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Xu R, Zhang L, Huang FY, Zhu YG, Zhao Y, Guo H. Geogenic high arsenic elevates the groundwater antibiotic resistomes: A blind spot of resistance in Anthropocene. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 260:121957. [PMID: 38941868 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121957] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Metals/metalloids, being ubiquitous in the environment, can function as a co-selective pressure on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) threatening human health. However, the effect of geogenic arsenic (As) on groundwater antibiotic resistomes and their health risks remain largely unknown. Here, we systematically analyzed bacterial communities, pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic resistomes, and in-situ multidrug-resistant isolates with the assessment of the health risk of ARGs and the pathogenicity of their hosts in high As groundwater from the Hetao basin, Northwestern China. We found that long-term geogenic As exposure shifted the assembly of resistomes and resulted in a high abundance and diversity of ARGs in groundwater. Significantly positive associations among As, As cycling genes, ARGs, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) revealed by network and pathway analyses, together with genetic evidence of As-tolerant multidrug-resistant isolates by whole genomic sequencing, robustly indicate the geogenic As-induced co-selection for antibiotic resistance in groundwater. Variance partitioning analysis further confirmed the determinative role of geogenic As in groundwater resistomes, with As species and As cycling genes as the core abiotic and biotic drivers, respectively. More seriously, geogenic As accelerated the prevalence of high-risk ARGs and multidrug-resistant bacteria. Our findings highlight the significance of geogenic As-induced co-selection for antibiotic resistance in groundwater and the hidden role of geogenic metals/metalloids in increasing antibiotic resistance. This study provides a basis for groundwater management of both high As and ARGs for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Conservation of MWR & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lingzhi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Conservation of MWR & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fu-Yi Huang
- Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yong-Guan Zhu
- Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Conservation of MWR & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Huaming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Conservation of MWR & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
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Guo X, Qi Z, Li J, Tong H, Ren N, You S. Overlooked volcanic effect during transmission of antibiotic resistance genes induced by copper and zinc. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142713. [PMID: 38944351 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142713] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Adding heavy metals such as copper and zinc to animal feeds is common practice to promote growth, but meanwhile has side consequence of enhancing spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil. This presents a global challenge to food security and human health. We in this study investigated the transmission of typical ARGs, i. e. β-lactamase genes (β-RGs), in dairy farm environments where dietary Cu and Zn were present in a wide range of concentration. The β-RGs were demonstrated to be highly prevalent across environmental media, with a relative abundance of 94.55%, dominated by mechanisms of antibiotic deactivation (93.75%) and cellular protection (6.25%). More importantly, we first found the transmission of ARGs to be highly dependent on the overlooked volcanic effect, i. e. low-concentration Cu (12-22 mg/kg) and Zn (45-80 mg/kg) acted as micronutrients necessary for microbial growth but facilitated ARGs transfer, whereas higher-concentration Cu (22-39 mg/kg) and Zn (80-153 mg/kg) became toxic to microbial communities and gene expression patterns. Notably, the specific microbial phyla Proteobacteria (2.28-82.94%), Bacteroidetes (0.02-56.48%) and Actinobacteria (1.62-12.92%) exhibited resistance at low concentration of Cu and Zn, which enhanced the transmission of β-RGs. However, this process was inhibited at higher concentration due to inactivation of microbes by Cu and Zn. The increase in resistance was first observed in class Gammaproteobacteria (2.02-88.51%) and Alphaproteobacteria (0.68-10.1%) with increased Cu and Zn concentration. This resulted in heightened transfer of ARGs by tnpA-07 (80.35%) due to protection of thicker cell membrane by chelation with Cu and Zn. This study not only offers mechanistic insights into the volcanic effect of dietary metals on dissemination of ARGs, but also has important implications for safe management of agricultural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorui Guo
- Engineering Research Center for Medicine, Ministry of Education, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin, 150076, PR China; School of Food Engineering, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin, 150028, PR China
| | - Zheng Qi
- Engineering Research Center for Medicine, Ministry of Education, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin, 150076, PR China.
| | - Junsheng Li
- School of Food Engineering, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin, 150028, PR China
| | - Hailong Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Shijie You
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China.
