae, Mediophyceae and Bathyoccocaceae, including a temporary dominance of the harmful algal bloom dinoflagellate Prorocentrum cordatum (syn. P. minimum). Finally, a validated hydrodynamic model of the estuary supported these results, showing that the more highly urbanised and upstream location consistently experienced a higher magnitude of salinity reduction in response to rainfall events during the study period. The best abiotic variables to explain community dissimilarities between locations were TDP, PN, modelled temperature and salinity (r = 0.73) for the free living bacteria, TP for the associated bacteria (r = 0.43), and modelled temperature (r = 0.28) for the microbial eukaryotic communities. Overall, these results show that a minor disturbance such as a brief rainfall event can significantly shift the microbial assemblage of an anthropogenically impacted area within an urban estuary to a greater degree than a seasonal change, but may result in a lesser response to the same disturbance at a buffered, more oceanic influenced location. Fine scale research into the factors driving the response of microbial communities in urban estuaries to climate related disturbances will be necessary to understand and implement changes to maintain future estuarine ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope A Ajani
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia; Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia.
| | - Henna Savela
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Tim Kahlke
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Daniel Harrison
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Australia
| | - Thomas Jeffries
- Western Sydney University, School of Science, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Gurjeet S Kohli
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Arjun Verma
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Olivier Laczka
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Martina A Doblin
- Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Justin R Seymour
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Michaela E Larsson
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Jaimie Potts
- Science, Economics and Insights Division, NSW Department of Planning and Environment
| | - Peter Scanes
- Science, Economics and Insights Division, NSW Department of Planning and Environment
| | - Paul E Gribben
- Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia; University of NSW, Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Luke Harrison
- Marine Studies Institute, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Shauna A Murray
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia; Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
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Boggs C, Shiferawe K, Karsten E, Hamlet J, Altheide ST, Marion JW. Evaluation of a Tetracycline-Resistant E. coli Enumeration Method for Correctly Classifying E. coli in Environmental Waters in Kentucky, USA. Pathogens 2023; 12:1090. [PMID: 37764898 PMCID: PMC10537314 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The global concern over antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its impact on human health is evident, with approximately 4.95 million annual deaths attributed to antibiotic resistance. Regions with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene face challenges in responding to AMR threats. Enteric bacteria, particularly E. coli, are common agents linked to AMR-related deaths (23% of cases). Culture-based methods for detecting tetracycline-resistant E. coli may be of practical value for AMR monitoring in limited resource environments. This study evaluated the ColiGlow™ method with tetracycline for classifying tetracycline-resistant E. coli. A total of 61 surface water samples from Kentucky, USA (2020-2022), provided 61 presumed E. coli isolates, of which 28 isolates were obtained from tetracycline-treated media. Species identification and tetracycline resistance evaluation were performed. It was found that 82% of isolates were E. coli, and 18% were other species; 97% were identified as E. coli when using the API20E identification system. The MicroScan system yielded Enterobacter cloacae false positives in 20% of isolates. Adding tetracycline to ColiGlow increased the odds of isolating tetracycline-resistant E. coli 18-fold. Tetracycline-treated samples yielded 100% tetracycline-resistant E. coli when the total E. coli densities were within the enumeration range of the method. ColiGlow with tetracycline shows promise for monitoring tetracycline-resistant E. coli in natural waters and potentially aiding AMR surveillance in resource-limited settings among other environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callie Boggs
- Environmental Health Science and Sustainability Program, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, USA; (C.B.); (K.S.)
| | - Kidus Shiferawe
- Environmental Health Science and Sustainability Program, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, USA; (C.B.); (K.S.)
| | - Eckhardt Karsten
- Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45042, USA;
| | - Jayden Hamlet
- School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA;
| | - S. Travis Altheide
- Medical Laboratory Science Program, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, USA;
| | - Jason W. Marion
- Environmental Health Science and Sustainability Program, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, USA; (C.B.); (K.S.)
