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Jarocki VM, Li D, Bogema DR, Yam J, Jenkins C, Hai FI, Djordjevic SP. Comparative genomic analysis of ESBL-selected and non-selected Escherichia coli in Australian wastewater: Elucidating differences in diversity, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence profiles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 949:175079. [PMID: 39094658 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing E. coli have been proposed as an indicator bacterium for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance within a OneHealth framework. However, it is important to understand the effects and potential biases ESBL-selection has on E. coli populations. Utilising whole genome sequencing, this study compared 80 ESBL-selected E. coli isolates with 201 non-selected isolates from Australian wastewater. The findings revealed significant variations between these cohorts in genetic diversity, AMR profiles, and carriage of virulence-associated genes (VAGs), plasmids, and the transmissible Locus of Stress Tolerance (tLST), a genomic island that imparts resistance to extreme heat and chlorination. The study highlights the predominance of certain sequence types (STs), particularly ST131 (75 % clade A), in ESBL-selected isolates (40 % vs 2 %) and overall the ESBL-selected isolates were largely multidrug-resistant (MDR), predominantly carrying genes for resistance to aminoglycosides, extended-spectrum β-lactams, fluoroquinolone, macrolides, sulphonamides/trimethoprim, and tetracyclines. The ESBLs identified were almost exclusively blaCTX-M genes, most commonly blaCTX-M-15 > blaCTX-M-27 > blaCTX-M-14. These were predominately carried on IncF plasmids or chromosomally (always ISEcp1 associated), in equal numbers. In contrast, 80 % of non-selected isolates carried no acquired ARGs, and none carried blaCTX-M genes. In both cohorts, extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) was the dominate pathotype (35 % total) with few (4 % total) intestinal pathogenic E. coli pathotypes identified (aEPEC > ETEC > EAEC). Nevertheless, some clinically important genes were only identified in the non-selected group, namely tigecycline-resistance gene tet(X4) and AmpC ESBL blaCMY-2. Additionally, the presence of tLST, associated with higher metal resistance gene carriage (Ag, As, Cu, Hg, Ni), in a substantial portion of non-selected isolates (20 % vs 0 %), underscores environmental pressures shaping bacterial populations in wastewater ecosystems. These insights are important for developing comprehensive, less biased genomic surveillance strategies to understand and manage public health threats posed by pathogenic E. coli and AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica M Jarocki
- Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environment (CRC SAAFE), South Australia, Australia.
| | - Dmitriy Li
- Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel R Bogema
- Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW, Australia
| | - Jerald Yam
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW, Australia
| | - Cheryl Jenkins
- Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW, Australia
| | - Faisal I Hai
- School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Steven P Djordjevic
- Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Kotzamanidis C, Malousi A, Paraskeva A, Vafeas G, Giantzi V, Hatzigiannakis E, Dalampakis P, Kinigopoulou V, Vrouhakis I, Zouboulis A, Yiangou M, Zdragas A. River waters in Greece: A reservoir for clinically relevant extended-spectrum-β-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 941:173554. [PMID: 38823724 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
In the current study, the genotypic characteristics such as antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, and plasmid replicons and phenotypic characteristics such as biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance of 87 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) isolated from 7 water bodies in northern Greece were investigated. Our data show a high prevalence (60.0 %) of ESBL-Ec in surface waters that exhibit high genetic diversity, suggesting multiple sources of their transmission into the aquatic environment. When evaluating the antimicrobial resistance of isolates, wide variation in their resistance profiles has been detected, with all isolates being multi-drug resistant (MDR). Regarding biofilm formation capacity and phylogenetic groups, the majority (54.0 %, 47/87) of ESBL-Ec were classified as no biofilm producers mainly assigned to phylogroup A (35.6 %; 31/87), followed by B2 (26.5 %; 23/87). PCR screening showed that a high proportion of the isolates tested positive for the blaCTX-M-1 group genes (69 %, 60/87), followed by blaTEM (55.2 %, 48/87), blaOXA (25.3 %, 22/87) and blaCTX-M-9 (17.2 %, 15/87). A subset of 28 ESBL-Ec strains was further investigated by applying whole genome sequencing (WGS), and among them, certain clinically significant sequence types were identified, such as ST131 and ST10. The corresponding in silico analysis predicted all these isolates as human pathogens, while a significant proportion of WGS-ESBL-Ec were assigned to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC; 32.1 %), and urinary pathogenic E. coli (UPEC; 28.6 %) pathotypes. Comparative phylogenetic analysis, showed that the genomes of the ST131-O25:H4-H30 isolates are genetically linked to the human clinical strains. Here, we report for the first time the detection of a plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance gene in ESBL-Ec in Greece isolated from an environmental source. Overall, this study underlines the role of surface waters as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes and for presumptive pathogenic ESBL-Ec.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charalampos Kotzamanidis
- Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Campus of Thermi, Thermi 570 01, Greece.