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Kaw HY, Yu J, Ma X, Yang Q, Zhu L, Wang W. The significance of environmentally bioavailable antimicrobials in driving antimicrobial resistance in soils. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108830. [PMID: 38943926 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stands as an escalating public health crisis fueled by antimicrobial residues in the environment, particularly in soil, which acts as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Merely quantifying the total extractable concentration of antimicrobials, instead of bioavailable fractions, may substantially underestimate their minimal selection concentration for propagating ARGs. To shed light on the role of bioavailability in ARG abundance within soil, a systematic bioavailability assessment method was established for accurately quantifying the partitioning of multi-class antimicrobials in representative Chinese soils. Microcosm studies unveiled that antimicrobials persisting in the bioavailable fraction could potentially prolong their selection pressure duration to trigger AMR. Notably, the co-occurrence of pesticide or steroid hormone influenced the development trends of ARG subtypes, with fluoroquinolone resistance genes (RGs) being particularly susceptible. Partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) analysis uncovered potentially distinct induction mechanisms of antimicrobials: observable results suggested that extractable residual concentration may exert a direct selection pressure on the development of ARGs, while bioavailable concentration could potentially play a stepwise role in affecting the abundance of mobile genetic elements and initiating ARG dissemination. Such unprecedented scrutinization of the interplay between bioavailable antimicrobials in soils and ARG abundance provides valuable insights into strategizing regulatory policy or guidelines for soil remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Yeong Kaw
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China
| | - Jing Yu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China
| | - Xuejing Ma
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China
| | - Lizhong Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China.
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Agarwal V, Meier B, Schreiner C, Figi R, Tao Y, Wang J. Airborne antibiotic and metal resistance genes - A neglected potential risk at e-waste recycling facilities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170991. [PMID: 38365028 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170991] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Heavy metal-rich environments can promote the selection of metal-resistance genes (MRGs) in bacteria, often leading to the simultaneous selection of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) through a process known as co-selection. To comprehensively evaluate the biological pollutants at electronic-waste (e-waste) recycling facilities, air, soil, and river samples were collected at four distinct Swiss e-waste recycling facilities and analyzed for ARGs, MRGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), endotoxins, and bacterial species, with correlations drawn to heavy metal occurrence. To our knowledge, the present work marks the first attempt to quantify these bio-pollutants in the air of e-waste recycling facilities, that might pose a significant health risk to workers. Although ARG and MRG's profiles varied among the different sample types, intl1 consistently exhibited high relative abundance rates, identifying it as the predominant MGE across all sample types and facilities. These findings underscore its pivol role in driving diverse bacterial adaptations to extreme heavy metal exposure by selection and dissemination of ARGs and MRGs. All air samples exhibited consistent profiles of ARGs and MRGs, with blaTEM emerging as the predominant ARG, alongside pbrT and nccA as the most prevalent MRGs. However, one facility, engaged in batteries recycling and characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of heavy metals, showcased a more diverse resistance gene profile, suggesting that bacteria in this environment required more complex resistance mechanisms to cope with extreme metal exposure. Furthermore, this study unveiled a strong association between gram-negative bacteria and ARGs and less with MRGs. Overall, this research emphasizes the critical importance of studying biological pollutants in the air of e-waste recycling facilities to inform robust safety measures and mitigate the risk of resistance gene dissemination among workers. These findings establish a solid foundation for further investigations into the complex interplay among heavy metal exposure, bacterial adaptation, and resistance patterns in such distinctive ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Agarwal
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8983, Switzerland; Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - B Meier
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8983, Switzerland
| | - C Schreiner
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - R Figi
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Y Tao
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8983, Switzerland; Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - J Wang
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8983, Switzerland; Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland.