- Eastern Scientific LLC, Richmond, KY 40475, USA
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10
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Sabar MA, Van Huy T, Sugie Y, Wada H, Zhao B, Matsuura N, Ihara M, Watanabe T, Tanaka H, Honda R. Antimicrobial resistome and mobilome in the urban river affected by combined sewer overflows and wastewater treatment effluent. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023; 21:1032-1050. [PMID: 37632379 PMCID: wh_2023_073 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
The dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the environment is an emerging global health problem. Wastewater treatment effluent and combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are major sources of antimicrobial resistance in urban rivers. This study aimed to clarify the effect of municipal wastewater treatment effluent and CSO on antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), mobile gene elements, and the microbial community in an urban river. The ARG abundance per 16S-based microbial population in the target river was 0.37-0.54 and 0.030-0.097 during the CSO event and dry weather, respectively. During the CSO event, the antimicrobial resistome in the river shifted toward a higher abundance of ARGs to clinically important drug classes, including macrolide, fluoroquinolone, and β-lactam, whereas ARGs to sulfonamide and multidrug by efflux pump were relatively abundant in dry weather. The abundance of intI1 and tnpA genes were highly associated with the total ARG abundance, suggesting their potential application as an indicator for estimating resistome contamination. Increase of prophage during the CSO event suggested that impact of CSO has a greater potential for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) via transduction. Consequently, CSO not only increases the abundance of ARGs to clinically important antimicrobials but also possibly enhances potential of HGT in urban rivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Adnan Sabar
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan E-mail:
| | - Than Van Huy
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Sugie
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8530, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Wada
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8530, Japan
| | - Bo Zhao
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Otsu 520-0811, Japan; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Norihisa Matsuura
- Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Masaru Ihara
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Otsu 520-0811, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Nankoku 780-8072, Japan
| | - Toru Watanabe
- Department of Food, Life and Environmental Sciences, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka 997-8555, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Otsu 520-0811, Japan
| | - Ryo Honda
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Otsu 520-0811, Japan; Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
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11
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Lyu Y, Xu X, Yuan Y, Wang Z, Hu J, Chen Q, Sun W. Antibiotic profiles and their relationships with multitrophic aquatic communities in an urban river. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161678. [PMID: 36682555 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics have garnered worldwide attention due to their omnipresence and detrimental effects on aquatic organisms, yet their potential relationships with multitrophic aquatic communities in natural rivers remain largely unknown. Here, we examined 107 antibiotics in water and sediment from an urban river in Chengdu, Sichuan province (China). The bacterial, algal, macroinvertebrates, and fish communities were synchronously measured based on the environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding approach, and their relationships with antibiotics were further investigated. The results showed that the total antibiotic concentrations ranged from 1.12 to 377 ng/L and from 7.95 to 145 ng/g in water and sediment, respectively. Significant seasonal variations in the concentrations and compositions of antibiotics in water were observed. eDNA metabarcoding revealed great compositional variations of bacterial, algal, macroinvertebrates, and fish communities along the river, and antibiotics had significant negative relationships with the community diversities of aquatic organisms (p < 0.05) except for fish. Meanwhile, significant negative correlations were observed between antibiotic concentrations and the relative abundances of essential metabolism pathways of bacteria, e.g., energy metabolism (p < 0.05), carbohydrate metabolism (p < 0.05), and lipid metabolism (p < 0.01). Moreover, antibiotics demonstrated greater effects on the function of bacterial community compared with environmental variables. The findings highlight the significance of eDNA metabarcoding approach in revealing the relationships between aquatic communities and antibiotics, and call for further studies on the effects of antibiotics on multitrophic aquatic communities in natural waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitao Lyu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xuming Xu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yibin Yuan
- College of Water Resource & Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Chengdu Research Academy of Environmental Protection Science, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Zhaoli Wang
- Chengdu Research Academy of Environmental Protection Science, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Jingrun Hu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qian Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Weiling Sun
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, China.
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12
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Iftikhar S, Karim AM, Karim AM, Karim MA, Aslam M, Rubab F, Malik SK, Kwon JE, Hussain I, Azhar EI, Kang SC, Yasir M. Prediction and interpretation of antibiotic-resistance genes occurrence at recreational beaches using machine learning models. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 328:116969. [PMID: 36495825 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are pollutants of worldwide concern that seriously threaten public health and ecosystems. Machine learning (ML) prediction models have been applied to predict ARGs in beach waters. However, the existing studies were conducted at a single location and had low prediction performance. Moreover, ML models are "black boxes" that do not reveal their predictions' internal nuances and mechanisms. This lack of transparency and trust can result in serious consequences when using these models in high-stakes decisions. In this study, we developed a gradient boosted regression tree based (GBRT) ML model and then described its behavior using six explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) model-agnostic explanation methods. We used hydro-meteorological and qPCR data from the beaches in South Korea and Pakistan and developed ML prediction models for aac (6'-lb-cr), sul1, and tetX with 10-fold time-blocked cross-validation performances of 4.9, 2.06 and 4.4 root mean squared logarithmic error, respectively. We then analyzed the local and global behavior of the developed ML model using four interpretation methods. The developed ML models showed that water temperature, precipitation and tide are the most important predictors for prediction of ARGs at recreational beaches. We show that the model-agnostic interpretation methods not only explain the behavior of the ML model but also provide insights into the behavior of the ML model under new unseen conditions. Moreover, these post-processing techniques can be a debugging tool for ML-based modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Iftikhar
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 64000, Pakistan
| | - Asad Mustafa Karim
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Aoun Murtaza Karim
- Institute of Geology and Geophysics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Aslam
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Fazila Rubab
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Wah Campus, Wah Cantt, 47040, Pakistan
| | - Sumera Kausar Malik
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, The University of Suwon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do 18323, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Eun Kwon
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Imran Hussain
- Environmental Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biotechnology Comsats University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Pakistan
| | - Esam I Azhar
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Se Chan Kang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Republic of Korea.
