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Xu C, Hu C, Li F, Liu W, Xu Y, Shi D. Antibiotic resistance genes risks in relation to host pathogenicity and mobility in a typical hospital wastewater treatment process. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 259:119554. [PMID: 38964571 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Hospital wastewaters (HWWs) serve as critical reservoirs for disseminating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). However, the dynamics and noteworthy shifts of ARGs and their associated pathogenicity, mobility, and resistome risks during HWWs treatment processes remain poorly understood. Utilizing metagenomic sequencing and assembly, we identified 817 ARG subtypes conferring resistance to 20 classes of antibiotics across 18 HWW samples from influent to effluent. Genes encoding resistance to multidrug, aminoglycoside and beta_lactam were the most prevalent ARG types, reflecting patterns observed in clinical settings. On-site treatment efforts decreased the relative abundance of ARGs by 77.4% from influent to secondary sedimentation, whereas chlorine disinfection significantly increased their abundance in the final effluent. Deterministic processes primarily drove the taxonomic assembly, with Proteobacteria being the most abundant phylum and serving as the primary host for 15 ARG types. Contig-based analysis further revealed 114 pathogenic ARB, with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas alcaligenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting multidrug-resistant. The contributions of host bacteria and pathogenic ARB varied throughout wastewater treatment. In addition, 7.10%-31.0 % ARGs were flanked by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), predominantly mediated by transposase (74.1%). Notably, tnpA exhibited the highest potential for ARG dissemination, frequently co-occurring with beta-lactam resistance genes (35.2%). Considering ARG profiles, pathogenic hosts, and transferability, raw influent exhibited the highest antibiotic resistome risk index (ARRI), followed by the final effluent. Chlorine disinfection exacerbated resistome risks by inducing potential pathogenic ARB and mobile ARGs, posing threats to the receiving environment. This study delineates ARG occurrence patterns, highlights mechanisms of ARG carriage and horizontal gene transfer, and provides insights for assessing resistance risks and prioritizing interventions in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenye Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Chun Hu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Fang Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Weiping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
| | - Yumin Xu
- Department of Infection Control, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
| | - Dake Shi
- Department of Infection Control, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
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Wang C, Mao Y, Zhang L, Wei H, Wang Z. Insight into environmental adaptability of antibiotic resistome from surface water to deep sediments in anthropogenic lakes by metagenomics. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 256:121583. [PMID: 38614031 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121583] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
The escalating antibiotic resistance threatens the long-term global health. Lake sediment is a vital hotpot in transmitting antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs); however, their vertical distribution pattern and driving mechanisms in sediment cores remain unclear. This study first utilized metagenomics to reveal how resistome is distributed from surface water to 45 cm sediments in four representative lakes, central China. Significant vertical variations in ARG profiles were observed (R2 = 0.421, p < 0.001), with significant reductions in numbers, abundance, and Shannon index from the surface water to deep sediment (all p-values < 0.05). ARGs also has interconnections within the vertical profile of the lakes: twelve ARGs persistently exist all sites and depths, and shared ARGs (e.g., vanS and mexF) were assembled by diverse hosts at varying depths. The 0-18 cm sediment had the highest mobility and health risk of ARGs, followed by the 18-45 cm sediment and water. The drivers of ARGs transformed along the profile of lakes: microbial communities and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) dominated in water, whereas environmental variables gradually become the primary through regulating microbial communities and MGEs with increasing sediment depth. Interestingly, the stochastic process governed ARG assembly, while the stochasticity diminished under the mediation of Chloroflexi, Candidatus Bathyarcaeota and oxidation-reduction potential with increasing depth. Overall, we formulated a conceptual framework to elucidate the vertical environmental adaptability of resistome in anthropogenic lakes. This study shed on the resistance risks and their environmental adaptability from sediment cores, which could reinforce the governance of public health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430077, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yujie Mao
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430077, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430077, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Huimin Wei
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430077, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430077, China.