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Luo Q, Wang H, Lu X, Wang C, Chen R, Cheng J, He T, Fu T. Potential of combined reactor and static composting applications for the removal of heavy metals and antibiotic resistance genes from chicken manure. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 356:120592. [PMID: 38508009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120592] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Chicken manure (CM) can pose a serious threat to environmental and human health, and need to be managed properly. The compost can effectively treat CM. However, there is limited research on the heavy metals and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during compost CM. In this study, the combined application of reactor and static composting (RSC) was used to produce organic fertilizer of CM (OCM), and heavy metals, ARGs and bacterial community structure was investigated. The results show that RSC could be used to produce OCM, and OCM meet the National organic fertilizer standard (NY/T525-2021). Compared to the initial CM, DTPA-Cu, DTPA-Zn, DTPA-Pb, DTPA-Cr, DTPA-Ni and DTPA-As in OCM decreased by 40.83%, 23.73%, 34.27%, 38.62%, 16.26%, and 43.35%, respectively. RSC decreased the relative abundance of ARGs in CM by 84.06%, while the relative abundance of sul1 and ermC increased. In addition, the relative abundance and diversity of ARGs were mainly influenced by the bacterial community, with Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria becoming the dominant phyla during composting, and probably being the main carriers and dispersers of most of the ARGs. Network analyses confirmed that Gracilibacillus, Lactobacillus, Nocardiopsis, Mesorhizobium and Salinicoccus were the main potential hosts of ARGs, with the main potential hosts of sul1 and ermC being Mesorhizobium and Salinicoccus. The passivation and physicochemical properties of heavy metals contribute to the removal of ARGs, with sul1 and ermC being affected by the toal heavy metals. Application of RSC allows CM to produce mature, safe organic fertilizer after 32 d and reduces the risk of rebound from ARGs, but the issues of sul1 and ermC gene removal cannot be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qu Luo
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory of Mountain Livestock and Poultry Farming Pollution Control and Resource Technology, Institute of New Rural Development, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Hu Wang
- Guizhou Chuyang Ecological Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Guizhou, 550003, China
| | - Xiaoqing Lu
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory of Mountain Livestock and Poultry Farming Pollution Control and Resource Technology, Institute of New Rural Development, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Can Wang
- Lijiang Agricultural Environmental Protection Monitoring Station, Lijiang, Yunnan, 674100, China
| | - Ruiying Chen
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory of Mountain Livestock and Poultry Farming Pollution Control and Resource Technology, Institute of New Rural Development, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Jianbo Cheng
- Guizhou Engineering Laboratory of Mountain Livestock and Poultry Farming Pollution Control and Resource Technology, Institute of New Rural Development, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Tengbing He
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory of Mountain Livestock and Poultry Farming Pollution Control and Resource Technology, Institute of New Rural Development, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Tianling Fu
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory of Mountain Livestock and Poultry Farming Pollution Control and Resource Technology, Institute of New Rural Development, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
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Zhou S, Yang F, Wang W, Yang Z, Song J, Jiang T, Huang Z, Gao Y, Wang Y. Impact of uranium on antibiotic resistance in activated sludge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170369. [PMID: 38278272 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170369] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the environment is well established as a human health crisis. The impact of radioactive heavy metals on ecosystems and ultimately on human health has become a global issue, especially for the regions suffering various nuclear activities or accidents. However, whether the radionuclides can affect the fate of antibiotic resistance in bacteria remains poorly understood. Here, the dynamics of ARB, three forms of ARGs-intracellular ARGs (iARGs), adsorbed extracellular ARGs (aeARGs), and free extracellular ARGs (feARGs)-and microbial communities were investigated following exposure to uranium (U), a representative radioactive heavy metal. The results showed that 90-d of U exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations of 0.05 mg/L or 5 mg/L significantly increased the ARB concentration in activated sludge (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 90-d of U exposure slightly elevated the absolute abundance of aeARGs (except tetO) and sulfonamide iARGs, but decreased tetracycline iARGs. Regarding feARGs, the abundance of tetC, tetO, and sul1 decreased after 90-d of U stress, whereas sul2 showed the opposite trend. Partial least-squares path model analysis revealed that the abundance of aeARGs and iARGs under U stress was predominantly driven by increased cell membrane permeability/intI1 abundance and cell membrane permeability/reactive oxygen species concentration, respectively. Conversely, the changes in feARGs abundance depended on the composition of the microbial community and the expression of efflux pumps. Our findings shed light on the variations of ARGs and ARB in activated sludge under U exposure, providing a more comprehensive understanding of antibiotic resistance risks aggravated by radioactive heavy metal-containing wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhou
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Fengjuan Yang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Weigang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhengqing Yang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Jian Song
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Tianyun Jiang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Zefeng Huang
