1
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Wang X, Li J, Pan X. How micro-/nano-plastics influence the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes - A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 944:173881. [PMID: 38871331 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173881] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Plastic debris such as microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPTs), along with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), are pervasive in the environment and are recognized as significant global health and ecological concerns. Micro-/nano-plastics (MNPs) have been demonstrated to favor the spread of ARGs by enhancing the frequency of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) through various pathways. This paper comprehensively and systematically reviews the current study with focus on the influence of plastics on the HGT of ARGs. The critical role of MNPs in the HGT of ARGs has been well illustrated in sewage sludge, livestock farms, constructed wetlands and landfill leachate. A summary of the performed HGT assay and the underlying mechanism of plastic-mediated transfer of ARGs is presented in the paper. MNPs could facilitate or inhibit HGT of ARGs, and their effects depend on the type, size, and concentration. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the effects of MNPs on the HGT of ARGs, and offers suggestions for further study. Further research should attempt to develop a standard HGT assay and focus on investigating the impact of different plastics, including the oligomers they released, under real environmental conditions on the HGT of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310015, China; School of Environment Science and Spatial Information, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; Shaoxing Research Institute of Zhejiang University of Technology, Shaoxing 312000, China
| | - Jiahao Li
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Xiangliang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
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2
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Zhou Z, Shuai D. Disinfection and post-disinfection conditions drive bacterial and viral evolution across the environment and host. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 474:134811. [PMID: 38850949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134811] [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: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Water disinfection practices have long been established as a critical engineering intervention for controlling pathogen transmission and safeguarding individual and public health. However, recent discoveries have unveiled the significant role disinfection and post-disinfection play in accelerating the development of resistance to disinfectants and antimicrobial drugs within bacterial and viral communities in the environment. This phenomenon, in turn, may facilitate the emergence of persistent microbes and those with new genetic characteristics. These microbes may thrive in host environments with increased infectivity and resistance, posing challenges to current medical treatments and jeopardizing human health. In this perspective, we illuminate the intricate interplay between aquatic environments, microbes, and hosts and how microbial virulence evolves across the environment and host under the pressure of disinfection and post-disinfection conditions. We aim to draw attention to the previously overlooked potential risks associated with disinfection in driving the virulence evolution of bacteria and viruses, establish connections between pathogens in diverse environments and hosts within the overarching framework of the One Health concept, and ultimately provide guidelines for advancing future water disinfection technologies to effectively curb the spread of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhou
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia 20052, United States.
| | - Danmeng Shuai
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia 20052, United States.
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3
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Wang S, Shao Z, Chen G, Lin B, Li D, Chen J. Assessment of chlorine and hydrogen peroxide on airborne bacteria: Disinfection efficiency and induction of antibiotic resistance. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 474:134697. [PMID: 38823102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134697] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Airborne pathogens severely threaten public health worldwide. Air disinfection is essential to ensure public health. However, excessive use of disinfectants may endanger environmental and ecological security due to the residual disinfectants and their by-products. This study systematically evaluated disinfection efficiency, induction of multidrug resistance, and the underlying mechanisms of disinfectants (NaClO and H2O2) on airborne bacteria. The results showed that airborne bacteria were effectively inactivated by atomized NaClO (>160 μg/L) and H2O2 (>320 μg/L) after 15 min. However, some bacteria still survived after disinfection by atomized NaClO (0-80 μg/L) and H2O2 (0-160 μg/L), and they exhibited significant increases in antibiotic resistance. The whole-genome sequencing of the resistant bacteria revealed distinct mutations that were responsible for both antibiotic resistance and virulence. This study also provided evidences and insights into possible mechanisms underlying the induction of antibiotic resistance by air disinfection, which involved intracellular reactive oxygen species formation, oxidative stress responses, alterations in bacterial membranes, activation of efflux pumps, and the thickening of biofilms. The present results also shed light on the role of air disinfection in inducing antibiotic resistance, which could be a crucial factor contributing to the global spread of antibiotic resistance through the air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyi Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhiwei Shao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Shanghai Chengtou Sewage Treatment Co., LtD., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Bingjie Lin
- Shanghai Chengtou Sewage Treatment Co., LtD., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dan Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Jianmin Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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4
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Zhang S, Yao Z, Wang S, Zhang Y, Liu T, Zuo X. Dissolved oxygen facilitates efficiency of chlorine disinfection for antibiotic resistance. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173210. [PMID: 38750753 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173210] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Controlling the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a global concern. While commonly used chlorine disinfectants can damage or even kill ARB, dissolved oxygen (DO) may affect the formation of reactive chlorine species. This leads to the hypothesis that DO may play roles in mediating the effectiveness of chlorine disinfection for antibiotic resistance. To this end, this study investigated the impacts of DO on the efficiency of chlorine disinfection for antibiotic resistance. The results revealed that DO could increase the inactivation efficiency of ARB under chloramine and free chlorine exposure at practically relevant concentrations. Reactive species induced by DO, including H2O2, O2-, and OH, inactivated ARB strains by triggering oxidative stress response and cell membrane damage. In addition, the removal efficiency of extracellular ARGs (i.e. tetA and blaTEM) was enhanced with increasing dosage of free chlorine or chloramine under aerobic conditions. DO facilitated the fragmentation of plasmids, contributing to the degradation of extracellular ARGs under exposure to chlorine disinfectants. The findings suggested that DO facilitates disinfection efficiency for antibiotic resistance in water treatment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Zheng Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Shu Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Xiaojun Zuo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China; School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Environmental Risk Prevention and Emergency Response Technology, Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China.