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Li F, Liu K, Bao Y, Li Y, Zhao Z, Wang P, Zhan S. Molecular level removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes: A review of interfacial chemical in advanced oxidation processes. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121373. [PMID: 38447374 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121373] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
As a kind of novel and persistent environmental pollutants, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been frequently detected in different aquatic environment, posing potential risks to public health and ecosystems, resulting in a biosecurity issue that cannot be ignored. Therefore, in order to control the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment, advanced oxidation technology (such as Fenton-like, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis) has become an effective weapon for inactivating and eliminating ARB and ARGs. However, in the process of advanced oxidation technology, studying and regulating catalytic active sites at the molecular level and studying the adsorption and surface oxidation reactions between catalysts and ARGs can achieve in-depth exploration of the mechanism of ARGs removal. This review systematically reveals the catalytic sites and related mechanisms of catalytic antagonistic genes in different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) systems. We also summarize the removal mechanism of ARGs and how to reduce the spread of ARGs in the environment through combining a variety of characterization methods. Importantly, the potential of various catalysts for removing ARGs in practical applications has also been recognized, providing a promising approach for the deep purification of wastewater treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Kewang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Yueping Bao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Yanxiao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Zhiyong Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Pengfei Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China.
| | - Sihui Zhan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China.
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Wang M, Sun H, Ma X, Wang H, Shi B. Metabolic response of bacterial community to sodium hypochlorite and ammonia nitrogen affected the antibiotic resistance genes in pipelines biofilm. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 252:121179. [PMID: 38324986 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121179] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The biofilm is important for the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) propagation in drinking water pipelines. This study investigated the influence of chlorine disinfection and ammonia nitrogen on the ARGs in pipelines biofilm using metagenomic and metabolomics analysis. Chlorine disinfection reduced the relative abundance of unclassified_c_Actinobacteria, Acidimicrobium, and Candidatus_Pelagibacter to 394-430 TPM, 114-123 TPM, and 49-54 TPM, respectively. Correspondingly, the ARGs Saur_rpoC_DAP, macB, and mfd was reduced to 8-12 TPM, 81-92 TPM and 30-35 TPM, respectively. The results of metabolomics suggested that chlorine disinfection suppressed the pathways of ABC transporters, fatty acid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and biosynthesis of amino acids. These pathways were related to the cell membrane integrality and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion. Chlorine disinfection induced the decrease of EPS-related genes, resulting in the lower relative abundance of bacterial community and their antibiotic resistance. However, added approximately 0.5 mg/L NH3-N induced up-regulation of these metabolic pathways. In addition, NH3-N addition increased the relative abundance of enzymes related to inorganic and organic nitrogen metabolic pathway significantly, such as ammonia monooxygenase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase. Due to the EPS protection and nitrogen metabolism, the relative abundance of the main bacterial genera and the related ARGs increased to the level equal to that in pipelines biofilm with no disinfection. Therefore, NH3-N reduced the ARGs removal efficiency of chlorine disinfection. It is necessary to take measures to improve the removal rate of NH3-N and ARGs for preventing their risks in drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Huifang Sun
- Institute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Xu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Haibo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Baoyou Shi
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Cullom A, Spencer MS, Williams MD, Falkinham JO, Brown C, Edwards MA, Pruden A. Premise Plumbing Pipe Materials and In-Building Disinfectants Shape the Potential for Proliferation of Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance Genes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:21382-21394. [PMID: 38071676 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
In-building disinfectants are commonly applied to control the growth of pathogens in plumbing, particularly in facilities such as hospitals that house vulnerable populations. However, their application has not been well optimized, especially with respect to interactive effects with pipe materials and potential unintended effects, such as enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) across the microbial community. Here, we used triplicate convectively mixed pipe reactors consisting of three pipe materials (PVC, copper, and iron) for replicated simulation of the distal reaches of premise plumbing and evaluated the effects of incrementally increased doses of chlorine, chloramine, chlorine dioxide, and copper-silver disinfectants. We used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to characterize the resulting succession of the corresponding microbiomes over the course of 37 weeks. We found that both disinfectants and pipe material affected ARG and microbial community taxonomic composition both independently and interactively. Water quality and total bacterial numbers were not found to be predictive of pathogenic species markers. One result of particular concern was the tendency of disinfectants, especially monochloramine, to enrich ARGs. Metagenome assembly indicated that many ARGs were enriched specifically among the pathogenic species. Functional gene analysis was indicative of a response of the microbes to oxidative stress, which is known to co/cross-select for antibiotic resistance. These findings emphasize the need for a holistic evaluation of pathogen control strategies for plumbing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Cullom