- 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, School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, 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 X, Zhu L, Zhang SY, Li J, Lin D, Wang M. Characterization of microbial contamination in agricultural soil: A public health perspective. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169139. [PMID: 38070547 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Soil is widely recognized as a reservoir of microbial contaminants including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs), which are major public health concerns. Although the risks associated with soil safety in different soil habitats have been studied, the results are not comprehensive. In this study, dryland soils used for vegetable, corn, and soybean planting, and submerged soils used for rice planting and crab farming were collected and subjected to metagenomic sequencing to characterize HBPs, ARGs, and virulence factor genes (VFGs). The results showed that submerged soils had a higher abundance of HBP than dryland soils. In addition, the submerged soil microbiome acquired significantly higher levels of high-risk ARGs than the dryland soil microbiome and these ARGs were mainly assigned to bacA, sul1, and aadA genes submerged. Network analysis revealed that 11 HBPs, including Yersinia enterocolitica, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, and Leptospira interrogans, were high-risk because of their close association with ARGs, VFGs, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Procrustes and network analyses showed that HBPs and ARGs were more closely linked in submerged soil. This study confirms that submerged field has higher ecological environment risk and human health risk than dryland soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodi Li
- International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-Carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development & Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-Carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development & Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Si-Yu Zhang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jingpeng Li
- International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-Carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development & Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Da Lin
- International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-Carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development & Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Meizhen Wang
- International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-Carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development & Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
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Lin D, Xu JY, Wang L, Du S, Zhu D. Long-term application of organic fertilizer prompting the dispersal of antibiotic resistance genes and their health risks in the soil plastisphere. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108431. [PMID: 38217904 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108431] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a rapidly growing global environmental concern that has led to the emergence of a new environmental compartment, the plastisphere, which is a hotspot for the accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs). However, studies on the effects of long-term organic fertilizer application on the dispersal of ARGs and virulence factor genes (VFGs) in the plastisphere of farmland soil have been limited. Here, we performed a field culture experiment by burying nylon bags filled with MPs in paddy soil that had been treated with different fertilizers for over 30 years to explore the changes of ARGs and VFGs in soil plastisphere. Our results show that the soil plastisphere amplified the ARG and VFG pollution caused by organic fertilization by 1.5 and 1.4 times, respectively. And it also led to a 2.7-fold increase in the risk of horizontal gene transfer. Meanwhile, the plastisphere tended to promote deterministic process in the community assembly of HBPs, with an increase of 1.4 times. Network analysis found a significant correlation between ARGs, VFGs, and bacteria in plastisphere. Correlation analysis highlight the important role of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and bacterial communities in shaping the abundance of ARGs and VFGs, respectively. Our findings provide new insights into the health risk associated with the soil plastisphere due ARGs and VFGs derived from organic fertilizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Lin
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jia-Yang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
| | - Shuai Du
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China.
| | - Dong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China.
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9
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Han B, Yang F, Shen S, Mu M, Zhang K. Effects of soil habitat changes on antibiotic resistance genes and related microbiomes in paddy fields. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165109. [PMID: 37385504 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165109] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The changes of paddy soil habitat profoundly affect the structure and function of soil microorganisms, but how this process drives the growth and spread of manure- derived antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) after entering the soil is unclear. Herein, this study explored the environmental fate and behavior of various ARGs in the paddy soil during rice growth period. Results showed that most ARG abundances in flooded soil was lower than that in non-flooded soil during rice growth (decreased by 33.4 %). And soil dry-wet alternation altered microbial community structure in paddy field (P < 0.05), showing that Actinobacteria and Firmicutes increased in proportion under non-flooded conditions, and Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria evolved into the dominant groups in flooded soil. Meanwhile, the correlation between ARGs and bacterial communities was stronger than that with mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in both flooded and non-flooded paddy soils. Furthermore, soil properties, especially oxidation reduction potential (ORP), were proved to be an essential factor in regulating the variability of ARGs in the whole rice growth stage by structural equation model, with a direct influence (λ = 0.38, P < 0.05), following by similar effects of bacterial communities and MGEs (λ = 0.36, P < 0.05; λ = 0.29, P < 0.05). This study demonstrated that soil dry-wet alternation effectively reduced the proliferation and dissemination of most ARGs in paddy fields, providing a novel agronomic measure for pollution control of antibiotic resistance in farmland ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjun Han
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengxia Yang
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin, China.