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5
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Zhou CS, Cao GL, Liu BF, Liu W, Ma WL, Ren NQ. Deciphering the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during medium-chain fatty acids production from waste activated sludge: Driven by inhibition of ARGs transmission and shift of microbial community. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134676. [PMID: 38788579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134676] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) production from waste activated sludge (WAS) by chain extension (CE) is a promising technology. However, the effects and mechanisms of CE process on the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remain unclear. In this study, the results showed that the removal efficiency of ARGs was 81.15 % in CE process, suggesting its efficacy in reducing environmental risks. Further, the observed decrease in mobile genetic elements (MGEs) indicated that CE process restricted the horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Complementing this, the increase in soluble organic matters and extracellular 16 S rDNA confirmed that MCFAs production caused bacterial damage. Decreased intracellular ARGs and increased extracellular ARGs further revealed that MCFAs production impaired ARGs hosts, thereby limiting the vertical gene transfer (VGT) of ARGs. Shift of microbial community combined with co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that functional bacteria without host potential for ARGs were enriched, but potential ARGs and MGEs hosts decreased, showing the role of functional bacterial phylogeny and selection pressure of MCFAs in reducing ARGs. Finally, partial least squares path model was used to systematic verify the mechanism of ARGs removal in CE process, which was attributed to the inhibition of ARGs transmission (HGT and VGT) and shift of microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Shuang Zhou
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomass Energy Development and Utilization, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Guang-Li Cao
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomass Energy Development and Utilization, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Bing-Feng Liu
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomass Energy Development and Utilization, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Heilongjiang Institute of Energy and Environment, Harbin 150007, China
| | - Wan-Li Ma
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomass Energy Development and Utilization, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomass Energy Development and Utilization, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
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6
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Wang Q, Li X, Zhou K, Li Y, Wang Y, Zhang G, Guo H, Zhou J, Wang T. Mechanisms of conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes induced by extracellular polymeric substances: Insights into molecular diversities and electron transfer properties. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135181. [PMID: 39003806 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has become a critical threat to public health. Activated sludge, rich in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), is an important pool of ARGs. In this study, mechanisms of conjugation transfer of ARGs induced by EPS, including tightly bound EPS (TBEPS), soluble EPS (SEPS), and loosely bound EPS (LBEPS), were explored in terms of molecular diversities and electron transfer properties of EPS. Conjugation transfer frequency was increased by 9.98-folds (SEPS), 4.21-folds (LBEPS), and 15.75-folds (TBEPS) versus the control, respectively. Conjugation-related core genes involving SOS responses (9 genes), membrane permeability (18 genes), intercellular contact (17 genes), and energy metabolism pathways (13 genes) were all upregulated, especially in the presence of TBEPS. Carbohydrates and aliphatic substances in SEPS and LBEPS were contributors to ARG transfer, via influencing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation (SEPS) and ROS and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production (LBEPS). TBEPS had the highest redox potential and greatest lability and facilitated electron transfer and alternated respiration between cells, thus promoting ARG transfer by producing ATP. Generally, the chemical molecular characteristics and redox properties of EPS facilitated ARG transfer mainly by influencing lipid peroxidation and ATP, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Xiao Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Keying Zhou
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Yutong Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Yanjie Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Guodong Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - He Guo
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Tiecheng Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
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7
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Shi J, Sun C, An T, Jiang C, Mei S, Lv B. Unraveling the effect of micro/nanoplastics on the occurrence and horizontal transfer of environmental antibiotic resistance genes: Advances, mechanisms and future prospects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174466. [PMID: 38964386 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics can not only serve as vectors of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), but also they and even nanoplastics potentially affect the occurrence of ARGs in indigenous environmental microorganisms, which have aroused great concern for the development of antibiotic resistance. This article specifically reviews the effects of micro/nanoplastics (concentration, size, exposure time, chemical additives) and their interactions with other pollutants on environmental ARGs dissemination. The changes of horizontal genes transfer (HGT, i.e., conjugation, transformation and transduction) of ARGs caused by micro/nanoplastics were also summarized. Further, this review systematically sums up the mechanisms of micro/nanoplastics regulating HGT process of ARGs, including reactive oxygen species production, cell membrane permeability, transfer-related genes expression, extracellular polymeric substances production, and ARG donor-recipient adsorption/contaminants adsorption/biofilm formation. The underlying mechanisms in changes of bacterial communities induced by micro/nanoplastics were also discussed as it was an important factor for structuring the profile of ARGs in the actual environment, including causing environmental stress, providing carbon sources, forming biofilms, affecting pollutants distribution and environmental factors. This review contributes to a systematical understanding of the potential risks of antibiotic resistance dissemination caused by micro/nanoplastics and provokes thinking about perspectives for future research and the management of micro/nanoplastics and plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Shi
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Chaoli Sun
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Tingxuan An
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Changhai Jiang
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Shenglong Mei
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Baoyi Lv
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China; International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China.
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8
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Esmaeili-Khoshmardan M, Dabiri H, Rafiee M, Eslami A, Yazdanbakhsh A, Amereh F, Jahangiri-Rad M, Hashemi A. Dynamics of antimicrobial resistance and susceptibility profile in full-scale hospital wastewater treatment plants. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2024; 90:103-123. [PMID: 39007309 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2024.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Drug resistance has become a matter of great concern, with many bacteria now resist multiple antibiotics. This study depicts the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance patterns in five full-scale hospital wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Samples of raw influent wastewater, as well as pre- and post-disinfected effluents, were monitored for targeted ARB and resistance genes in September 2022 and February 2023. Shifts in resistance profiles of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii antimicrobial-resistant indicators in the treated effluent compared to that in the raw wastewater were also worked out. Ceftazidime (6.78 × 105 CFU/mL) and cefotaxime (6.14 × 105 CFU/mL) resistant species showed the highest concentrations followed by ciprofloxacin (6.29 × 104 CFU/mL), and gentamicin (4.88 × 104 CFU/mL), in raw influent respectively. WWTP-D employing a combination of biological treatment and coagulation/clarification for wastewater decontamination showed promising results for reducing ARB emissions from wastewater. Relationships between treated effluent quality parameters and ARB loadings showed that high BOD5 and nitrate levels were possibly contributing to the persistence and/or selection of ARBs in WWTPs. Furthermore, antimicrobial susceptibility tests of targeted species revealed dynamic shifts in resistance profiles through treatment processes, highlighting the potential for ARB and ARGs in hospital wastewater to persist or amplify during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maedeh Esmaeili-Khoshmardan
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Dabiri
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rafiee
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Air Quality and Climate Change Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran E-mail:
| | - Akbar Eslami
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmadreza Yazdanbakhsh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Amereh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Jahangiri-Rad
- Water Purification Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Hashemi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Li H, Wang Q, Wang Y, Liu Y, Zhou J, Wang T, Zhu L, Guo J. EDTA enables to alleviate impacts of metal ions on conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121659. [PMID: 38692255 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121659] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Various heavy metals are reported to be able to accelerate horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In real water environmental settings, ubiquitous complexing agents would affect the environmental behaviors of heavy metal ions due to the formation of metal-organic complexes. However, little is known whether the presence of complexing agents would change horizontal gene transfer due to heavy metal exposure. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the impacts of a typical complexing agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the conjugative transfer of plasmid-mediated ARGs induced by a range of heavy metal ions. At the environmentally relevant concentration (0.64 mg L-1) of metal ions, all the tested metal ions (Mg2+, Ca2+, Co2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+) promoted conjugative transfer of ARGs, while an inhibitory effect was observed at a relatively higher concentration (3.20 mg L-1). In contrast, EDTA (0.64 mg L-1) alleviated the effects of metal ions on ARGs conjugation transfer, evidenced by 11 %-66 % reduction in the conjugate transfer frequency. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations disclosed that this is attributed to the stronger binding of metal ions with the lipids in cell membranes. Under metal-EDTA exposure, gene expressions related to oxidative stress response, cell membrane permeability, intercellular contact, energy driving force, mobilization, and channels of plasmid transfer were suppressed compared with the metal ions exposure. This study offers insights into the alleviation mechanisms of complexing agents on ARGs transfer induced by free metal ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China; Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Qi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Yanjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Yue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Tiecheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China.
