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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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Segawa T, Takahashi A, Kokubun N, Ishii S. Spread of antibiotic resistance genes to Antarctica by migratory birds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171345. [PMID: 38447711 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171345] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Antarctica, which are typically indicative of human activity. However, these studies have concentrated in the Antarctic Peninsula region, and relatively less is known about ARG prevalence in East Antarctica, where human activity levels are lower compared to the Antarctic Peninsula. In addition, the mechanisms of ARG transmission to Antarctica through natural or anthropogenic pathways remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the fecal samples of Adélie penguins and South polar skuas by using high-throughput sequencing and microfluidic quantitative PCR to detect potential pathogens and ARGs at their breeding colonies near Syowa Station in East Antarctica. These results revealed the presence of several potential pathogens in the fecal matter of both bird species. However, the HF183 marker, which indicates human fecal contamination, was absent in all samples, as well as seawater sampled near the breeding colonies. This suggests that the human fecal contamination was negligible in our study area. In addition to pathogens, we found a significant number of ARGs and metal resistance genes in the feces of both Adélie penguins and South polar skuas, with higher detection rates in skuas than in penguins. To better understand how these birds acquire and transmit these genes, we analyzed the migratory patterns of Adélie penguins and South polar skuas by geolocator tracking. We found that the skuas migrate to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian Ocean during the austral winter. On the other hand, Adélie penguins exhibited a more localized migration pattern, mainly staying within Antarctic waters. Because the Indian Ocean is considered one of the major reservoirs of ARGs, South polar skuas might be exposed to ARGs during their winter migration and transfer these genes to Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Segawa
- Center for Life Science Research, University of Yamanashi, Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan.
| | - Akinori Takahashi
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuo Kokubun
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ishii
- Department of Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
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Zhang L, Fang S, Hong W, Shen Z, Li S, Fang W. Differences in pathogenic community assembly processes and their interactions with bacterial communities in river and lake ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116847. [PMID: 37558117 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic bacterial infections caused by water quality degradation are one of the most widespread environmental problems. Clarifying the structure of pathogens and their assembly mechanisms in lake ecosystems is vital to prevent the infestation of waterborne pathogens and maintain human health. However, the composition and assembly mechanisms of pathogenic bacterial communities in river and lake ecosystems are still poorly understood. In this study, we collected 17 water and 17 sediment samples from Lake Chaohu and its 11 inflow rivers. Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes was used to study bacterial pathogen communities. The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the composition of the pathogen community between riverine and lake habitats. Acinetobacter (36.49%) was the dominant bacterium in the river, whereas Flavobacterium (21.6%) was the most abundant bacterium in the lake. Deterministic processes (i.e., environmental filtering and species interaction) drove the assembly of pathogenic bacterial communities in the lake habitat, while stochastic processes shaped river pathogenic bacterial communities. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the α-diversity of bacterial communities was linearly and negatively linked to the relative abundance of pathogens. Having a higher bacterial community diversity had a suppressive effect on pathogen abundance. In addition, co-occurrence network analysis showed that bacterial communities were tightly linked to pathogenic bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica were identified as keystone species in an inflow water sampling network (W_FR), reducing the complexity of the network. These results provide a reference for assessments of water quality safety and pathogenic bacteria posing risks to human health in large freshwater lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239000, China.