| | - Muhammad Yasir
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
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13
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Miranda CD, Concha C, Godoy FA, Lee MR. Aquatic Environments as Hotspots of Transferable Low-Level Quinolone Resistance and Their Potential Contribution to High-Level Quinolone Resistance. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1487. [PMID: 36358142 PMCID: PMC9687057 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The disposal of antibiotics in the aquatic environment favors the selection of bacteria exhibiting antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Quinolones are bactericidal antimicrobials extensively used in both human and animal medicine. Some of the quinolone-resistance mechanisms are encoded by different bacterial genes, whereas others are the result of mutations in the enzymes on which those antibiotics act. The worldwide occurrence of quinolone resistance genes in aquatic environments has been widely reported, particularly in areas impacted by urban discharges. The most commonly reported quinolone resistance gene, qnr, encodes for the Qnr proteins that protect DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV from quinolone activity. It is important to note that low-level resistance usually constitutes the first step in the development of high-level resistance, because bacteria carrying these genes have an adaptive advantage compared to the highly susceptible bacterial population in environments with low concentrations of this antimicrobial group. In addition, these genes can act additively with chromosomal mutations in the sequences of the target proteins of quinolones leading to high-level quinolone resistance. The occurrence of qnr genes in aquatic environments is most probably caused by the release of bacteria carrying these genes through anthropogenic pollution and maintained by the selective activity of antimicrobial residues discharged into these environments. This increase in the levels of quinolone resistance has consequences both in clinical settings and the wider aquatic environment, where there is an increased exposure risk to the general population, representing a significant threat to the efficacy of quinolone-based human and animal therapies. In this review the potential role of aquatic environments as reservoirs of the qnr genes, their activity in reducing the susceptibility to various quinolones, and the possible ways these genes contribute to the acquisition and spread of high-level resistance to quinolones will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D. Miranda
- Laboratorio de Patobiología Acuática, Departamento de Acuicultura, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1780000, Chile
| | - Christopher Concha
- Laboratorio de Patobiología Acuática, Departamento de Acuicultura, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1780000, Chile
| | - Félix A. Godoy
- Centro i~mar, Universidad de Los Lagos, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Matthew R. Lee
- Centro i~mar, Universidad de Los Lagos, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
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14
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Hou L, Li J, Wang H, Chen Q, Su JQ, Gad M, Ahmed W, Yu CP, Hu A. Storm promotes the dissemination of antibiotic resistome in an urban lagoon through enhancing bio-interactions. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 168:107457. [PMID: 35963060 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) and resistant bacteria (ARB) are abundant in stormwater that could cause serious infections, posing a potential threat to public health. However, there is no inference about how stormwater contributes to ARG profiles as well as the dynamic interplay between ARGs and bacteria via vertical gene transfer (VGT) or horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in urban water ecosystems. In this study, the distribution of ARGs, their host communities, and the source and community assembly process of ARGs were investigated in Yundang Lagoon (China) via high-throughput quantitative PCR, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and application of SourceTracker before, after and recovering from an extreme precipitation event (132.1 mm). The abundance of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was the highest one day after precipitation and then decreased 2 days after precipitation and so on. Based on SourceTracker and NMDS analysis, the ARG and bacterial communities in lagoon surface water from one day after precipitation were mainly contributed by the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent and effluent. However, the contribution of WWTP to ARG communities was minor 11 days after the precipitation, suggesting that the storm promoted the ARG levels by introducing the input of ARGs, MGEs, and ARB from point and non-point sources, such as sewer overflow and land-applied manure. Based on a novel microbial network analysis framework, the contribution of positive biological interactions between ARGs and MGEs or bacteria was the highest one day after precipitation, indicating a promoted VGT and HGT for ARG dissemination. The microbial networks deconstructed 11 days after precipitation, suggesting the stormwater practices (e.g., tide gate opening, diversion channels, and pumping) alleviated the spread of ARGs. These results advanced our understanding of the distribution and transport of ARGs associated with their source in urban stormwater runoff.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Hou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jiangwei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Hongjie Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Qingfu Chen
- Yundang Lake Management Center, Xiamen, Fujian 361004, China
| | - Jian-Qiang Su
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Mahmoud Gad
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Chang-Ping Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Anyi Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
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15
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Roguet A, Newton RJ, Eren AM, McLellan SL. Guts of the Urban Ecosystem: Microbial Ecology of Sewer Infrastructure. mSystems 2022; 7:e0011822. [PMID: 35762794 PMCID: PMC9426572 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00118-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbes have inhabited the oceans and soils for millions of years and are uniquely adapted to their habitat. In contrast, sewer infrastructure in modern cities dates back only ~150 years. Sewer pipes transport human waste and provide a view into public health, but the resident organisms that likely modulate these features are relatively unexplored. Here, we show that the bacterial assemblages sequenced from untreated wastewater in 71 U.S. cities were highly coherent at a fine sequence level, suggesting that urban infrastructure separated by great spatial distances can give rise to strikingly similar communities. Within the overall microbial community structure, temperature had a discernible impact on the distribution patterns of closely related amplicon sequence variants, resulting in warm and cold ecotypes. Two bacterial genera were dominant in most cities regardless of their size or geographic location; on average, Arcobacter accounted for 11% and Acinetobacter 10% of the entire community. Metagenomic analysis of six cities revealed these highly abundant resident organisms carry clinically important antibiotic resistant genes blaCTX-M, blaOXA, and blaTEM. In contrast, human fecal bacteria account for only ~13% of the community; therefore, antibiotic resistance gene inputs from human sources to the sewer system could be comparatively small, which will impact measurement capabilities when monitoring human populations using wastewater. With growing awareness of the metabolic potential of microbes within these vast networks of pipes and the ability to examine the health of human populations, it is timely to increase our understanding of the ecology of these systems. IMPORTANCE Sewer infrastructure is a relatively new habitat comprised of thousands of kilometers of pipes beneath cities. These wastewater conveyance systems contain large reservoirs of microbial biomass with a wide range of metabolic potential and are significant reservoirs of antibiotic resistant organisms; however, we lack an adequate understanding of the ecology or activity of these communities beyond wastewater treatment plants. The striking coherence of the sewer microbiome across the United States demonstrates that the sewer environment is highly selective for a particular microbial community composition. Therefore, results from more in-depth studies or proven engineering controls in one system could be extrapolated more broadly. Understanding the complex ecology of sewer infrastructure is critical for not only improving our ability to treat human waste and increasing the sustainability of our cities but also to create scalable and effective sewage microbial observatories, which are inevitable investments of the future to monitor health in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adélaïde Roguet