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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10
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Wang J, Huo L, Bian K, He H, Dodd MC, Pinto AJ, Huang CH. Efficacy and Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance Gene Degradation and Cell Membrane Damage during Ultraviolet Advanced Oxidation Processes. ACS ES&T WATER 2024; 4:2746-2755. [PMID: 38903200 PMCID: PMC11186015 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Combinations of UV with oxidants can initiate advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and enhance bacterial inactivation. However, the effectiveness and mechanisms of UV-AOPs in damaging nucleic acids (e.g., antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs)) and cell integrity represent a knowledge gap. This study comprehensively compared ARG degradation and cell membrane damage under three different UV-AOPs. The extracellular ARG (eARG) removal efficiency followed the order of UV/chlorine > UV/H2O2 > UV/peracetic acid (PAA). Hydroxyl radical (•OH) and reactive chlorine species (RCS) largely contributed to eARG removal, while organic radicals made a minor contribution. For intracellular ARGs (iARGs), UV/H2O2 did not remove better than UV alone due to the scavenging of •OH by cell components, whereas UV/PAA provided a modest synergism, likely due to diffusion of PAA into cells and intracellular •OH generation. Comparatively, UV/chlorine achieved significant synergistic iARG removal, suggesting the critical role of the RCS in resisting cellular scavenging and inactivating ARGs. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that membrane damage was mainly attributed to chlorine oxidation, while the impacts of radicals, H2O2, and PAA were negligible. These results provide mechanistic insights into bacterial inactivation and fate of ARGs during UV-AOPs, and shed light on the suitability of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and flow cytometry in assessing disinfection performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyue Wang
- School
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Linxuan Huo
- School
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Kaiqin Bian
- School
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Huan He
- State
Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory
of Yangtze Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental
Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Michael C. Dodd
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington (UW), Seattle, Washington 98195-2700, United States
| | - Ameet J. Pinto
- School
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ching-Hua Huang
- School
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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11
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Zhang Q, Li Y, Peng X, Bai X, Zhang L, Zhong S, Shu X. Pyrite from acid mine drainage promotes the removal of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements in karst watershed with abundant calcium carbonate. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134344. [PMID: 38678706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134344] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
More information is needed to fully comprehend how acid mine drainage (AMD) affects the phototransformation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in karst water and sewage-irrigated farmland soil with abundant carbonate rocks (CaCO3) due to increasing pollution of AMD formed from pyrite (FeS2). The results showed FeS2 accelerated the inactivation of ARB with an inactivation of 8.7 log. Notably, extracellular and intracellular ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) also experienced rapid degradation. Additionally, the pH of the solution buffered by CaCO3 significantly influenced the photo-inactivation of ARB. The Fe2+ in neutral solution was present in Fe(II) coordination with strong reducing potential and played a crucial role in generating •OH (7.0 μM), which caused severe damage to ARB, ARGs, and MGEs. The •OH induced by photo-Fenton of FeS2 posed pressure to ARB, promoting oxidative stress response and increasing generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately damaging cell membranes, proteins and DNA. Moreover, FeS2 contributed to a decrease in MIC of ARB from 24 mg/L to 4 mg/L. These findings highlight the importance of AMD in influencing karst water and sewage-irrigated farmland soil ecosystems. They are also critical in advancing the utilization of FeS2 to inactivate pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, China
| | - Yuhua Li
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, China
| | - Xinyi Peng
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, China
| | - Xue Bai
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, China
| | - Lishan Zhang
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, China
| | - Shan Zhong
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, China
| | - Xiaohua Shu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, China.
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12
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Hu R, Chen X, Xia M, Chen B, Lu X, Luo G, Zhang S, Zhen G. Identification of extracellular polymeric substances layer barrier in chloroquine phosphate-disturbed anammox consortia and mechanism dissection on cytotoxic behavior by computational chemistry. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134335. [PMID: 38657504 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134335] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The over-dosing use of chloroquine phosphate (CQ) poses severe threats to human beings and ecosystem due to the high persistence and biotoxicity. The discharge of CQ into wastewater would affect the biomass activity and process stability during the biological processes, e.g., anammox. However, the response mechanism of anammox consortia to CQ remain unknown. In this study, the accurate role of extracellular polymeric substances barrier in attenuating the negative effects of CQ, and the mechanism on cytotoxic behavior were dissected by molecular spectroscopy and computational chemistry. Low concentrations (≤6.0 mg/L) of CQ hardly affected the nitrogen removal performance due to the adaptive evolution of EPS barrier and anammox bacteria. Compact protein of EPS barrier can bind more CQ (0.24 mg) by hydrogen bond and van der Waals force, among which O-H and amide II region respond CQ binding preferentially. Importantly, EPS contributes to the microbiota reshape with selectively enriching Candidatus_Kuenenia for self-protection. Furthermore, the macroscopical cytotoxic behavior was dissected at a molecular level by CQ fate/distribution and computational chemistry, suggesting that the toxicity was ascribed to attack of CQ on functional proteins of anammox bacteria with atom N17 (f-=0.1209) and C2 (f+=0.1034) as the most active electrophilic and nucleophilic sites. This work would shed the light on the fate and risk of non-antibiotics in anammox process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Hu
- Shanghai Technical Service Platform for Pollution Control and Resource Utilization of Organic Wastes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Xue Chen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Mengting Xia
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Bin Chen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Xueqin Lu
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Gang Luo
- Shanghai Technical Service Platform for Pollution Control and Resource Utilization of Organic Wastes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Shicheng Zhang
- Shanghai Technical Service Platform for Pollution Control and Resource Utilization of Organic Wastes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Guangyin Zhen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Technology Innovation Center for Land Spatial Eco-restoration in Metropolitan Area, Ministry of Natural Resources, 3663 N. Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, PR China.