| | - Andigoni Malousi
- School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; Genomics and Epigenomics Translational Research Group, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Thessaloniki 57001, Greece
| | - Anastasia Paraskeva
- Department of Genetics, Development & Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - George Vafeas
- Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Campus of Thermi, Thermi 570 01, Greece
| | - Virginia Giantzi
- Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Campus of Thermi, Thermi 570 01, Greece
| | - Evaggelos Hatzigiannakis
- Soil & Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Sindos, Central Macedonia 57400, Greece
| | - Paschalis Dalampakis
- Soil & Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Sindos, Central Macedonia 57400, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Kinigopoulou
- Soil & Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Sindos, Central Macedonia 57400, Greece
| | - Ioannis Vrouhakis
- Soil & Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Sindos, Central Macedonia 57400, Greece
| | - Anastasios Zouboulis
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Chemical & Industrial Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
| | - Minas Yiangou
- Department of Genetics, Development & Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antonios Zdragas
- Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Campus of Thermi, Thermi 570 01, Greece
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Silva I, Tacão M, Henriques I. Hidden threats in the plastisphere: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales colonizing microplastics in river water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171268. [PMID: 38423305 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171268] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Carbapenem resistance poses a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as potential contributors to antibiotic resistance spread in the environment. However, the link between MPs and carbapenem resistance remains unexplored. We investigated the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria colonizing MPs placed in a river. Three replicates of a mixture of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and of PET alone were placed both upstream and downstream a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) were further characterized by phenotypic tests and whole-genome sequencing. The abundance of carbapenem-resistant bacteria on MPs increased significantly downstream the WWTP. Their prevalence was higher in the MPs mixture compared to PET alone. CRE strains colonizing MPs included Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3), Klebsiella quasipneumoniae (n = 3), Raoultella ornithinolytica (n = 2), Enterobacter kobei (n = 1) and Citrobacter freundii (n = 1), most (n = 8) recovered after the WWTP discharge. All strains exhibited at least one of the tested virulence traits (biofilm formation at 37 °C, haemolytic activity and siderophore production), were multi-drug resistant and carried carbapenemase-encoding genes [blaKPC-3 (n = 5), blaGES-5 (n = 2) or blaKPC-3 + blaGES-5 (n = 3)]. Uncommon phenotypes of resistance to imipenem/relebactam (n = 3) and ceftazidime/avibactam (n = 2) were observed. Two blaKPC-3-positive K. pneumoniae successfully transfer this gene trough conjugation. Genome analysis predicted all strains as human pathogens. The blaKPC-3 was associated with the Tn4401d transposon on a pBK30683-like plasmid in most of the isolates (n = 7). The blaGES-5 was mostly linked to class 3 integrons. A K. pneumoniae strain belonging to the outbreak-causing high-risk clone ST15 carried both blaKPC-3 and blaCTX-M-15. Two K. quasipneumoniae isolates carried the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-9. Our results underscore the role of MPs as vectors for CRE dissemination, particularly following WWTPs discharges. MPs may act as carriers, facilitating the dissemination of carbapenemase-encoding genes and potentially contributing to increased CRE incidence in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Silva
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Marta Tacão
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Henriques
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
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Puljko A, Babić I, Rozman SD, Barišić I, Jelić M, Maravić A, Parać M, Petrić I, Udiković-Kolić N. Treated municipal wastewater as a source of high-risk and emerging multidrug-resistant clones of E. coli and other Enterobacterales producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117792. [PMID: 38048868 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117792] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales are a major public health problem, and wastewater from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is a potential means of spreading them into the environment and community. Our objective was to isolate ESBL-producing E. coli and other Enterobacterales from wastewater after treatment at Croatia's largest WWTP and to characterize these isolates by phenotypic and genotypic testing. Of the 200 bacterial isolates, 140 were confirmed as Enterobacterales by MALDI-TOF MS, with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. predominating (69% and 7%, respectively). All 140 enterobacterial isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and produced ESBLs. The most prevalent ESBL genes among the isolates tested were blaCTX-M-15 (60%), blaTEM-116 (44%), and blaCTX-M-3 (13%). Most isolates (94%) carried more than one ESBL gene in addition to blaCTX-M. Genes encoding plasmid-mediated AmpC, most notably blaEBC, were detected in 22% of isolates, whereas genes encoding carbapenemases (blaOXA-48, blaNDM-1, blaVIM-1) were less represented (10%). In E. coli, 9 different sequence types (ST) were found, with the emerging high-risk clones ST361 (serotype A-O9:H30) and pandemic ST131 (serotype B2-O25:H4) predominating (32% and 15%, respectively). Other high-risk E. coli clones included ST405 (3%), ST410 (3%), CC10 (3%), ST10 (3%), and ST38 (2%), and emerging clones included ST1193 (2%) and ST635 (2%). Whole-genome sequencing of three representative E. coli from two dominant clone groups (ST361 and ST131) and one extensively drug-resistant K. oxytoca revealed the presence of multiple plasmids and resistance genes to several other antibiotic classes, as well as association of the blaCTX-M-15 gene with transposons and insertion sequences. Our findings indicate that treated municipal wastewater contributes to the spread of emerging and pandemic MDR E. coli clones and other enterobacterial strains of clinical importance into the aquatic environment, with the risk of reintroduction into humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Puljko
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, P.O. Box 180, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Babić
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, P.O. Box 180, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Svjetlana Dekić Rozman
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, P.O. Box 180, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Barišić
- Molecular Diagnostics, Austrian Institute of Technology, Giefinggasse 4, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marko Jelić
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mirogojska 8, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Maravić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21 000, Split, Croatia
| | - Marija Parać
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, P.O. Box 180, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ines Petrić
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, P.O. Box 180, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikolina Udiković-Kolić
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, P.O. Box 180, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Silva V, Louros VL, Silva CP, Tacão M, Otero M, Calisto V, Lima DLD. A solar flow photo-reactor for antibiotic removal from aquaculture effluents using TiO 2/carbon quantum dots. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 348:140723. [PMID: 37977528 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140723] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Effluents contaminated with antibiotics must be treated before reuse or even discharge into the aquatic environment, avoiding the increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - a major public health problem of the 21st century. Little is known regarding the natural solar photodegradation of antibiotics in tubular reactors operated under flow mode and even less concerning the application of photocatalysts. The use of photocatalysts is considered a promising strategy for a sustainable solar-driven removal of antibiotics from effluents. In this work, the photodegradation of two antibiotics widely used in aquaculture, namely, sulfadiazine (SDZ) and oxolinic acid (OXA), was investigated under solar flow mode in the absence and presence of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) coupled with titanium dioxide (TiO2) (4% (w/w)). The obtained results showed that TiO2/CQDs (4% (w/w)) enhanced the photodegradation of both antibiotics, which is highly beneficial for their application in the treatment of aquaculture effluents. The accumulated UV energy needed for SDZ removal using the photocatalyst was less than 4 kJ L-1 in both simulated freshwater (phosphate buffer solution (PBS)) and simulated brackish water (sea salt solution (SSS)), while for OXA less than 5 kJ L-1 and around 15 kJ L-1 were needed for removal in PBS and in SSS, respectively. Moreover, results demonstrated that the proposed photocatalytic treatment was also efficient in the elimination of OXA and SDZ antibacterial activity, either in PBS or SSS. Therefore, photocatalysis under flow mode using TiO2/CQDs constitutes a promising and sustainable treatment for antibiotics' efficient removal from aquaculture effluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Silva
- CESAM & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vitória L Louros
- CESAM & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carla Patrícia Silva
- Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Coimbra Health School, Department of General Sciences, Rua 5 de Outubro - S, Martinho Do Bispo, Apartado 7006, 3046-854, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marta Tacão
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Marta Otero
- Departamento de Química y Física Aplicadas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Vânia Calisto