| | - Shizhou Shen
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin, China; Dali, Yunnan, Agro-Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Dali, China
| | - Meirui Mu
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin, China
| | - Keqiang Zhang
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin, China; Dali, Yunnan, Agro-Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Dali, China.
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10
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Liu YR, Guo L, Yang Z, Xu Z, Zhao J, Wen SH, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Chen L. Multidimensional Drivers of Mercury Distribution in Global Surface Soils: Insights from a Global Standardized Field Survey. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12442-12452. [PMID: 37506289 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Soil stores a large amount of mercury (Hg) that has adverse effects on human health and ecosystem safety. Significant uncertainties still exist in revealing environmental drivers of soil Hg accumulation and predicting global Hg distribution owing to the lack of field data from global standardized analyses. Here, we conducted a global standardized field survey and explored a holistic understanding of the multidimensional environmental drivers of Hg accumulation in global surface soils. Hg content in surface soils from our survey ranges from 3.8 to 618.2 μg kg-1 with an average of 74.0 μg kg-1 across the globe. Atmospheric Hg deposition, particularly vegetation-induced elemental Hg0 deposition, is the major source of surface soil Hg. Soil organic carbon serves as the major substrate for sequestering Hg in surface soils and is significantly influenced by agricultural management, litterfall, and elevation. For human activities, changing land-use could be a more important contributor than direct anthropogenic emissions. Our prediction of a new global Hg distribution highlights the hot spots (high Hg content) in East Asia, the Northern Hemispheric temperate/boreal regions, and tropical areas, while the cold spots (low Hg content) are in arid regions. The holistic understanding of multidimensional environmental drivers helps to predict the Hg distribution in global surface soils under a changing global environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Rong Liu
- College of Resources and Environment and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Long Guo
- College of Resources and Environment and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ziming Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan 48309, United States
| | - Zeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jiating Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shu-Hai Wen
- College of Resources and Environment and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistemico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla 41012, Spain
- Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla 41013, Spain
| | - Long Chen
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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11
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Li H, Liu H, Qiu L, Xie Q, Chen B, Wang H, Long Y, Hu L, Fang C. Mechanism of antibiotic resistance development in an activated sludge system under tetracycline pressure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:90844-90857. [PMID: 37464207 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28744-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism of antibiotic resistance (AR) development in an activated sludge system under tetracycline (TC) pressure was discussed and analyzed. According to the variation of macro-factors, including TC, COD, TN, TP, NH3-N, pH, heavy metals, and reactor settings, the tet genes respond accordingly. Consequently, the enrichment sites of tet genes form an invisible AR selection zone, where AR microorganisms thrive, gather, reproduce, and spread. The efflux pump genes tetA and tetB prefer anaerobic environment, while ribosome protective protein genes tetM, tetO, tetQ, tetT, and tetW were more concentrated in aerobic situations. As a corresponding micro-effect, different types of tet genes selected the corresponding dominant bacteria such as Thauera and Arthrobacter, suggesting the intrinsic relationship between tet genes and potential hosts. In summary, the macro-response and micro-effect of tet genes constitute an interactive mechanism with tet genes as the core, which is the crucial cause for the continuous development of AR. This study provides an executable strategy to control the development of AR in actual wastewater treatment plants from the perspective of macro-factors and micro-effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Hongyuan Liu
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Libo Qiu
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Qiaona Xie
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Binhui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Yuyang Long
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Lifang Hu
- College of Quality and Safety Engineering, Institution of Industrial Carbon Metrology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Chengran Fang
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
- Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
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12
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Bao H, Wang J, Chen Z, Wen Q, Wu Y, Fu Q. Simultaneous passivation of heavy metals and removal of antibiotic resistance genes by calcium peroxide addition during sewage sludge composting. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023:129267. [PMID: 37271461 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This research evaluated the effects of calcium peroxide (CP) at 0% (CK, w/w), 5% (T1, w/w), and 10% (T2, w/w), on heavy metals (HMs) mobility and prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during sludge composting. T1 and T2 significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the mobility of Cu (29.34%, and 32.94%, respectively), Ni (24.07%, and 31.48%, respectively) and Zn (33.28%, and 54.11%, respectively) compared to CK after the composting. CP addition resulted in a decrease in mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and ARGs during composting. Together with structural equation model and random forest analysis depicted MGEs had a primary association with total ARGs variations during composting. Microbial analysis indicated CP downregulated the expression of the genes associated with two-component and type IV secretion system, thus reducing the prevalence of ARGs. This study demonstrates that application of CP is a feasible strategy to mitigate both ARGs and HMs hazards during composting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanyu Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology (SKLUWRE, HIT), Harbin 150090, PR China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Jiuhua Wang
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology (SKLUWRE, HIT), Harbin 150090, PR China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Qinxue Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology (SKLUWRE, HIT), Harbin 150090, PR China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China.