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13
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Cao J, Xue B, Yang S, Yang X, Zhang X, Qiu Z, Shen Z, Wang J. Chlorite and bromate alter the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes: Co-regulation of oxidative stress and energy supply. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134257. [PMID: 38636236 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134257] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of disinfectants during the global response to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic has increased the co-occurrence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Although DBPs pose major threats to public health globally, there is limited knowledge regarding their biological effects on ARGs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two inorganic DBPs (chlorite and bromate) on the conjugative transfer of RP4 plasmid among Escherichia coli strains at environmentally relevant concentrations. Interestingly, the frequency of conjugative transfer was initially inhibited when the exposure time to chlorite or bromate was less than 24 h. However, this inhibition transformed into promotion when the exposure time was extended to 36 h. Short exposures to chlorite or bromate were shown to impede the electron transport chain, resulting in an ATP shortage and subsequently inhibiting conjugative transfer. Consequently, this stimulates the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the SOS response. Upon prolonged exposure, the resurgent energy supply promoted conjugative transfer. These findings offer novel and valuable insights into the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of inorganic DBPs on the conjugative transfer of ARGs, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the management of DBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinrui Cao
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Bin Xue
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Shuran Yang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Xiaobo Yang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Zhigang Qiu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Zhiqiang Shen
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China.
| | - Jingfeng Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China.
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14
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Dadeh Amirfard K, Moriyama M, Suzuki S, Sano D. Effect of environmental factors on conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic settings. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae129. [PMID: 38830804 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial-resistance genes (ARGs) are spread among bacteria by horizontal gene transfer, however, the effect of environmental factors on the dynamics of the ARG in water environments has not been very well understood. In this systematic review, we employed the regression tree algorithm to identify the environmental factors that facilitate/inhibit the transfer of ARGs via conjugation in planktonic/biofilm-formed bacterial cells based on the results of past relevant research. Escherichia coli strains were the most studied genus for conjugation experiments as donor/recipient in the intra-genera category. Conversely, Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., and Salmonella spp. were studied primarily as recipients across inter-genera bacteria. The conjugation efficiency (ce) was found to be highly dependent on the incubation period. Some antibiotics, such as nitrofurantoin (at ≥0.2 µg ml-1) and kanamycin (at ≥9.5 mg l-1) as well as metallic compounds like mercury (II) chloride (HgCl2, ≥3 µmol l-1), and vanadium (III) chloride (VCl3, ≥50 µmol l-1) had enhancing effect on conjugation. The highest ce value (-0.90 log10) was achieved at 15°C-19°C, with linoleic acid concentrations <8 mg l-1, a recognized conjugation inhibitor. Identifying critical environmental factors affecting ARG dissemination in aquatic environments will accelerate strategies to control their proliferation and combat antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katayoun Dadeh Amirfard
- Department of Frontier Science for Advanced Environment, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Momoko Moriyama
- Department of Frontier Science for Advanced Environment, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Satoru Suzuki
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Bunkyōchō 2-5, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Frontier Science for Advanced Environment, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
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15
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Yin W, Liu T, Chen J, Zhang L, Ji R, Xu Y, Xu J, Li N, Zhou X, Zhang Y. Using UV/peracetic acid as pretreatment for subsequent bio-treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater treatment: Mitigating microbial inhibition and antibiotic resistance genes proliferation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134166. [PMID: 38554511 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
UV/peracetic acid (PAA) treatment presents a promising approach for antibiotic removal, but its effects on microbial community and proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during the subsequent bio-treatment remain unclear. Thus, we evaluated the effects of the UV/PAA on tetracycline (TTC) degradation, followed by introduction of the treated wastewater into the bio-treatment system to monitor changes in ARG expression and biodegradability. Results demonstrated effective TTC elimination by the UV/PAA system, with carbon-centered radicals playing a significant role. Crucially, the UV/PAA system not only eliminated antibacterial activity but also inhibited potential ARG host growth, thereby minimizing the emergence and dissemination of ARGs during subsequent bio-treatment. Additionally, the UV/PAA system efficiently removed multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria and ARGs from the bio-treatment effluent, preventing ARGs from being released into the environment. Hence, we propose a multi-barrier strategy for treating antibiotic-containing wastewater, integrating UV/PAA pre-treatment and post-disinfection with bio-treatment. The inhibition of ARGs transmission by the integrated system was verified through actual soil testing, confirming its effectiveness in preventing ARGs dissemination in the surrounding natural ecosystem. Overall, the UV/PAA treatment system offers a promising solution for tackling ARGs challenges by controlling ARGs proliferation at the source and minimizing their release at the end of the treatment process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tongcai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiabin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Water Supply, Water Saving and Water Environment Governance in the Yangtze River Delta of Ministry of Water Resources, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Longlong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ruicheng Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Nan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuefei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Yangtze Water Environment for Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yalei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Yangtze Water Environment for Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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16
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Luo L, Wang Z, Huang X, Gu JD, Yu C, Deng O. The fate of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater containing microalgae treated by chlorination, ultra-violet, and Fenton reaction. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121392. [PMID: 38430757 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacteria (ARBs) in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are of utmost importance for the dissemination of ARGs in natural aquatic environments. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective technologies to eliminate WWTP ARGs/ARBs and mitigate the associated risks posed by the discharged ARG in aquatic environments. To test the effective technology for eliminating ARGs/ARBs, we compared the removal of ARGs and ARBs by three different tertiary treatments, namely ultra-violet (UV) disinfection, chlorination disinfection, and Fenton oxidation. Then, the treated wastewater was co-cultured with Chlorella vulgaris (representative of aquatic biota) to investigate the fate of discharged ARGs into the aquatic environment. The results demonstrated that chlorination (at a chlorine concentration of 15 mg/L) and Fenton (at pH 2.73, with 0.005 mol/L Fe2+ and 0.0025 mol/L H2O2) treatment showed higher efficacy in ARG removal (1.8 - 4.17 logs) than UV treatment (15 min) (1.29 - 3.87 logs). Moreover, chlorine at 15 mg/L and Fenton treatment effectively suppressed ARB regeneration while UV treatment for 15 min could not. Regardless of treatments tested in this study, the input of treated wastewater to the Chlorella system increased the number of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), indicating the potential risk of ARG dissemination associated with WWTP discharge. Among the wastewater-Chlorella co-culture systems, chlorination resulted in less of an increase in the number of ARGs and MGEs compared to Fenton and UV treatment. When comparing the wastewater systems to the co-culture systems, it was observed that Chlorella vulgaris reduced the number of ARGs and MGEs in chlorination and UV-treated wastewater; however, Chlorella vulgaris promoted ARG survival in Fenton-treated water, suggesting that aquatic microalgae might act as a barrier to ARG dissemination. Overall, chlorination treatment not only effectively removes ARGs and inhibits ARB regeneration but also shows a lower risk of ARG dissemination. Therefore, chlorination is recommended for practical application in controlling the spread of discharged ARGs from WWTP effluent in natural aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Luo
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China.
| | - Zimu Wang
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Xin Huang
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Ji-Dong Gu
- Environmental Science and Engineering Research Group, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou 515063, PR China
| | - Chenxiao Yu
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Ouping Deng
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China.