- CESAM & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Diana L D Lima
- CESAM & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Coimbra Health School, Department of General Sciences, Rua 5 de Outubro - S, Martinho Do Bispo, Apartado 7006, 3046-854, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Azuma T, Usui M, Hayashi T. Inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital wastewater by ozone-based advanced water treatment processes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167432. [PMID: 37777130 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167432] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continue on a global scale. The impacts of wastewater on the environment and human health have been identified, and understanding the environmental impacts of hospital wastewater and exploring appropriate forms of treatment are major societal challenges. In the present research, we evaluated the efficacy of ozone (O3)-based advanced wastewater treatment systems (O3, O3/H2O2, O3/UV, and O3/UV/H2O2) for the treatment of antimicrobials, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (AMRB), and antimicrobial resistance genes (AMRGs) in wastewater from medical facilities. Our results indicated that the O3-based advanced wastewater treatment inactivated multiple antimicrobials (>99.9%) and AMRB after 10-30 min of treatment. Additionally, AMRGs were effectively removed (1.4-6.6 log10) during hospital wastewater treatment. The inactivation and/or removal performances of these pollutants through the O3/UV and O3/UV/H2O2 treatments were significantly (P < 0.05) better than those in the O3 and O3/H2O2 treatments. Altered taxonomic diversity of microorganisms based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing following the O3-based treatment showed that advanced wastewater treatments not only removed viable bacteria but also removed genes constituting microorganisms in the wastewater. Consequently, the objective of this study was to apply advanced wastewater treatments to treat wastewater, mitigate environmental pollution, and alleviate potential threats to environmental and human health associated with AMR. Our findings will contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of advanced wastewater treatment systems through on-site application, not only in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) but also in medical facilities. Moreover, our results will help reduce the discharge of AMRB and AMRGs into rivers and maintain the safety of aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Azuma
- Department of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1 Nasahara, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1094, Japan.
| | - Masaru Usui
- Food Microbiology and Food Safety, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Midorimachi, Bunkyodai, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1 Nasahara, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1094, Japan; Faculty of Human Development, Department of Food and Nutrition Management Studies, Soai University, 4-4-1 Nankonaka, Osaka Suminoeku, Osaka 559-0033, Japan
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Silva I, Rodrigues ET, Tacão M, Henriques I. Microplastics accumulate priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens: Evidence from the riverine plastisphere. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023:121995. [PMID: 37302790 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) might accumulate and transport antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in aquatic systems. We determined the abundance and diversity of culturable ciprofloxacin- and cefotaxime-resistant bacteria in biofilms covering MPs placed in river water, and characterized priority pathogens from these biofilms. Our results showed that the abundance of ARB colonizing MPs tends to be higher compared to sand particles. Also, higher numbers were cultivated from a mixture of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), compared to PP and PET alone. Aeromonas and Pseudomonas isolates were the most frequently retrieved from MPs placed before a WWTP discharge while Enterobacteriaceae dominated the culturable plastisphere 200 m after the WWTP discharge. Ciprofloxacin- and/or cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (n = 54 unique isolates) were identified as Escherichia coli (n = 37), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3), Citrobacter spp. (n = 9), Enterobacter spp. (n = 4) and Shigella sp. (n = 1). All isolates presented at least one of the virulence features tested (i.e. biofilm formation, haemolytic activity and production of siderophores), 70% carried the intI1 gene and 85% exhibited a multi-drug resistance phenotype. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes were detected in ciprofloxacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae [aacA4-cr (40% of the isolates), qnrS (30%), qnrB (25%), and qnrVC (8%)], along with mutations in gyrA (70%) and parC (72%). Cefotaxime-resistant strains (n = 23) harbored blaCTX-M (70%), blaTEM (61%) and blaSHV (39%). Among CTX-M producers, high-risk clones of E. coli (e.g. ST10 or ST131) and K. pneumoniae (ST17) were identified, most of which carrying blaCTX-M-15. Ten out of 16 CTX-M producers were able to transfer blaCTX-M to a recipient strain. Our results demonstrated the occurrence of multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the riverine plastisphere, harboring ARGs of clinical concern and exhibiting virulence traits, suggesting a contribution of MPs to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens. The type of MPs and especially water contamination (e.g. by WWTPs discharges) seem to determine the resistome of the riverine plastisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Silva