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry St., 418 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Matheu Storme Spencer
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry St., 418 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Myra D Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Joseph O Falkinham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Connor Brown
- Department of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Marc A Edwards
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry St., 418 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Amy Pruden
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry St., 418 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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Yin H, Wang H, Wang M, Shi B. The interaction between extracellular polymeric substances and corrosion products in pipes shaped different bacterial communities and the effects of micropollutants. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120822. [PMID: 37950951 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
There are growing concerns over the effects of micropollutants on biofilms formation and antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs) transmission in drinking water distribution pipes. However, there was no reports about the influence of the interaction between extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and corrosion products on biofilms formation. Our results indicated that the abundance of quorum sensing (QS)-related genes, polysaccharide and amino acids biosynthesis genes of EPS was 6747-8055 TPM, 2221-2619 TPM, and 1461-1535 TPM in biofilms of cast iron pipes, respectively, which were higher than that of stainless steel pipes. The two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analysis of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) results indicated that polysaccharide of EPS was more easily adsorbed onto the corrosion products of cast iron pipes. Therefore, more human pathogenic bacteria (HPB) carrying ARGs were formed in biofilms of cast iron pipes. The amide I and amide II components and phosphate moieties of EPS were more susceptible to the corrosion products of stainless steel pipes. Thus, more bacteria genera carrying mobile genetic elements (MGE)-ARG were formed in biofilms of stainless steel pipes due to more abundance of QS-related genes, amino acids biosynthesis genes of EPS and the functional genes related to lipid metabolism. The enrichment of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and sulfadiazine (SUL) in corrosion products induced upregulation of QS and EPS-related genes, which promoted bacteria carrying different ARGs growth in biofilms, inducing more microbial risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Haibo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
| | - Min Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Baoyou Shi
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Yu K, Zhao B, Yan Y, Yang Q, Chen L, Xia Y. Effect of CeO 2 Nanoparticles on the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in a Reclaimed Water-Soil-Radish System - Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China, April 2023. China CDC Wkly 2023; 5:1029-1037. [PMID: 38046641 PMCID: PMC10689965 DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2023.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The use of reclaimed water (RW) for irrigation in agricultural practices raises concerns regarding the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from soils to edible crops. The effectiveness of nanoparticles (NPs) in reducing antibiotic resistance in vegetables irrigated with RW remains largely unexplored. Methods To investigate the effects, we conducted pot experiments in which radishes were planted in soil amended with CeO2 NPs using various application techniques. The abundance of ARGs was characterized using high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR). Concurrently, we utilized 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing to evaluate the microbial community structure of both the rhizosphere soil and the endophytic compartment within the radishes. Employing bioinformatics analysis, we probed the potential mechanisms by which NPs influence the resistome within the reclaimed water-soil-radish system. Results Following the application of CeO2 NPs, there was a noticeable reduction in both the number and concentration of ARG genotypes in the rhizosphere soil, as well as within the radish. Concurrently, CeO2 NPs appeared to mitigate the propagation of ARGs within the reclaimed water-soil-radish system. The ability of CeO2 NPs to modulate the resistome is linked to alterations in microbial community structure. Soil treatment with NPs emerged as the most effective strategy for curbing the spread of ARGs. Discussion This finding provides a theoretical foundation for the development of nano-agricultural technologies aimed at controlling the proliferation of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiqiang Yu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
- School of Resource, Environment and Life Science, Ningxia Normal University, Guyuan City, Gansu Province, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bixi Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuxi Yan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qing Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Liming Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu Xia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China