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17
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Qiu X, Wang B, Ren S, Liu X, Wang Y. Regulation of quorum sensing for the manipulation of conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment system. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 253:121222. [PMID: 38335841 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The emergence and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through plasmid-mediated conjugation has become a significant worldwide public health threat. Biofilms are widely recognized as the primary reservoirs for ARGs, providing favorable conditions for horizontal gene transfer. Quorum sensing (QS) plays a critical role in bacterial biofilm formation, which further influences the spread of bacterial resistance. In this study, we examined the effects of vanillin, a QS inhibitor (QSI), at subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) ranging from 0 - 0.1 g/L, on the transfer of ARGs between Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our findings indicated that vanillin at sub-MICs inhibited the conjugative transfer frequency of the RP4 plasmid. This inhibition was supported by the downregulation of plasmid transfer genes. The suppression of conjugation can mainly be attributed to the inhibition of biofilm formation, the synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and the secretion of virulence factors, all of which are regulated by the bacterial QS system. On the other hand, the levels of ROS and cell membrane permeability were not primary explanations for this phenomenon. Furthermore, vanillin also reduced the conjugative transfer frequency of ARGs in wastewater effluent, providing a potential approach to alleviate bacterial resistance in water environments. These findings underscore the regulatory role of QSI in controlling ARGs transfer and have significant implications for manipulating the dissemination of bacterial resistance in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Qiu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Bingjie Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Shaojie Ren
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yunkun Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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18
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Zhang J, Li T, Tao S, Shen M. Microplastic pollution interaction with disinfectant resistance genes: research progress, environmental impacts, and potential threats. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:16241-16255. [PMID: 38340302 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32225-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The consumption of disposable plastic products and disinfectants has surged during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as they play a vital role in effectively preventing and controlling the spread of the virus. However, microplastic pollution and the excessive or improper use of disinfectants contribute to the increased environmental tolerance of microorganisms. Microplastics play a crucial role as vectors for microorganisms and plankton, facilitating energy transfer and horizontal gene exchange. The increase in the use of disinfectants has become a driving force for the growth of disinfectant resistant bacteria (DRB). A large number of microorganisms can have intense gene exchange, such as plasmid loss and capture, phage transduction, and cell fusion. The reproduction and diffusion rate of DRB in the environment is significantly higher than that of ordinary microorganisms, which will greatly increase the environmental tolerance of DRB. Unfortunately, there is still a huge knowledge gap in the interaction between microplastics and disinfectant resistance genes (DRGs). Accordingly, it is critical to comprehensively summarize the formation and transmission routes of DRGs on microplastics to address the problem. This paper systematically analyzed the process and mechanisms of DRGs formed by microbes. The interaction between microplastics and DRGs and the contribution of microplastic on the diffusion and spread of DRGs were expounded. The potential threats to the ecological environment and human health were also discussed. Additionally, some challenges and future priorities were also proposed with a view to providing useful basis for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Zhang
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianhao Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyu Tao
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People's Republic of China
| | - Maocai Shen
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People's Republic of China.
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19
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Zuo X, Zhang S, Chen S. The role of water matrix on antibiotic resistance genes transmission in substrate layer from stormwater bioretention cells. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 251:121103. [PMID: 38183842 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Recently, extensive attention has been paid to antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transmission. However, little available literature could be found about ARGs transmission in stormwater bioretention cells, especially the role of water matrix on ARGs transmission. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate target ARGs (blaTEM, tetR and aphA) transmission behaviors in substrate layer from stormwater bioretention cells under different water matrices, including nutrient elements (e.g., carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus), water environmental conditions (dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and salinity, etc.) and pollution factors (like heavy metals, antibiotics and disinfectants), showing that ARGs conjugation frequency increased sharply with the enhancement of water matrices (expect DO and pH), while there were obvious increasing tendencies for all ARGs transformation frequencies under only the pollution factor. The correlation between dominant bacteria and ARGs transmission implied that conjugation and transformation of ARGs were mainly determined by Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Latescibacterota, Chloroflexi and Cyanobacteria at the phylum level, and by Sphingomonas, Ensifer, IMCC26256, Rubellimicrobium, Saccharimonadales, Vicinamibacteraceae, Nocardioides, JG30-KF-CM66 at the genus level. The mentioned dominant bacteria were responsible for intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell membrane permeability (CMP) in the substrate layer, where the amplification of intracellular ROS variation were the largest with 144 and 147 % under the condition of TP and salinity, respectively, and the one of CMP variation were the highest more than 165 % under various pollution factors. Furthermore, both increasing DO and reducing salinity could be potential approaches for the inhibition of ARGs transmission in bioretention cells taking into account the simultaneous removal of conventional pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoJun Zuo
- Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - SongHu Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - ShaoJie Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
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20
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Ye C, Chen C, Feng M, Ou R, Yu X. Emerging contaminants in the water environment: Disinfection-induced viable but non-culturable waterborne pathogens. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132666. [PMID: 37793257 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Disinfection is essential for the control of waterborne pathogens (WPs), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. WP can enter the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state to evade disinfection, seriously threatening water safety. VBNC WPs should be considered as an emerging contaminant to ensure a higher level of safety of the water environment. Here, this study systematically reviewed the water disinfection methods that could induce WPs into the VBNC state, and clarified the risks of different species of VBNC WPs in the relevant water environment. The physicochemical and physiological properties of VBNC cells (e.g., morphology, physiology, and resuscitation potential) were then evaluated to better understand their potential health risks. In addition, the dominant detection methods of VBNC WPs were discussed, and real-time and label-free technologies were recommended for the study of VBNC WPs in the aquatic environment. The possible mechanisms of formation and persistence at the genetic level were highlighted. It concluded that the VBNC state has a deeper level of dormancy than the persistent state, which is associated with the general stress response and stringent response systems, and its persistence is also associated with the active efflux of harmful substances. Finally, the current shortcomings and research perspectives of VBNC bacteria were summarized. This review provides new insights into the characteristics, detection methods, persistence mechanisms, and potential health risks of VBNC WPs induced by water disinfection processes, and also serves as a basis for microbial risk control in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengsong Ye
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Chenclan Chen
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Mingbao Feng
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Coastal Pollution Prevention and Control, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Ranwen Ou
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Coastal Pollution Prevention and Control, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xin Yu
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Coastal Pollution Prevention and Control, Xiamen 361102, China.