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ryan J. Newton
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - A. Murat Eren
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, Oldenburg, Germany
- Josephine Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sandra L. McLellan
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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16
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Williams NLR, Siboni N, McLellan SL, Potts J, Scanes P, Johnson C, James M, McCann V, Seymour JR. Rainfall leads to elevated levels of antibiotic resistance genes within seawater at an Australian beach. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 307:119456. [PMID: 35561796 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic waste streams can be major sources of antibiotic resistant microbes within the environment, creating a potential risk to public health. We examined patterns in the occurrence of a suite of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their links to enteric bacteria at a popular swimming beach in Australia that experiences intermittent contamination by sewage, with potential points of input including stormwater drains and a coastal lagoon. Samples were collected throughout a significant rainfall event (40.8 mm over 3 days) and analysed using both qPCR and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Before the rainfall event, low levels of faecal indicator bacteria and a microbial source tracking human faeces (sewage) marker (Lachno3) were observed. These levels increased over 10x following rainfall. Within lagoon, drain and seawater samples, levels of the ARGs sulI, dfrA1 and qnrS increased by between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude after 20.4 mm of rain, while levels of tetA increased by an order of magnitude after a total of 40.8 mm. After 40.8 mm of rain sulI, tetA and qnrS could be detected 300 m offshore with levels remaining high five days after the rain event. Highest levels of sewage markers and ARGs were observed adjacent to the lagoon (when opened) and in-front of the stormwater drains, pinpointing these as the points of ARG input. Significant positive correlations were observed between all ARGs, and a suite of Amplicon Sequence Variants that were identified as stormwater drain indicator taxa using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data. Of note, some stormwater drain indicator taxa, which exhibited correlations to ARG abundance, included the human pathogens Arcobacter butzleri and Bacteroides fragilis. Given that previous research has linked high levels of ARGs in recreationally used environments to antimicrobial resistant pathogen infections, the observed patterns indicate a potentially elevated human health risk at a popular swimming beach following significant rainfall events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan L R Williams
- Climate Change Cluster Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nachshon Siboni
- Climate Change Cluster Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sandra L McLellan
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Freshwater Sciences, 600 E Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jaimie Potts
- Waters, Wetlands, Coasts Science Branch, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
| | - Peter Scanes
- Waters, Wetlands, Coasts Science Branch, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
| | - Colin Johnson
- Waters, Wetlands, Coasts Science Branch, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
| | - Melanie James
- Central Coast Council, Hely Street, Wyong, NSW, 2259, Australia
| | - Vanessa McCann
- Central Coast Council, Hely Street, Wyong, NSW, 2259, Australia
| | - Justin R Seymour
- Climate Change Cluster Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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17
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Chaganti SR, Plouff C, Madani M, Shahraki AH, Vasquez AA, Seth R, Heath DD, Ram JL. Variation in the diversity of bacterial communities and potential sources of fecal contamination of beaches in the Huron to Erie corridor. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118913. [PMID: 35940154 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the diversity of bacteria and E.coli levels at beaches is important for managing health risks. This study compared temporal changes of the bacterial communities of Belle Isle Beach (Detroit, MI) and Sand Point Beach (Windsor, ONT), both located near the Lake St. Clair origin of the Detroit River. Water samples collected 4 days/week for 12 weeks in summer, were subjected to 16S rRNA analysis of amplicon sequencing and E. coli enumeration. Bacterial communities changed over time, as determined by cluster dendrogram analysis, exhibiting different communities in July and August than in June and different communities at the two beaches. After June, alpha diversity decreased and relative abundance of Enterobacter (Gammaproteobacteria) increased at Sand Point; whereas, Belle Isle maintained its alpha diversity and dominance by Betaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Contamination at both beaches is dominated by birds (23% to 50% of samples), while only ∼10% had evidence of human-associated bacteria. High E. coli at both beaches was often associated with precipitation. Nearshore sampling counts were higher than waist-deep sampling counts. Despite the dynamic changes in bacterial communities between the two beaches, this analysis based on 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing is able to provide information about bacterial types associated with high E. coli levels and to use bacterial sequences to more precisely determine sources and health relevance of contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subba Rao Chaganti
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Claire Plouff
- Belle Isle Aquarium Field Research Laboratory, Facility of Healthy Urban Waters, Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Mohammad Madani
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave. Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | | | - Adrian A Vasquez
- Belle Isle Aquarium Field Research Laboratory, Facility of Healthy Urban Waters, Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, 540 E. Canfield St., Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Rajesh Seth
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave. Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Daniel D Heath
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada; Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Jeffrey L Ram
- Belle Isle Aquarium Field Research Laboratory, Facility of Healthy Urban Waters, Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, 540 E. Canfield St., Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
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18
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Williams NLR, Siboni N, Potts J, Campey M, Johnson C, Rao S, Bramucci A, Scanes P, Seymour JR. Molecular microbiological approaches reduce ambiguity about the sources of faecal pollution and identify microbial hazards within an urbanised coastal environment. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 218:118534. [PMID: 35537251 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118534] [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: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Urbanised beaches are regularly impacted by faecal pollution, but management actions to resolve the causes of contamination are often obfuscated by the inability of standard Faecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB) analyses to discriminate sources of faecal material or detect other microbial hazards, including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). We aimed to determine the causes, spatial extent, and point sources of faecal contamination within Rose Bay, a highly urbanised beach within Sydney, Australia's largest city, using molecular microbiological approaches. Sampling was performed across a network of transects originating at 9 stormwater drains located on Rose Bay beach over the course of a significant (67.5 mm) rainfall event, whereby samples were taken 6 days prior to any rain, on the day of initial rainfall (3.8 mm), three days later after 43 mm of rain and then four days after any rain. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to target marker genes from bacteria (i.e., Lachnospiraceae and Bacteroides) that have been demonstrated to be specific to human faeces (sewage), along with gene sequences from Heliobacter and Bacteriodes that are specific to bird and dog faeces respectively, and ARGs (sulI, tetA, qnrS, dfrA1 and vanB). 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was also used to discriminate microbial signatures of faecal contamination. Prior to the rain event, low FIB levels (mean: 2.4 CFU/100 ml) were accompanied by generally low levels of the human and animal faecal markers, with the exception of one transect, potentially indicative of a dry weather sewage leak. Following 43 mm of rain, levels of both human faecal markers increased significantly in stormwater drain and seawater samples, with highest levels of these markers pinpointing several stormwater drains as sources of sewage contamination. During this time, sewage contamination was observed up to 1000 m from shore and was significantly and positively correlated with often highly elevated levels of the ARGs dfrA1, qnrS, sulI and vanB. Significantly elevated levels of the dog faecal marker in stormwater drains at this time also indicated that rainfall led to increased input of dog faecal material from the surrounding catchment. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, several indicator taxa for stormwater contamination such as Arcobacter spp. and Comamonadaceae spp. were identified and the Bayesian SourceTracker tool was used to model the relative impact of specific stormwater drains on the surrounding environment, revealing a heterogeneous contribution of discrete stormwater drains during different periods of the rainfall event, with the microbial signature of one particular drain contributing up to 50% of bacterial community in the seawater directly adjacent. By applying a suite of molecular microbiological approaches, we have precisely pinpointed the causes and point-sources of faecal contamination and other associated microbiological hazards (e.g., ARGs) at an urbanised beach, which has helped to identify the most suitable locations for targeted management of water quality at the beach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan L R Williams
- Climate Change Cluster Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nachshon Siboni
- Climate Change Cluster Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jaimie Potts
- Waters, Wetlands, Coasts Science Branch, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
| | - Meredith Campey
- Waters, Wetlands, Coasts Science Branch, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
| | - Colin Johnson
- Waters, Wetlands, Coasts Science Branch, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
| | - Shivanesh Rao
- Waters, Wetlands, Coasts Science Branch, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
| | - Anna Bramucci
- Climate Change Cluster Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter Scanes
- Waters, Wetlands, Coasts Science Branch, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
| | - Justin R Seymour
- Climate Change Cluster Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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19
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Obieze CC, Wani GA, Shah MA, Reshi ZA, Comeau AM, Khasa DP. Anthropogenic activities and geographic locations regulate microbial diversity, community assembly and species sorting in Canadian and Indian freshwater lakes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 826:154292. [PMID: 35248630 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater lakes are important reservoirs and sources of drinking water globally. However, the microbiota, which supports the functionality of these ecosystems is threatened by the influx of nutrients, heavy metals and other toxic chemical substances from anthropogenic activities. The influence of these factors on the diversity, assembly mechanisms and co-occurrence patterns of bacterial communities in freshwater lakes is not clearly understood. Hence, samples were collected from six different impacted lakes in Canada and India and examined by 454-pyrosequencing technology. The trophic status of these lakes was determined using specific chemical parameters. Our results revealed that bacterial diversity and community composition was altered by both the lake water chemistry and geographic distance. Anthropogenic activities pervasively influenced species distribution. Dispersal limitation (32.3%), homogenous selection (31.8%) and drift (20%) accounted for the largest proportions of the bacterial community assembly mechanisms. Homogenous selection increased in lakes with higher nutrient concentration, while stochasticity reduced. Community functional profiles revealed that deterministic processes dominated the assembly mechanisms of phylotypes with higher potential for biodegradation, while stochasticity dominated the assembly of phylotypes with potential for antimicrobial resistance. Bacteroidota (44%) and Proteobacteria (34%) were the most abundant phyla. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that complexity increased in more impacted lakes, while competition and the nature of anthropogenic activity contributed to species sorting. Overall, this study demonstrates that bacterial community changes in freshwater lakes are linked to anthropogenic activities, with corresponding consequences on the distribution of phylotypes of environmental and human health interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinedu C Obieze
- Centre for Forest Research, Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V0A6, Canada.
| | - Gowher A Wani
- Centre for Forest Research, Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V0A6, Canada; Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Manzoor A Shah
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Zafar A Reshi
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - André M Comeau
- Integrated Microbiome Resource, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Damase P Khasa
- Centre for Forest Research, Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems and Canada Research Chair in Forest Genomics, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V0A6, Canada
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20
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Wang H, Liu H, Zou X, Sun F, Wang L, Hu J, Chen D, Liu M, Shen J, Chen T. H 2O 2 activation over Co substitution in Fe 1-xS for tetracycline degradation: Effect of Co substitution. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 297:134131. [PMID: 35257708 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this work, the effect of Co substitution in the Fe1-xS (CSP) on the activation of H2O2 to degrade tetracycline (TC) is investigated. A series of CSP samples with different Co content are synthesized via a high-temperature sulfidation method and characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, and electrochemical analysis. The result showed that low Co content (≤1%) promotes the catalytic activity of Fe1-xS, while excessive Co (1%﹤x ≤ 3%) inhibits its catalytic activity. The investigation of Behnajady-Modirshahla-Ghanbery kinetic model (BMG) showed that the maximum initial degradation rate of TC over 1.0% CSP/H2O2 was 1.6 times than that of in CSP/H2O2 system. The Box-Behnken with Response Surface Methodology was employed to verify optimum condition for TC degradation. The quenching experiments and ESR determined that ·OH, ·O2- and 1O2 were involved in TC degradation with the treatment of 1.0% CSP/H2O2 system. Electrochemical analysis, ·OH quantification, and metal ion concentrations measure reveal that Co substitution accelerates electron transfer efficiency and Fe2+ regeneration. Furthermore, nine intermediates are identified and the possible degradation pathway of TC is proposed. The unique effect of Co provides novel insight and efficient strategies for improving the reactivity of iron sulfide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanlin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Haibo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Xuehua Zou
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Fuwei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Luyao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Jingchao Hu
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Jianfei Shen
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Tianhu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Nano-minerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Environmental Mineral and Material, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China.