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Zhou S, Yang Z, Zhang S, Gao Y, Tang Z, Duan Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y. Metagenomic insights into the distribution, mobility, and hosts of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge under starvation stress. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 236:119953. [PMID: 37060877 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (eARGs) are important emerging environmental pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Nutritional substrate deficiency (i.e., starvation) frequently occurs in WWTPs owing to annual maintenance, water quality fluctuation, and sludge storage; and it can greatly alter the antibiotic resistance and extracellular DNA content of bacteria. However, the fate and corresponding transmission risk of eARGs in activated sludge under starvation stress remain largely unknown. Herein, we used metagenomic sequencing to explore the effects of starvation scenarios (carbon, nitrogen, and/or phosphorus deficiency) and environmental conditions (alternating anaerobic-aerobic, anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic) on the distribution, mobility, and hosts of eARGs in activated sludge. The results showed that 30 days of starvation reduced the absolute abundances of eARGs by 40.9%-88.2%, but high-risk dual and multidrug resistance genes persisted. Starvation, particularly the simultaneous lack of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus under aerobic conditions, effectively alleviated eARGs by reducing the abundance of extracellular mobile genetic elements (eMGEs). Starvation also altered the profile of bacterial hosts of eARGs and the bacterial community composition, the latter of which had an indirect positive effect on eARGs via changing eMGEs. Our findings shed light on the response patterns and mechanisms of eARGs in activated sludge under starvation conditions and highlight starvation as a potential strategy to mitigate the risk of previously neglected eARGs in WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China; Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Zhengqing Yang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Siqi Zhang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Yuanyuan Gao
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Zhenping Tang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Yi Duan
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Yalei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yayi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Li H, Dechesne A, He Z, Jensen MM, Song HL, Smets BF. Electrochemical disinfection may increase the spread of antibiotic resistance genes by promoting conjugal plasmid transfer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159846. [PMID: 36328265 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Current in the milliampere range can be used for electrochemical inactivation of bacteria. Yet, bacteria-including antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) may be subjected to sublethal conditions due to imperfect mixing or energy savings measures during electrochemical disinfection. It is not known whether such sublethal current intensities have the potential to stimulate plasmid transfer from ARB. In this study, conjugal transfer of plasmid pKJK5 was investigated between Pseudomonas putida strains under conditions reflecting electrochemical disinfection. Although the abundance of culturable and membrane-intact donor and recipient cells decreased with applied current (0-60 mA), both transconjugant density and transconjugant frequency increased. Both active chlorine and superoxide radicals were generated electrolytically, and ROS generation was induced. In addition, we detected significant over expression of a core oxidative stress defense gene (ahpCF) with current. Expression of selected conjugation related genes (traE, traI, trbJ, and trbL) also significantly correlated with current intensity. ROS accumulation, SOS response and subsequent derepression of conjugation are therefore the plausible consequence of sublethal current exposure. These findings suggest that sublethal intensities of current can enhance conjugal plasmid transfer, and that it is essential that conditions of electrochemical disinfection (applied voltage, current density, time and mixing) are carefully controlled to avoid conjugal ARG transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Li
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China; Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Arnaud Dechesne
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby 2800, Denmark.
| | - Zhiming He
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby 2800, Denmark.
| | - Marlene Mark Jensen
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby 2800, Denmark.
| | - Hai Liang Song
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Environmental Risk Prevention and Emergency Response Technology, Nanjing Normal University, Wenyuan Road 1, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Barth F Smets
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby 2800, Denmark.
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Liguori K, Keenum I, Davis BC, Calarco J, Milligan E, Harwood VJ, Pruden A. Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring of Water Environments: A Framework for Standardized Methods and Quality Control. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:9149-9160. [PMID: 35732277 DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2021.2024739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a grand societal challenge with important dimensions in the water environment that contribute to its evolution and spread. Environmental monitoring could provide vital information for mitigating the spread of AMR; this includes assessing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) circulating among human populations, identifying key hotspots for evolution and dissemination of resistance, informing epidemiological and human health risk assessment models, and quantifying removal efficiencies by domestic wastewater infrastructure. However, standardized methods for monitoring AMR in the water environment will be vital to producing the comparable data sets needed to address such questions. Here we sought to establish scientific consensus on a framework for such standardization, evaluating the state of the science and practice of AMR monitoring of wastewater, recycled water, and surface water, through a literature review, survey, and workshop leveraging the expertise of academic, governmental, consulting, and water utility professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Liguori
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Ishi Keenum
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Benjamin C Davis