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21
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Ke C, Deng Y, Zhang S, Ren M, Liu B, He J, Wu R, Dang Z, Guo C. Sulfate availability drives the reductive transformation of schwertmannite by co-cultured iron- and sulfate-reducing bacteria. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167690. [PMID: 37820819 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167690] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Schwertmannite (Sch) is a highly bioavailable iron-hydroxysulfate mineral commonly found in acid mine drainage contaminated environment rich in sulfate (SO42-). Microbial-mediated Sch transformation has been well-studied, however, the understanding of how SO42- availability affects the microbial-mediated Sch transformation and the secondary minerals influence microbes is relatively limited. This study examined the effect of SO42- availability on the iron-reducing bacteria (FeRB) and SO42--reducing bacteria (SRB) consortium-mediated Sch transformation and the resulting secondary minerals in turn on bacteria. Increased SO42- accelerated the onset of microbial SO42- reduction, which significantly accelerated Sch reduction transformation. The extent of intermediate products such as lepidocrocite (22.1 % ~ 76.3 %, all treatments) and goethite (15.3 %, 10 mM SO42-, 5 d) formed by Sch transformation depended on SO42- concentrations. Vivianite, siderite and iron‑sulfur minerals (e.g., FeS and FeS2) were the dominant secondary minerals, in which the relative content of vivianite and siderite decreased while iron‑sulfur minerals increased with increasing SO42- concentration. Correspondingly, the abundance of FeRB and SRB was negatively and positively correlated with SO42- concentration, respectively; 1 mM SO42- promoted the cymA and omcA expression of FeRB, but 10 mM SO42- lowerd the cymA and omcA expression compared to the 1 mM SO42-; the dsr expression of SRB related linearly to the SO42- concentration. These secondary minerals accumulated on the cell surface to form cell encrustations, which limited the growth and gene expression of FeRB and SRB, and even inhibited the activity of SRB in the 10 mM SO42- treatment group. The 10 mM SO42- treatment group with low-intensity ultrasound effectively restored the SRB activity for reducing SO42- by disintegrating the cell-mineral aggregation, further indicating that cell encrustations limited the microbial metabolism. The results highlight the critical role that SO42- availability can play in controlling microbial transformation of mineral, and the influence of secondary minerals on microbial metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changdong Ke
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Yanping Deng
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Siyu Zhang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Meihui Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bingcheng Liu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingyi He
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Renren Wu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Zhi Dang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chuling Guo
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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22
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Zhang C, Saad Z, Zhang S, Chen B, He X, Liu S. Effects of voltage and tetracycline on horizontal transfer of ARGs in microbial electrolysis cells. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2024; 45:559-568. [PMID: 35980276 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2022.2114860] [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: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The abuse of antibiotics leads to the production of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have been widely applicated in the field of degrading antibiotics. ARGs were increased via horizontal transfer in single and two-chamber MECs. As one of the critical parameters in MECs, voltage has a particular impact on the ARGs transfer via horizontal transfer. However, there have been few studies of ARGs transfer under the exposure of antibiotics and voltage in MECs. In this study, five concentrations of tetracycline (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 mg/L) were selected to explore the conjugative transfer frequency of plasmid-encoded the ARGs from the donor (E. coli RP4) to receptor (E. coli HB101) in MECs, two voltages (1.5 and 2.0 V) were used to explore the conjugative transfer frequency of ARGs in MECs, then, the transfer of ARGs in MECs under the co-effect of tetracycline and voltage was explored. The results showed that the conjugative transfer frequency of ARGs was significantly increased with the increase of tetracycline concentration and voltage, respectively (p < 0.05). Under the pressure of tetracycline and voltage, the conjugative transfer frequency of ARGs is significantly enhanced with the co-effect of tetracycline and voltage (p < 0.05). The oxidative response induced by electrical stimulation promotes the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and the enhancement of cell membrane permeability of donor and recipient bacteria in MECs. These findings provide insights for studying the spread of ARGs in MECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zouafi Saad
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CIC-AEET), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin He
- BDG Water Design &Research Institute Co., Ltd, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Liu
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
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23
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Wang L, Zhou JC, Li ZH, Zhang X, Leung KMY, Yuan L, Sheng GP. Facet-Specific Photocatalytic Degradation of Extracellular Antibiotic Resistance Genes by Hematite Nanoparticles in Aquatic Environments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:21835-21845. [PMID: 38085064 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06571] [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: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The persistence of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments has attracted increasing attention due to their potential threat to public health and the environment. However, the fate of extracellular ARGs in receiving water remains largely unknown. This study investigated the influence of hematite nanoparticles, a widespread natural mineral, on the photodegradation of extracellular ARGs in river water. Results showed that under exposure to visible light, hematite nanoparticles, at environmental concentrations, resulted in a 3-5 orders of magnitude reduction in extracellular ARGs. This photodegradation of extracellular ARGs is shown to be facet-dependent; the (001) facet of hematite demonstrates a higher removal rate than that of the (100) facet, which is ascribed to its enhanced adsorption capability and higher hydroxyl radical (•OH) production. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborate this finding, indicating elevated iron density, larger adsorption energy, and lower energy barrier of •OH formation on the (001) facet, providing more active sites and •OH generation for extracellular ARG interaction. Gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy analyses further confirm that the (001) facet causes more substantial damage to extracellular ARGs than the (100) facet. These findings pave the way for predicting the photodegradation efficiency of hematite nanoparticles with varied facets, thereby shedding light on the inherent self-purification capacity for extracellular ARGs in both natural and engineered aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- USTC-CityU Joint Advanced Research Center, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jing-Chen Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zheng-Hao Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Kenneth Mei Yee Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Li Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Guo-Ping Sheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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24
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Shen M, Zhao Y, Liu S, Tao S, Li T, Long H. Can microplastics and disinfectant resistance genes pose conceivable threats to water disinfection process? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167192. [PMID: 37730038 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167192] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution in the environment has aroused widespread concerns, however, the potential environmental risks caused by excessive use of disinfectants are still unknown. Disinfectants with doses below the threshold can enhance the communication of resistance genes in pathogenic microorganisms, promoting the development and spread of antimicrobial activity. Problematically, the intensification of microplastic pollution and the increase of disinfectant consumption will become a key driving force for the growth of disinfectant resistance bacteria (DRB) and disinfectant resistance genes (DRGs) in the environment. Disinfection plays a crucial role in ensuring water safety, however, the presence of microplastics and DRGs seriously disturb the water disinfection process. Microplastics can reduce the concentration of disinfectant in the local environment around microorganisms and improve their tolerance. Microorganisms can improve their resistance to disinfectants or generate resistance genes via phenotypic adaptation, gene mutations, and horizontal gene transfer. However, very limited information is available on the impact of DRB and DRGs on disinfection process. In this paper, the contribution of microplastics to the migration and transmission of DRGs was analyzed. The challenges posed by the presence of microplastics and DRGs on conventional disinfection were thoroughly discussed. The knowledge gaps faced by relevant current research and further research priorities have been proposed in order to provide a scientific basis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maocai Shen
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China.
| | - Yifei Zhao
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China
| | - Shiwei Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China
| | - Shiyu Tao
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China
| | - Tianhao Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China
| | - Hongming Long
- School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui 243002, PR China.