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21
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Jang J, Park J, Hwang CY, Choi J, Shin J, Kim YM, Cho KH, Kim JH, Lee YM, Lee BY. Abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial communities in the western Pacific and Southern Oceans. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153360. [PMID: 35085628 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the composition of bacterial communities along a transect covering the western Pacific Ocean (36°N) to the Southern Ocean (74°S) using the Korean icebreaker R/V Araon (total cruise distance: 14,942 km). The relative abundances of ARGs and bacteria were assessed with quantitative PCR and next generation sequencing, respectively. The absolute abundance of ARGs was 3.0 × 106 ± 1.6 × 106 copies/mL in the western Pacific Ocean, with the highest value (7.8 × 106 copies/mL) recorded at a station in the Tasman Sea (37°S). The absolute abundance of ARGs in the Southern Ocean was 1.8-fold lower than that in the western Pacific Ocean, and slightly increased (0.7-fold) toward Terra Nova Bay in Antarctica, possibly resulting from natural terrestrial sources or human activity. β-Lactam and tetracycline resistance genes were dominant in all samples (88-99%), indicating that they are likely the key ARGs in the ocean. Correlation and network analysis showed that Bdellovibrionota, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Margulisbacteria, and Proteobacteria were positively correlated with ARGs, suggesting that these bacteria are the most likely ARG carriers. This study highlights the latitudinal profile of ARG distribution in the open ocean system and provides insights that will help in monitoring emerging pollutants on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyi Jang
- Korea Polar Research Institute, 26, Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, South Korea; Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50, UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, South Korea
| | - Jiyeon Park
- Korea Polar Research Institute, 26, Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, South Korea.
| | - Chung Yeon Hwang
- Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Jinhee Choi
- Korea Polar Research Institute, 26, Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, South Korea
| | - Jingyeong Shin
- Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, South Korea
| | - Young Mo Kim
- Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, South Korea
| | - Kyung Hwa Cho
- Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50, UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, South Korea
| | - Jung-Hyun Kim
- Korea Polar Research Institute, 26, Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, South Korea
| | - Yung Mi Lee
- Korea Polar Research Institute, 26, Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, South Korea
| | - Bang Yong Lee
- Korea Polar Research Institute, 26, Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, South Korea
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22
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Yang H, Liu R, Liu H, Wang C, Yin X, Zhang M, Fang J, Zhang T, Ma L. Evidence for Long-Term Anthropogenic Pollution: The Hadal Trench as a Depository and Indicator for Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15136-15148. [PMID: 34739205 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03444] [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] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of the distribution and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is essential for understanding anthropogenic impacts on natural ecosystems. The transportation of ARGs via aquatic environments is significant and has received great attention, but whether there has been anthropogenic ARG pollution to the hadal ocean ecosystem has not been well explored. For investigating ecological health concerns, we profiled the ARG occurrence in sediments of the Mariana Trench (MT) (10 890 m), the deepest region of the ocean. Metagenomic-based ARG profiles showed a sudden increase of abundance and diversity in the surface layer of MT sediments reaching 2.73 × 10-2 copy/cell and 81 subtypes, and a high percentage of ∼63.6% anthropogenic pollution sources was predicted by the Bayesian-modeling classification method. These together suggested that ARG accumulation and anthropogenic impacts have already permeated into the bottom of the deepest corner on the earth. Moreover, six ARG-carrying draft genomes were retrieved using a metagenomic binning strategy, one of which assigned as Streptococcus was identified as a potential bacterial host to contribute to the ARG accumulation in MT, carrying ermF, tetM, tetQ, cfxA2, PBP-2X, and PBP-1A. We propose that the MT ecosystem needs further long-term monitoring for the assessment of human impacts, and our identified three biomarkers (cfxA2, ermF, and mefA) could be used for the rapid monitoring of anthropogenic pollution. Together our findings imply that anthropogenic pollution has penetrated into the deepest region of the ocean and urge for better pollution control to reduce the risk of ARG dissemination to prevent the consistent accumulation and potential threat to the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiying Yang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Rulong Liu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Huafeng Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chen Wang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiaole Yin
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jiasong Fang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Liping Ma
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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23
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Zhang R, Liu WC, Liu Y, Zhang HL, Zhao ZH, Zou LY, Shen YC, Lan WS. Impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on microbial community of coastal waters in Shenzhen, South China. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 30:1652-1661. [PMID: 33161467 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-020-02297-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
During the urbanization, human activities have brought great changes to marine biodiversity and microbial communities of coastal water. Shenzhen is a coastal city that has developed rapidly over the past four decades, but the microbial communities and metabolic potential in offshore water are still not well characterized. Here, 16S rRNA gene V4-V5 sequencing was conducted to determine the microbial components from coastal waters in twenty selected areas of Shenzhen. The results showed a significant difference on the microbial composition between the western and eastern waters. Samples from western coast had more abundant Burkholderiaceae, Sporichthyaceae, Aeromonadaceae, and Methylophilaceae compared to eastern coast, and at the genus level, Candidatus Aquiluna, Aeromonas, Arcobacter, Ottowia and Acidibacter were significantly higher in western waters. There was also a notable difference within the western sample group, suggesting the taxa-compositional heterogeneity. Moreover, analysis of environmental factors and water quality revealed that salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen were relatively decreased in western samples, while total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, and harmful marine vibrio were significantly increased compared to eastern waters. The results suggest the coastal waters pollution is more serious in western Shenzhen than eastern Shenzhen and the microbial communities are altered, which can be associated with anthropogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, 518108, PR China.