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Elsa T Rodrigues
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marta Tacão
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Henriques
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Freire S, Grilo T, Rodrigues B, Oliveira R, Esteves C, Marques A, Poirel L, Aires-de-Sousa M. ESBL- and Carbapenemase-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae among Bivalves from Portuguese Shellfish Production Areas. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020415. [PMID: 36838380 PMCID: PMC9965403 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bivalves are filter-feeding organisms and biomarkers of bacterial pollution. Our study aimed to analyze the occurrence and characteristics of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli among bivalves. A total of 522 bivalve samples were collected along Portuguese shellfish production areas. Homogenized samples were screened for E. coli contamination on corresponding selective plates, allowing for concomitant growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae. E. coli growth was observed in 39% of the samples. Subsequent selective screening identified nine samples (4.4%) contaminated with ESBL producers, corresponding to E. coli (n = 7) and K. pneumoniae (n = 2), while a single carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (0.5%) was identified. ESBLs were all CTX-M-types commonly identified in human isolates, i.e., CTX-M-32 (n = 4), CTX-M-15 (n = 4), and CTX-M-14 (n = 1). The carbapenemase producer harbored the blaGES-5 gene located on a ColE plasmid. Clonality was evaluated by multilocus sequence typing, identifying E. coli backgrounds as ST10, ST23, ST540, ST617, ST746, SLV206, and SLV2325, commonly identified among environmental and human strains. The K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to ST834, ST15, and DLV644. The occurrence of ESBL- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in bivalves reveals how the marine environment constitutes a reservoir of critical bacterial pathogens, thus potentially representing a risk to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Freire
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Portuguese Red Cross, 1600-680 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Teresa Grilo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Portuguese Red Cross, 1600-680 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Bruna Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Portuguese Red Cross, 1600-680 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rui Oliveira
- Instituto Português do Mar e Atmosfera, 1495-165 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla Esteves
- Instituto Português do Mar e Atmosfera, 1495-165 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Marques
- Instituto Português do Mar e Atmosfera, 1495-165 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Laurent Poirel
- Medical and Molecular Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
- INSERM European Unit (IAME, France), University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Antibiotic Resistance (NARA), 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Marta Aires-de-Sousa
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Portuguese Red Cross, 1600-680 Lisboa, Portugal
- Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa—Lisboa (ESSCVP-Lisboa), 1300-125 Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-918184751
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Tacão M, Laço J, Teixeira P, Henriques I. CTX-M-Producing Bacteria Isolated from a Highly Polluted River System in Portugal. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191911858. [PMID: 36231185 PMCID: PMC9565674 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191911858] [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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Enterobacteriaceae resistant to third-generation cephalosporins are a great concern for public health, as these are first-line drugs to treat infections. The production of carbapenemases and extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and/or the overexpression of AmpC β-lactamases are the main mechanisms of resistance to these antibiotics. Among the ESBLs, CTX-M β-lactamases are the most prevalent worldwide. Our aims were to determine the prevalence of cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae along a heavily polluted river and characterize blaCTX-M carriers. River water was collected in 11 sites along the main course and tributaries, in two sampling moments. Water quality was evaluated and a collection of cefotaxime-resistant isolates was obtained. blaCTX-M carriers were characterized regarding phylogenetic affiliation, clonality, antibiotic susceptibility, gene diversity, and context. Water presented very low quality in all sites. From 147 cefotaxime-resistant isolates, 46% carried blaCTX-M and were affiliated with Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Citrobacter. Molecular typing revealed clonal isolates in different sites and over the two years, suggesting survival of the strains in the river or continuous pollution inputs from the same sources. Eight variants of blaCTX-M were found, with blaCTX-M-15 being the most prevalent (52.5%). Sites with a lower water quality showed the highest resistance rates and prevalence of blaCTX-M, suggesting that river water may embody human health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tacão