| | - Yiqi Wu
- Research Institute of Standards and Norms, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Beijing 100835, PR China
| | - Qiqi Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology (SKLUWRE, HIT), Harbin 150090, PR China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
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13
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Cai P, Chen Q, Du W, Yang S, Li J, Cai H, Zhao X, Sun W, Xu N, Wang J. Deciphering the dynamics of metal and antibiotic resistome profiles under different metal(loid) contamination levels. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 455:131567. [PMID: 37167868 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Metal(loid) contaminations pose considerable threats to ecological security and public health, yet little is known about the dynamics of metal resistance genes (MRGs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) under different metal(loid) contamination levels. Here, we provided a systematic investigation of MRGs and ARGs in three zones (Zones I, II, and III) with different metal(loid) contamination levels across an abandoned sewage reservoir. More diverse MRGs and ARGs were detected from the high-contaminated Zone I and the moderate-contaminated Zone II, while the abundant MGEs (mobile genetic elements) potentially enhanced the horizontal gene transfer potential and the resistome diversity in Zone I. Particularly, resistome hosts represented by Thiobacillus, Ramlibacter, and Dyella were prevalent in Zone II, promoting the vertical gene transfer of MRGs and ARGs. The highest health risk of ARGs was predicted for Zone I (about 7.58% and 0.48% of ARGs classified into Rank I and Rank II, respectively), followed by Zone II (2.11% and 0%) and Zone III (0% and 0%). However, the ARGs co-occurring with MRGs might exhibit low proportions and low health risks (all were Rank IV) in the three zones. Overall, these findings uncovered the dynamic responses of resistomes and their hosts to different metal(loid) contamination levels, contributing to formulating accurate management and bioremediation countermeasures for various metal(loid) contaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinggui Cai
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Qian Chen
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Wenran Du
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Shanqing Yang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Jiarui Li
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Hetong Cai
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China; School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
| | - Weiling Sun
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Nan Xu
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Jiawen Wang
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, PR China.