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China.
| | - Wen-Chao Liu
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, 518108, PR China
- College of Agriculture, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China
| | - Yu Liu
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, 518108, PR China
- College of Agriculture, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China
| | - Hong-Lian Zhang
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, 518108, PR China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China
| | - Zhi-Hui Zhao
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, 518108, PR China
- College of Agriculture, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China
| | - Ling-Yun Zou
- Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, 518102, PR China
| | - Yu-Chun Shen
- College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China
| | - Wen-Sheng Lan
- Shenzhen R&D Key Laboratory of Alien Pest Detection Technology, The Shenzhen Academy of Science and Technology for Inspection and Quarantine, Technology Center for Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine, Shenzhen Customs, Shenzhen, 518010, PR China.
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24
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Furlan JPR, Ramos MS, Dos Santos LDR, Gallo IFL, Lopes R, Stehling EG. Appearance of mcr-9, bla KPC, cfr and other clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes in recreation waters and sands from urban beaches, Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 167:112334. [PMID: 33839570 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The co-occurrence of mcr-like and carbapenemase-encoding genes have been reported mainly in humans and animals, whereas, in the environment, studies are gradually increasing due to the One Health approach. In this study, we investigated antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in water and sand samples from marine environments in Brazil. Total DNA from 56 samples (33 sands and 23 waters) was obtained and 27 different ARGs were detected, highlighting the presence of mcr-9, blaKPC and cfr genes. Additionally, the microbiological analysis revealed that sand samples of all analyzed beaches were not recommended for primary use, whereas water samples from most beaches were classified as unsuitable for bathing. The presence of clinically relevant ARGs in urban beaches suggests the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of mcr-9 and cfr genes in the environment from Brazil and recreational areas worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Rueda Furlan
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Micaela Santana Ramos
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Lucas David Rodrigues Dos Santos
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Inara Fernanda Lage Gallo
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Ralf Lopes
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Eliana Guedes Stehling
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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25
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Xu Y, Yang S, You G, Hou J. Antibiotic resistance genes attenuation in anaerobic microorganisms during iron uptake from zero valent iron: An iron-dependent form of homeostasis and roles as regulators. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 195:116979. [PMID: 33690012 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116979] [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: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Zero valent iron (ZVI) has been previously documented to attenuate the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in microbes, while how ZVI affects the evolution of ARGs remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the influences of ZVI on ARGs dissemination in anaerobic bioreactor treating oxytetracycline (tet) containing wastewater, by deciphering the roles of iron homeostasis and regulatory effects. A net reduction of tet gene targets ranging from 0.75 to 1.88 and 0.67 to 2.08 log unit in intracellular and extracellular DNA was achieved at the optimal dosage of 5 g/L ZVI, whereas 20 g/L ZVI made no effects on ARGs reduction. The reduced ARGs abundance by ZVI was directly related to the inhibited horizontal transfer of ARGs and decreased proliferation of resistant strains (mainly Paludibacter and WCHB1-32). The potential mechanisms included the increased antioxidant capacity, the depressed efflux pump system and the weakened energy driving force by Fur regulon in microbes (especially for Cloacibacterium and Dechloromonas). The negligible influence of 20 g/L ZVI on ARGs reduction was ascribed to the iron-catalyzed oxidative damage and reduced physiological activity. This study firstly illustrated the potential relationships among activation of iron uptake regulator leading to protection against oxidative stress, alternation of physiological metabolisms and reduction of ARGs dissemination. This work extents our understanding about the priority of ZVI in mitigating ARGs proliferation and sheds light on its potential application in wastewater treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Shihong Yang
- College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Guoxiang You
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Jun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, PR China.
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26
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Jang J, Kim M, Baek S, Shin J, Shin J, Shin SG, Kim YM, Cho KH. Hydrometeorological Influence on Antibiotic-Resistance Genes (ARGs) and Bacterial Community at a Recreational Beach in Korea. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 403:123599. [PMID: 32791479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) and the composition of a bacterial community under conditions of rainfall on a recreational beach in Korea. Seawater samples, collected every 1‒5 hours in June 2018 and May 2019, were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing. We found a substantial influence of rainfall and tidal levels on the relative abundance of total ARGs and bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which showed 1.9 × 103 and 1.1 × 101 fold increases, respectively. In particular, the elevated levels of ARGs were maintained for up to 32 hours after rainfall. An increased abundance of sewage-related ARGs and bacterial OTUs suggested that combined sewer overflow (CSO) may be the major factor contributing to the increase in the number and diversity of ARGs and related bacterial communities. Network analysis of ARGs and OTUs indicated that, at the genus level, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Prevotella were the main potential pathogens carrying the observed ARGs in the recreational seawater. Overall, these findings highlight the potential threat to public health on beaches, and indicate the requirement for more adequate monitoring, with greater efforts to mitigate the propagation of ARGs arising from CSOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyi Jang
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50, UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjeong Kim
- Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangsoo Baek
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50, UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jingyeong Shin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Juhee Shin
- Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, 6, Naedong-ro 139beon-gil, Naedong-myeon, Jinju, 52725, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Gu Shin
- Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, 6, Naedong-ro 139beon-gil, Naedong-myeon, Jinju, 52725, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Mo Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hwa Cho
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50, UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea.