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25
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Li S, Li X, Chang H, Zhong N, Ren N, Ho SH. Comprehensive insights into antibiotic resistance gene migration in microalgal-bacterial consortia: Mechanisms, factors, and perspectives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:166029. [PMID: 37541493 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
With the overuse of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) prevalence is gradually increasing. ARGs are considered emerging contaminants that are broadly concentrated and dispersed in most aquatic environments. Recently, interest in microalgal-bacterial biotreatment of antibiotics has increased, as eukaryotes are not the primary target of antimicrobial drugs. Moreover, research has shown that microalgal-bacterial consortia can minimize the transmission of antibiotic resistance in the environment. Unfortunately, reviews surrounding the ARG migration mechanism in microalgal-bacterial consortia have not yet been performed. This review briefly introduces the migration of ARGs in aquatic environments. Additionally, an in-depth summary of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between cyanobacteria and bacteria and from bacteria to eukaryotic microalgae is presented. Factors influencing gene transfer in microalgal-bacterial consortia are discussed systematically, including bacteriophage abundance, environmental conditions (temperature, pH, and nutrient availability), and other selective pressure conditions including nanomaterials, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Furthermore, considering that quorum sensing could be involved in DNA transformation by affecting secondary metabolites, current knowledge surrounding quorum sensing regulation of HGT of ARGs is summarized. In summary, this review gives valuable information to promote the development of practical and innovative techniques for ARG removal by microalgal-bacterial consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150090, China
| | - Xue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150090, China
| | - Haixing Chang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Nianbing Zhong
- Liangjiang International College, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 401135, China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150090, China
| | - Shih-Hsin Ho
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150090, China.
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26
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Miao J, Ling Y, Chen X, Wu S, Liu X, Xu S, Umar S, Anderson BD. Assessing the nonlinear association of environmental factors with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the Yangtze River Mouth, China. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20367. [PMID: 37989759 PMCID: PMC10663556 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45973-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antibacterial resistance (ABR) is an urgent and complex public health challenge worldwide. Antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) are considered as a new pollutant by the WHO because of their wide distribution and emerging prevalence. The role of environmental factors in developing ARGs in bacterial populations is still poorly understood. Therefore, the relationship between environmental factors and bacteria should be explored to combat ABR and propose more tailored solutions in a specific region. Here, we collected and analyzed surface water samples from Yangtze Delta, China during 2021, and assessed the nonlinear association of environmental factors with ARGs through a sigmoid model. A high abundance of ARGs was detected. Amoxicillin, phosphorus (P), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca), and strontium (Sr) were found to be strongly associated with ARGs and identified as potential key contributors to ARG detection. Our findings suggest that the suppression of ARGs may be achieved by decreasing the concentration of phosphorus in surface water. Additionally, Group 2A light metals (e.g., magnesium and calcium) may be candidates for the development of eco-friendly reagents for controlling antibiotic resistance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazheng Miao
- Division of Natural and Applied Science, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yikai Ling
- Division of Natural and Applied Science, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Division of Natural and Applied Science, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Siyuan Wu
- Division of Natural and Applied Science, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Statistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xinyue Liu
- Division of Natural and Applied Science, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shixin Xu
- Division of Natural and Applied Science, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
- Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sajid Umar
- Division of Natural and Applied Science, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
- Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
| | - Benjamin D Anderson
- Division of Natural and Applied Science, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China.
- Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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27
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Wang Z, Fu L, Gu JD, Deng S, Huang C, Luo L. The factors controlling antibiotic resistance genes in different treatment processes of mainstream full-scale wastewater treatment plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:165815. [PMID: 37506903 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165815] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The alteration of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater has been less studied in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), making it difficult to assess ARGs' spreading risk comprehensively. Therefore, this study investigated the distribution and reduction of ARGs in the main process (Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic with Membrane Bio-Reactor (A2/O + MBR), Oxidation Ditch with sedimentation (OD), and Cyclic Activated Sludge System (CASS) with sedimentation) and disinfection process (Ultra-violet and Chlorination) of full-scale WWTPs. The wastewater was sampled before and after the different main process and disinfection process; then, the diversity and abundance of ARGs and mobile genetic genes (MGEs, helping the horizontal transfer of ARGs) in wastewater of different treatment stages were determined by a real-time high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR) system. It was found that similar influents would result in similar ARGs in wastewater samples, independent of the treatment processes used. The main process could effectively reduce the abundance of ARGs and MGEs by 1.80-2.12 and 1.46-2.18 logarithm units, respectively. The main factors affecting ARGs were mainly wastewater quality index, especially COD, and MGEs like transposase and insertion sequences which were significantly associated with 66 and 48 subtypes of ARGs, respectively. Moreover, disinfection was more effective than the main process in inactivating antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB), and the removal rate of ARB by disinfection reached 43.53 %-100 %. However, there are still risks of ARB regeneration (up to 4.22 log units) in the effluent of WWTPs. In the future, nutrient removal and disinfection process improvement is necessary to benefit ARG and ARB removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimu Wang
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Li Fu
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Ji-Dong Gu
- Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, PR China
| | - Shihuai Deng
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Chengyi Huang
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Ling Luo
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Chengdu 611130, PR China.
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28
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Shi J, Lv B, Wang B, Xie B. Insight into the responses of antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic biofilms to zinc oxide nanoparticles and zinc ions pressures in landfill leachate. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132096. [PMID: 37480611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132096] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) biofilms are hotspots of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in landfill environment. MP biofilms in landfill leachate coexist with heavy metals and metallic nanoparticles (NPs) that considered to be the selective agents of ARGs. However, the effects of these selective pressures on ARGs in MP biofilms and their differences in MP-surrounding leachate have not been well understood. Herein, the changes of ARG abundances in MP biofilms and corresponding leachate under zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs and zinc ion (Zn2+) pressures were comparatively analyzed. The presence of ZnO NPs and Zn2+ promoted the enrichment of ARGs in MP biofilms, and the enrichment was more pronounced in ZnO NPs groups. ZnO NPs and especially Zn2+ mainly decreased the abundances of ARGs in leachate. The increase of integron abundances and reactive oxygen species production in MP biofilms implied the enhanced potential for horizontal transfer of ARGs under ZnO NPs and Zn2+ pressures. Meanwhile, the co-occurrence pattern between ARGs and bacterial genera in MP biofilms with more diverse potential ARG hosts was more complex than in leachate, and the enrichment of ARG-hosting bacteria in MP biofilms under ZnO NPs and Zn2+ pressures supported the enrichment of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Shi
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Baoyi Lv
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Binghan Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Bing Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China.