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14
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Qiu L, Wang Y, Du W, Ai F, Yin Y, Guo H. Efflux pumps activation caused by mercury contamination prompts antibiotic resistance and pathogen's virulence under ambient and elevated CO 2 concentration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 863:160831. [PMID: 36526183 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence and development of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in pathogens poses serious threatens to global health. Agricultural soils provide reservoirs for pathogens and ARGs, closely related to public health and food safety. Especially, metals stress provides more long-standing selection pressure for ARGs, and climate change is a "threat multiplier" for the spread of ARGs. However, little is known about the impact of metals contamination on pathogens and ARGs in agricultural soils and their sensitivity to ongoing climate changes. To fill this gap, a pot experiment was conducted in open-top chambers (OTCs) to investigate the influence of mercury (Hg) contamination on the distribution of soil pathogens and ARGs under ambient and elevated CO2 concentration. Results showed that the relative abundance of common plant and human pathogens increased significantly in Hg-contaminated soil under two CO2 concentrations. Hg contamination was a positive effector of the activation of efflux pumps and offensive virulence factors (adhere and secretion system) under two CO2 levels. Activation of efflux pumps caused by Hg contamination might contribute to changes of virulence or fitness of certain pathogens. Overall, our study emphasizes the critical role of efflux pumps as an intersection of antibiotic resistance and pathogen's virulence under Hg stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yabo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Wenchao Du
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fuxun Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Ying Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hongyan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China; Joint International Research Centre for Critical Zone Science-University of Leeds and Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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15
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Sun Y, Li X, Ding C, Pan Q, Wang J. Host species and microplastics differentiate the crop root endophytic antibiotic resistome. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 442:130091. [PMID: 36206714 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The increasing One-Health concept calls for a more in-depth understanding of the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in plant microbiomes. While there is considerable published evidence that microplastics can promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment, whether and how microplastics impact the plant endophytic resistome are largely unknown. Here we examined the ARGs along the soil-root continuum of maize and wheat under the pressure of microplastics. Amendment with heavy metals was also included as they can apply the selective pressure for ARG spread as well. The crop species and genotypes had significant effects on the root endophytic ARG abundance and diversity. The greatest ARG abundance was observed in the maize ZD958 endophytes (0.215 copies per 16S rRNA gene), followed by the maize XY335 (0.092 copies per 16S rRNA gene). For each crop genotype, amendment with microplastics and heavy metals significantly increased the ARG abundances and changed their profiles in root endophytes. The endophytic ARG variances were closely associated with the endophytic microbiome, the rhizosphere bacterial communities and resistome. Additionally, the level of endophytic ARGs was positively relevant to the abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). These findings suggested that the root endophytic resistome was primarily affected by the crop species, and microplastics might show enhancement effects on the endophytic resistome via changing the root-associated microbiome and facilitating the MGE mediation. Overall, this study, for the first time, highlights the root endophytic ARG emergence and dissemination induced by microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanze Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xinfei Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Changfeng Ding
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Qingchun Pan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences; National Academy of Agriculture Green Development; Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Jie Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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16
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Li W, Zhang WG, Zhang MS, Lei ZF, Li PF, Ma Y, Gao Y. Environmentally relevant concentrations of mercury facilitate the horizontal transfer of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 852:158272. [PMID: 36028018 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Abundant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are typically found in mercury (Hg)-contaminated aquatic environments. This phenomenon is partly attributed to the co-resistance, cross-resistance, and shared regulatory responses to Hg and antibiotics. However, it remains unclear whether and how Hg influences the conjugative transfer of ARGs mediated by mobilizable plasmids. In the present study, we found that Hg2+ at the environmentally relevant concentrations (0.001-0.5 mg L-1) facilitated the conjugative transfer of ARGs through the mobilizable plasmid RP4 from the donor Escherichia coli HB101 to the recipient E. coli K12. Exposure to Hg2+ significantly increases the formation of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde production, antioxidant enzyme activities, and cell membrane permeability, while decreasing the concentration of glutathione. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that the cell membrane suffered from oxidative damage, which is beneficial for conjugative transfer. The expression of global regulatory genes (korA, korB, and trbA) negatively regulating conjugative transfer was restrained by Hg2+, while promoting the expression of positive regulatory genes involved in the mating pair formation system (trbBp and traF) and the DNA transfer and replication systems (trfAp and traJ). Although a high Hg2+ concentration (1.0 mg L-1) suppressed ARGs conjugative transfer, our results suggest that Hg2+ facilitates the dissemination of ARGs in aquatic environments at environmentally relevant concentrations. This study improves our understanding of ARGs dissemination in Hg-contaminated aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Ministry of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210014, China; School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Wei-Guo Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Ministry of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210014, China; Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan; China Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory at Yangtze River Plain for Agricultural Environment, Nanjing 210014, China.