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Relationship between Rainfall, Fecal Pollution, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Microbial Diversity in an Urbanized Subtropical Bay. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01229-20. [PMID: 32709726 PMCID: PMC7499047 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01229-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of human enteric pathogens, stemming from fecal pollution, is a serious environmental and public health concern in recreational waters. Accurate assessments of fecal pollution are therefore needed to properly assess exposure risks and guide water quality policies and practices. In this study, the absence of a direct correlation between enterococci and source-specific human and animal markers disputes the utility of enterococci as an indicator of fecal pollution in urbanized subtropical bays. Moreover, the inverse correlation between enterococci and the human-specific marker HF183 indicates that recreational beach advisories, triggered by elevated enterococcus concentrations, are a misleading practice. This study clearly demonstrates that a multiparameter approach that includes the quantitation of host-specific markers, as well as analyses of microbial diversity, is a more effective means of assessing water quality in urbanized subtropical bays. Urbanized bays are vulnerable to fecal bacterial pollution, and the extent of this pollution, in marine recreational waters, is commonly assessed by quantifying enterococcus concentrations. Recent reports have questioned the utility of enterococci as an indicator of fecal bacterial pollution in subtropical bays impaired by non-point source pollution, and enterococcus data alone cannot identify fecal bacterial sources (i.e., hosts). The purpose of this study was to assess relationships between rainfall, fecal bacterial pollution, antimicrobial resistance, and microbial diversity in an urbanized subtropical bay. Thus, a comprehensive bacterial source tracking (BST) study was conducted using a combination of traditional and modern BST methods. Findings show that rainfall was directly correlated with elevated enterococcus concentrations, including the increased prevalence of Enterococcus faecium, although it was not correlated with an increase in the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant strains. Rainfall was also correlated with decreased microbial diversity. In contrast, neither rainfall nor enterococcus concentrations were directly correlated with the concentrations of three omnipresent host-associated fecal markers (i.e., human, canine, and gull). Notably, the human fecal marker (HF183) was inversely correlated with enterococcus concentrations, signifying that traditional enterococcus data alone are not an accurate proxy for human fecal waste in urbanized subtropical bays. IMPORTANCE The presence of human enteric pathogens, stemming from fecal pollution, is a serious environmental and public health concern in recreational waters. Accurate assessments of fecal pollution are therefore needed to properly assess exposure risks and guide water quality policies and practices. In this study, the absence of a direct correlation between enterococci and source-specific human and animal markers disputes the utility of enterococci as an indicator of fecal pollution in urbanized subtropical bays. Moreover, the inverse correlation between enterococci and the human-specific marker HF183 indicates that recreational beach advisories, triggered by elevated enterococcus concentrations, are a misleading practice. This study clearly demonstrates that a multiparameter approach that includes the quantitation of host-specific markers, as well as analyses of microbial diversity, is a more effective means of assessing water quality in urbanized subtropical bays.
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Cuadrat RRC, Sorokina M, Andrade BG, Goris T, Dávila AMR. Global ocean resistome revealed: Exploring antibiotic resistance gene abundance and distribution in TARA Oceans samples. Gigascience 2020; 9:giaa046. [PMID: 32391909 PMCID: PMC7213576 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rise of antibiotic resistance (AR) in clinical settings is of great concern. Therefore, the understanding of AR mechanisms, evolution, and global distribution is a priority for patient survival. Despite all efforts in the elucidation of AR mechanisms in clinical strains, little is known about its prevalence and evolution in environmental microorganisms. We used 293 metagenomic samples from the TARA Oceans project to detect and quantify environmental antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) using machine learning tools. RESULTS After manual curation of ARGs, their abundance and distribution in the global ocean are presented. Additionally, the potential of horizontal ARG transfer by plasmids and their correlation with environmental and geographical parameters is shown. A total of 99,205 environmental open reading frames (ORFs) were classified as 1 of 560 different ARGs conferring resistance to 26 antibiotic classes. We found 24,567 ORFs in putative plasmid sequences, suggesting the importance of mobile genetic elements in the dynamics of environmental ARG transmission. Moreover, 4,804 contigs with >=2 putative ARGs were found, including 2 plasmid-like contigs with 5 different ARGs, highlighting the potential presence of multi-resistant microorganisms in the natural ocean environment. Finally, we identified ARGs conferring resistance to some of the most relevant clinical antibiotics, revealing the presence of 15 ARGs similar to mobilized colistin resistance genes (mcr) with high abundance on polar biomes. Of these, 5 are assigned to Psychrobacter, a genus including opportunistic human pathogens. CONCLUSIONS This study uncovers the diversity and abundance of ARGs in the global ocean metagenome. Our results are available on Zenodo in MySQL database dump format, and all the code used for the analyses, including a Jupyter notebook js avaliable on Github. We also developed a dashboard web application (http://www.resistomedb.com) for data visualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael R C Cuadrat
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke - DIfE, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Maria Sorokina
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, Lessingstrasse 8, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Bruno G Andrade
- Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Embrapa Southeast Livestock, EMBRAPA, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 234 s/n°, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Tobias Goris
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Research Group Intestinal Microbiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke - DIfE, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Alberto M R Dávila
- Computational and Systems Biology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Av Brasil 4365, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Health, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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