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Jeanette Calarco
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Erin Milligan
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Amy Pruden
- The Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
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Liguori K, Keenum I, Davis BC, Calarco J, Milligan E, Harwood VJ, Pruden A. Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring of Water Environments: A Framework for Standardized Methods and Quality Control. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:9149-9160. [PMID: 35732277 PMCID: PMC9261269 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a grand societal challenge with important dimensions in the water environment that contribute to its evolution and spread. Environmental monitoring could provide vital information for mitigating the spread of AMR; this includes assessing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) circulating among human populations, identifying key hotspots for evolution and dissemination of resistance, informing epidemiological and human health risk assessment models, and quantifying removal efficiencies by domestic wastewater infrastructure. However, standardized methods for monitoring AMR in the water environment will be vital to producing the comparable data sets needed to address such questions. Here we sought to establish scientific consensus on a framework for such standardization, evaluating the state of the science and practice of AMR monitoring of wastewater, recycled water, and surface water, through a literature review, survey, and workshop leveraging the expertise of academic, governmental, consulting, and water utility professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Liguori
- The
Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Ishi Keenum
- The
Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Benjamin C. Davis
- The
Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Jeanette Calarco
- Department
of Integrative Biology, University of South
Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Erin Milligan
- The
Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Valerie J. Harwood
- Department
of Integrative Biology, University of South
Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Amy Pruden
- The
Charles Edward Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
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Antibiotic Resistance in the Drinking Water: Old and New Strategies to Remove Antibiotics, Resistant Bacteria, and Resistance Genes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15040393. [PMID: 35455389 PMCID: PMC9029892 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial resistance is a naturally occurring process. However, bacterial antibiotic resistance has emerged as a major public health problem in recent years. The accumulation of antibiotics in the environment, including in wastewaters and drinking water, has contributed to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Such can be justified by the growing consumption of antibiotics and their inadequate elimination. The conventional water treatments are ineffective in promoting the complete elimination of antibiotics and bacteria, mainly in removing ARGs. Therefore, ARGs can be horizontally transferred to other microorganisms within the aquatic environment, thus promoting the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. In this review, we discuss the efficiency of conventional water treatment processes in removing agents that can spread/stimulate the development of antibiotic resistance and the promising strategies for water remediation, mainly those based on nanotechnology and microalgae. Despite the potential of some of these approaches, the elimination of ARGs remains a challenge that requires further research. Moreover, the development of new processes must avoid the release of new contaminants for the environment, such as the chemicals resulting from nanomaterials synthesis, and consider the utilization of green and eco-friendly alternatives such as biogenic nanomaterials and microalgae-based technologies.
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Gu Q, Sun M, Lin T, Zhang Y, Wei X, Wu S, Zhang S, Pang R, Wang J, Ding Y, Liu Z, Chen L, Chen W, Lin X, Zhang J, Chen M, Xue L, Wu Q. Characteristics of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Full-Scale Drinking Water Treatment System Using Metagenomics and Culturing. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:798442. [PMID: 35273579 PMCID: PMC8902363 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.798442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The contamination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) may directly threaten human health. This study used a metagenomic approach to investigate the ARG profile in a drinking water treatment system (DWTS) in south China. In total, 317 ARG subtypes were detected; specifically, genes encoding bacitracin, multidrug, and sulfonamide were widely detected in the DWTS. Putative ARG hosts included Acidovorax (6.0%), Polynucleobacter (4.3%), Pseudomonas (3.4%), Escherichia (1.7%), and Klebsiella (1.5%) as the enriched biomarkers in the DWTS, which mainly carried bacitracin, beta-lactam, and aminoglycoside ARGs. From a further analysis of ARG-carrying contigs (ACCs), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common pathogens among the 49 ACC pathogens in the DWTS. The metagenomic binning results demonstrated that 33 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were discovered in the DWTS; particularly, the MAG identified as S. maltophilia-like (bin.195) harbored the greatest number of ARG subtypes (n = 8), namely, multidrug (n = 6; smeD, semE, multidrug_transporter, mexE, semB, and smeC), beta-lactam (n = 1; metallo-beta-lactamase), and aminoglycoside [n = 1; aph(3’)-IIb]. The strong positive correlation between MGEs and ARG subtypes revealed a high ARG dissemination risk in the DWTS. Based on the pure-culture method, 93 isolates that belong to 30 genera were recovered from the DWTS. Specifically, multidrug-resistant pathogens and opportunistic pathogens such as P. aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and S. maltophilia were detected in the DWTS. These insights into the DWTS’s antibiotic resistome indicated the need for more comprehensive ARG monitoring and management in the DWTS. Furthermore, more effective disinfection