| | - Ming-Sha Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhong-Fang Lei
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | - Peng-Fu Li
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yan Ma
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultrual Environment, Luhe, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
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17
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Li X, Yang Z, Zhang G, Si S, Wu X, Cai L. Plasmid Genomes Reveal the Distribution, Abundance, and Organization of Mercury-Related Genes and Their Co-Distribution with Antibiotic Resistant Genes in Gammaproteobacteria. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:2149. [PMID: 36421823 PMCID: PMC9690531 DOI: 10.3390/genes13112149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) pollution poses human health and environmental risks worldwide, as it can have toxic effects and causes selective pressure that facilitates the spread of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) among microbes. More and more studies have revealed that numerous Hg-related genes (HRGs) can help to resist and transform Hg. In the present study, we systematically analyzed the HRG distribution, abundance, organization, and their co-distribution with ARGs, using 18,731 publicly available plasmid genomes isolated from a Gammaproteobacteria host. Our results revealed that there were many Hg-resistant (mer) operon genes but they were not extensively distributed across plasmids, with only 9.20% of plasmids harboring HRGs. Additionally, no hgcAB genes (which methylate Hg to create methylmercury) were identified in any of the analyzed plasmids. The host source significantly influenced the number of HRGs harbored by plasmids; plasmids isolated from humans and animals harbored a significantly smaller number of HRGs than plasmids isolated from the wastewater and sludge. HRG clusters displayed an extremely high organizational diversity (88 HRG cluster types), though incidences of more than half of the HRG cluster types was <5. This indicates the frequent rearrangement among HRGs in plasmids. The 1368 plasmids harboring both HRGs and ARGs, were dominated by Klebsiella, followed by Escherichia, Salmonella, and Enterobacter. The tightness of the HRG and ARG co-distribution in plasmids was affected by the host sources but not by pathogenicity. HRGs were more likely to co-occur with specific ARG classes (sulfonamide, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin, and aminoglycoside resistance genes). Collectively, our results reveal the distribution characteristics of HRGs in plasmids, and they have important implications for further understanding the environmental risks caused by the spread of ARGs through the plasmid-mediated co-transfer of ARGs and HRGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyang Li
- School of Life and Health Science, Kaili University, Kaili 556011, China
- Bacterial Genome Data Mining & Bioinformatic Analysis Center, Kaili University, Kaili 556011, China
| | - Zilin Yang
- School of Sciences, Kaili University, Kaili 556018, China
| | - Guohui Zhang
- School of Life and Health Science, Kaili University, Kaili 556011, China
| | - Shengli Si
- School of Life and Health Science, Kaili University, Kaili 556011, China
| | - Xianzhi Wu
- School of Life and Health Science, Kaili University, Kaili 556011, China
| | - Lin Cai
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518120, China
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18
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Zhu J, Huang Q, Peng X, Zhou X, Gao S, Li Y, Luo X, Zhao Y, Rensing C, Su J, Cai P, Liu Y, Chen W, Hao X, Huang Q. MRG Chip: A High-Throughput qPCR-Based Tool for Assessment of the Heavy Metal(loid) Resistome. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:10656-10667. [PMID: 35876052 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial metal detoxification mechanisms have been well studied for centuries in pure culture systems. However, profiling metal resistance determinants at the community level is still a challenge due to the lack of comprehensive and reliable quantification tools. Here, a novel high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR) chip, termed the metal resistance gene (MRG) chip, has been developed for the quantification of genes involved in the homeostasis of 9 metals. The MRG chip contains 77 newly designed degenerate primer sets and 9 published primer sets covering 56 metal resistance genes. Computational evaluation of the taxonomic coverage indicated that the MRG chip had a broad coverage matching 2 kingdoms, 29 phyla, 64 classes, 130 orders, 226 families, and 382 genera. Temperature gradient PCR and HT-qPCR verified that 57 °C was the optimal annealing temperature, with amplification efficiencies of over 94% primer sets achieving 80-110%, with R2 > 0.993. Both computational evaluation and the melting curve analysis of HT-qPCR validated a high specificity. The MRG chip has been successfully applied to characterize the distribution of diverse metal resistance determinants in natural and human-related environments, confirming its wide scope of application. Collectively, the MRG chip is a powerful and efficient high-throughput quantification tool for exploring the microbial metal resistome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xinyi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhou
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Shenghan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yuanping Li
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Xuesong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
| | - Christopher Rensing
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Jianqiang Su
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Peng Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yurong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wenli Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiuli Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiaoyun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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