- CESAM and Biology Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - José Laço
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro Teixeira
- CESAM and Biology Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Henriques
- Department of Life Sciences and CFE, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
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Peixoto S, Loureiro S, Henriques I. The impact of silver sulfide nanoparticles and silver ions in soil microbiome. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 422:126793. [PMID: 34399213 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126793] [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: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The use of biosolids as fertilizers in agriculture can lead to the exposure of soil biota to sulfidised silver nanoparticles (Ag2S NPs), generated during the wastewater treatment procedures. Considering the crucial role of microorganisms on soil functions, we aimed to study the effects of 10 mg kg-1 soil of Ag2S NPs or AgNO3 on the soil microbiome, using an indoor mesocosm. After 28 days of exposure, Ag2S NPs induced a significant change in the soil microbiome structure, at class, genera and OTU levels. For instance, a significantly higher abundance of Chitinophagia, known for its lignocellulose-degrading activity, was observed in Ag2S NPs-treated soil toward the control. Nevertheless, stronger effects were observed in AgNO3-treated soil, over time, due to its higher silver dissolution rate in porewater. Additionally, only the AgNO3-treated soil stimulates the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing (AOB; amoA gene) and nitrite-oxidizing (NOB; nxrB gene) bacteria, which are involved in the nitrification process. Distinct variants of amoA and nxrB genes emerged in silver-treated soils, suggesting a potential succession of AOB and NOB with different degree of silver-tolerance. Our study highlights the latter effects of Ag2S NPs on the soil microbiome composition, while AgNO3 exerted a stronger effect in both composition and functional parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Peixoto
- University of Aveiro, Department of Biology, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Susana Loureiro
- University of Aveiro, Department of Biology, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Isabel Henriques
- University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Portugal; CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Almeida AR, Tacão M, Soares J, Domingues I, Henriques I. Tetracycline-Resistant Bacteria Selected from Water and Zebrafish after Antibiotic Exposure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18063218. [PMID: 33804606 PMCID: PMC8003806 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens due to worldwide antibiotic use is raising concern in several settings, including aquaculture. In this work, the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was evaluated after exposure of zebrafish to oxytetracycline (OTC) for two months, followed by a recovery period. The selection of ARB in water and fish was determined using selective media. The abundance of tetA genes was estimated through qPCR. Higher prevalence of ARB was measured in all samples exposed to the antibiotic when compared to control samples, although statistical significance was only achieved five days after exposure. Isolates recovered from samples exposed to the antibiotic were affiliated with Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas. Various antibiotic susceptibility profiles were detected and 37% of the isolates displayed multidrug resistance (MDR). The selection of the tetA gene was confirmed by qPCR at the highest OTC concentration tested. Two MDR isolates, tested using zebrafish embryos, caused significant mortality, indicating a potential impact on fish health and survival. Overall, our work highlights the potential impact of antibiotic contamination in the selection of potential pathogenic ARB and ARGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Almeida
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (M.T.); (J.S.); (I.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Marta Tacão
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (M.T.); (J.S.); (I.D.)
| | - Joana Soares
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (M.T.); (J.S.); (I.D.)
| | - Inês Domingues
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (M.T.); (J.S.); (I.D.)
| | - Isabel Henriques
- University of Coimbra, CESAM & Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Calçada Martins de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal;
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