methods need to be developed to remove ARGs in DWTSs, and these findings could assist governing bodies in the surveillance of antibiotic resistance in DWTSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihui Gu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youxiong Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianhu Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuhong Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Pang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenjie Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuhua Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jumei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Moutong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Xue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingping Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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Xu Y, You G, Zhang M, Peng D, Jiang Z, Qi S, Yang S, Hou J. Antibiotic resistance genes alternation in soils modified with neutral and alkaline salts: interplay of salinity stress and response strategies of microbes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 809:152246. [PMID: 34896144 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152246] [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: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence points to the pivotal roles of salt accumulation in mediating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spread in soil, whereas how salt mediates ARGs dissemination remains unknown. Herein, the effects of neutral or alkaline (Ne/Al) salt at low, moderate and high levels (Ne/Al-L, Ne/Al-M, Ne/Al-H) on the dissemination of ten typical ARGs in soils were explored, by simultaneously considering the roles of salinity stress and response strategies of microbes. In the soils amended with Ne/Al-L and Al-M salt, the dissemination of ARGs was negligible and the relative abundances of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were decreased. However, Ne-M and Al-H salt contributed to the dissemination of ARGs in soils, with the significantly increased absolute and relative abundances of ARGs and MGEs. In Ne-H soil, although the absolute abundance of ARGs declined drastically due to serious oxidative damage, their relative abundances were promoted. The facilitated ARGs transfer was potentially related to the excessive generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increased activities of DNA repair enzymes involved in SOS system. In addition, the activated intracellular protective response including quorum sensing and energy metabolism largely provided essential factors for ARGs dissemination. The co-occurrence of ARGs and over-expressed salt-tolerant genes in specific halotolerant bacteria further suggested the selection of salt stress on ARGs. Moreover, less disturbance of alkaline salt than neutral salt on ARGs evolution was observed, due to the lower abiotic stress and selective pressure on microbes. This study highlights that soil salinity-sodicity could dose-dependently reshape the dissemination of ARGs and community structure of microbes, which may increase the ecological risks of ARGs in agricultural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, PR China, 210098
| | - Guoxiang You
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, PR China, 210098
| | - Mairan Zhang
- College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, PR China, 210098
| | - Dengyun Peng
- College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, PR China, 210098
| | - Zewei Jiang
- College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, PR China, 210098
| | - Suting Qi
- College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, PR China, 210098
| | - Shihong Yang
- College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, PR China, 210098; State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, 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, Nanjing, PR China, 210098
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Ghosh S, Zhu NJ, Milligan E, Falkinham JO, Pruden A, Edwards MA. Mapping the Terrain for Pathogen Persistence and Proliferation in Non-potable Reuse Distribution Systems: Interactive Effects of Biofiltration, Disinfection, and Water Age. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12561-12573. [PMID: 34448580 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Diverse pathogens can potentially persist and proliferate in reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDSs). The goal of this study was to evaluate interactive effects of reclaimed water treatments and water age on persistence and proliferation of multiple fecal (e.g., Klebsiella, Enterobacter) and non-fecal (e.g., Legionella, mycobacteria) gene markers in RWDSs. Six laboratory-scale RWDSs were operated in parallel receiving the influent with or without biologically active carbon (BAC) filtration + chlorination, chloramination, or no disinfectant residual. After 3 years of operation, the RWDSs were subject to sacrificial sampling and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We developed an in-house metagenome-derived pathogen quantification pipeline, validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and mock community analysis, to estimate changes in abundance of ∼30 genera containing waterborne pathogens. Microbial community composition in the RWDS bulk water, biofilm, and sediments was clearly shaped by BAC filtration, disinfectant conditions, and water age. Key commonalities were noted in the ecological niches occupied by fecal pathogen markers in the RWDSs, while non-fecal pathogen markers were more varied in their distribution. BAC-filtration + chlorine was found to most effectively control the widest range of target genera. However, filtration alone or chlorine secondary disinfection alone resulted in proliferation of some of these genera containing waterborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeshna Ghosh
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Ni Joyce Zhu
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Erin Milligan
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Joseph O Falkinham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Amy Pruden
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Marc A Edwards
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
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