| | - Shuqi Fang
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239000, China
| | - Wenqing Hong
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239000, China
| | - Zhen Shen
- Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Shuo Li
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239000, China
| | - Wangkai Fang
- School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, 232000, China
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Hill ER, Chun CL, Hamilton K, Ishii S. High-Throughput Microfluidic Quantitative PCR Platform for the Simultaneous Quantification of Pathogens, Fecal Indicator Bacteria, and Microbial Source Tracking Markers. ACS ES&T WATER 2023; 3:2647-2658. [PMID: 37593240 PMCID: PMC10428101 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Contamination of water with bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens can cause human diseases. Both humans and nonhumans can release these pathogens through their feces. To identify the sources of fecal contamination in the water environment, microbial source tracking (MST) approaches have been developed; however, the relationship between MST markers and pathogens is still not well understood most likely due to the lack of comprehensive datasets of pathogens and MST marker concentrations. In this study, we developed a novel microfluidic quantitative PCR (MFQPCR) platform for the simultaneous quantification of 37 previously validated MST markers, two fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), 22 bacterial, 11 viral, and five protozoan pathogens, and three internal amplification/process controls in many samples. The MFQPCR chip was applied to analyze pathogen removal rates during the wastewater treatment processes. In addition, multiple host-specific MST markers, FIB, and pathogens were successfully quantified in human and avian-impacted surface waters. While the genes for pathogens were relatively infrequently detected, positive correlations were observed between some potential pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens and Mycobacterium spp., and human MST markers. The MFQPCR chips developed in this study, therefore, can provide useful information to monitor and improve water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R Hill
- Water Resource Science Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, 173 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Chan Lan Chun
- Water Resource Science Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, 173 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
- Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota, 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, Minnesota 55811, United States
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, 221 Swenson Civil Engineering, 1405 University Drive, Duluth, Minnesota 55812, United States
| | - Kerry Hamilton
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S. College Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, 727 E. Tyler Street, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Satoshi Ishii
- Water Resource Science Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, 173 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 140 Gortner Laboratory, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, 439 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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Suzuki Y, Shimizu H, Tamai S, Hoshiko Y, Maeda T, Nukazawa K, Iguchi A, Masago Y, Ishii S. Simultaneous detection of various pathogenic Escherichia coli in water by sequencing multiplex PCR amplicons. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:264. [PMID: 36600083 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne diseases due to pathogen contamination in water are a serious problem all over the world. Accurate and simultaneous detection of pathogens in water is important to protect public health. In this study, we developed a method to simultaneously detect various pathogenic Escherichia coli by sequencing the amplicons of multiplex PCR. Our newly designed multiplex PCR amplified five genes for pathogenic E. coli (uidA, stx1, stx2, STh gene, and LT gene). Additional two PCR assays (for aggR and eae) were also designed and included in the amplicon sequencing analysis. The same assays were also used for digital PCR (dPCR). Strong positive correlations were observed between the sequence read count and the dPCR results for most of the genes targeted, suggesting that our multiplex PCR-amplicon sequencing approach could provide quantitative information. The method was also successfully applied to monitor the level of pathogenic E. coli in river water and wastewater samples. The approach shown here could be expanded by targeting genes for other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Suzuki
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Shimizu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Shouichiro Tamai
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Yuki Hoshiko
- Department of Biological Functions Engineering, Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 2-4 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu, 808-0196, Japan
- Present address: Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-Machi, Kurume-City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Toshinari Maeda
- Department of Biological Functions Engineering, Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 2-4 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu, 808-0196, Japan
| | - Kei Nukazawa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Atsushi Iguchi
- Department of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Masago
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ishii
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, Falcon Heights, MN, USA
- Bio Technology Institute, University of Minnesota, Falcon Heights, MN, USA
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Salazar-Sánchez A, Baztarrika I, Alonso R, Fernández-Astorga A, Martínez-Ballesteros I, Martinez-Malaxetxebarria I. Arcobacter butzleri Biofilms: Insights into the Genes Beneath Their Formation. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1280. [PMID: 35888999 PMCID: PMC9324650 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arcobacter butzleri, the most prevalent species of the genus, has the demonstrated ability to adhere to various surfaces through biofilm production. The biofilm formation capability has been related to the expression of certain genes, which have not been characterized in A. butzleri. In order to increase the knowledge of this foodborne pathogen, the aim of this study was to assess the role of six biofilm-associated genes in campylobacteria (flaA, flaB, fliS, luxS, pta and spoT) in the biofilm formation ability of A. butzleri. Knockout mutants were constructed from different foodborne isolates, and static biofilm assays were conducted on polystyrene (PS), reinforced glass and stainless steel. Additionally, motility and Congo red binding assays were performed. In general, mutants in flaAB, fliS and luxS showed a decrease in the biofilm production irrespective of the surface; mutants in spoT showed an increase on stainless steel, and mutants in pta and spoT showed a decrease on reinforced glass but an increase on PS. Our work sheds light on the biofilm-related pathogenesis of A. butzleri, although future studies are necessary to achieve a satisfactory objective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Salazar-Sánchez
- MikroIker Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.S.-S.); (I.B.); (R.A.); (A.F.-A.); (I.M.-B.)
| | - Itsaso Baztarrika
- MikroIker Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.S.-S.); (I.B.); (R.A.); (A.F.-A.); (I.M.-B.)
| | - Rodrigo Alonso
- MikroIker Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.S.-S.); (I.B.); (R.A.); (A.F.-A.); (I.M.-B.)
- Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Aurora Fernández-Astorga
- MikroIker Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.S.-S.); (I.B.); (R.A.); (A.F.-A.); (I.M.-B.)
| | - Ilargi Martínez-Ballesteros
- MikroIker Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.S.-S.); (I.B.); (R.A.); (A.F.-A.); (I.M.-B.)
- Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Irati Martinez-Malaxetxebarria
- MikroIker Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.S.-S.); (I.B.); (R.A.); (A.F.-A.); (I.M.-B.)
- Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
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