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29
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Rolbiecki D, Paukszto Ł, Krawczyk K, Korzeniewska E, Sawicki J, Harnisz M. Chlorine disinfection modifies the microbiome, resistome and mobilome of hospital wastewater - A nanopore long-read metagenomic approach. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132298. [PMID: 37595469 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132298] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyze changes in the microbiome, resistome, and mobilome of hospital wastewater (HWW) induced by disinfection with chlorine compounds. Changes in bacterial communities and specific antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in HWW were determined with the use of a nanopore long-read metagenomic approach. The main hosts of ARGs in HWW were identified, and the mobility of resistance mechanisms was analyzed. Special attention was paid to the prevalence of critical-priority pathogens in the HWW microbiome, which pose the greatest threat to human health. The results of this study indicate that chlorine disinfection of HWW can induce significant changes in the structure of the total bacterial population and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) communities, and that it can modify the resistome and mobilome of HWW. Disinfection favored the selection of ARGs, decreased their prevalence in HWW, while increasing their diversity. The mobility of the HWW resistome increased after disinfection. Disinfection led to the emergence of new drug resistance mechanisms in previously sensitive bacterial taxa. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that HWW disinfected with low (sublethal) concentrations of free chlorine significantly contributes to the mobility and transfer of drug resistance mechanisms (including critical mechanisms) between bacteria (including pathogens).
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian Rolbiecki
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Łukasz Paukszto
- Department of Botany and Nature Protection, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Krawczyk
- Department of Botany and Nature Protection, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Ewa Korzeniewska
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Jakub Sawicki
- Department of Botany and Nature Protection, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Monika Harnisz
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland.
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30
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Luo G, Liang B, Cui H, Kang Y, Zhou X, Tao Y, Lu L, Fan L, Guo J, Wang A, Gao SH. Determining the Contribution of Micro/Nanoplastics to Antimicrobial Resistance: Challenges and Perspectives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12137-12152. [PMID: 37578142 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01128] [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] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms colonizing the surfaces of microplastics form a plastisphere in the environment, which captures miscellaneous substances. The plastisphere, owning to its inherently complex nature, may serve as a "Petri dish" for the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), adding a layer of complexity in tackling the global challenge of both microplastics and ARGs. Increasing studies have drawn insights into the extent to which the proliferation of ARGs occurred in the presence of micro/nanoplastics, thereby increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, a comprehensive review is still lacking in consideration of the current increasingly scattered research focus and results. This review focuses on the spread of ARGs mediated by microplastics, especially on the challenges and perspectives on determining the contribution of microplastics to AMR. The plastisphere accumulates biotic and abiotic materials on the persistent surfaces, which, in turn, offers a preferred environment for gene exchange within and across the boundary of the plastisphere. Microplastics breaking down to smaller sizes, such as nanoscale, can possibly promote the horizontal gene transfer of ARGs as environmental stressors by inducing the overgeneration of reactive oxygen species. Additionally, we also discussed methods, especially quantitatively comparing ARG profiles among different environmental samples in this emerging field and the challenges that multidimensional parameters are in great necessity to systematically determine the antimicrobial dissemination risk in the plastisphere. Finally, based on the biological sequencing data, we offered a framework to assess the AMR risks of micro/nanoplastics and biocolonizable microparticles that leverage multidimensional AMR-associated messages, including the ARGs' abundance, mobility, and potential acquisition by pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoyang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hanlin Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yuanyuan Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yu Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lu Fan
- Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Aijie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Shu-Hong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Liu S, Liu B, Zhu Y, Qiu Y, Li B. The Spatial-Temporal Effects of Bacterial Growth Substrates on Antibiotic Resistance Gene Spread in the Biofilm. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1154. [PMID: 37508250 PMCID: PMC10376823 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12071154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm is considered as the hotspot of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination. Bacterial growth substrates are important factors for biofilm formation, but its spatial-temporal effects on ARG spread in biofilm is still unclear. In this study, microfluidics combined with microscopic observation were used to reveal spatial-temporal effects of bacterial growth substrates on ARG transfer at real time. The initial horizontal gene transfer events were found to be independent of substrate levels. However, subsequent transfer processes varied greatly depending on the availability of growth substrates. The proportion of transconjugants was much higher (~12%) when observed in substrate-rich regions (under the channel) at 24 h, followed by an exponential decline, with the distance far from the channel. Furthermore, three-dimensional observation revealed that vertical gene transfer influenced by the concentrations of bacterial growth substrates was important for ARG spread in biofilm. The transfer frequency was 8.2 times higher in the high substrate concentration (50×) compared to low concentration (0.5×) in simulated sewage, underscoring the substantial impact of bacterial growth substrate variability on ARG dissemination. This study is helpful for in-depth understanding of ARG dissemination through biofilms and indicates that reducing pollutant emission is important for ARG control in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuzhen Liu
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Bingwen Liu
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yin Zhu
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yong Qiu
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bing Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
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32
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Zhu S, Yang B, Jia Y, Yu F, Wang Z, Liu Y. Comprehensive analysis of disinfectants on the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 453:131428. [PMID: 37094448 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131428] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The propagation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is constantly paralyzing our healthcare systems. In addition to the pressure of antibiotic selection, the roles of non-antibiotic compounds in disseminating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are a matter of great concerns. This study aimed to explore the impact of different disinfectants on the horizontal transfer of ARGs and their underlying mechanisms. First, the effects of different kinds of disinfectants on the conjugative transfer of RP4-7 plasmid were evaluated. Results showed that quaternary ammonium salt, organic halogen, alcohol and guanidine disinfectants significantly facilitated the conjugative transfer. Conversely, heavy-metals, peroxides and phenols otherwise displayed an inhibitory effect. Furthermore, we deciphered the mechanism by which guanidine disinfectants promoted conjugation, which includes increased cell membrane permeability, over-production of ROS, enhanced SOS response, and altered expression of conjugative transfer-related genes. More critically, we also revealed that guanidine disinfectants promoted bacterial energy metabolism by enhancing the activity of electron transport chain (ETC) and proton force motive (PMF), thus promoting ATP synthesis and flagellum motility. Overall, our findings reveal the promotive effects of disinfectants on the transmission of ARGs and highlight the potential risks caused by the massive use of guanidine disinfectants, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyao Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bingqing Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuqian Jia
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feiyu Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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33
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Zhang A, Jiang X, Ding Y, Jiang N, Ping Q, Wang L, Liu Y. Simultaneous removal of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater by a novel nonthermal plasma/peracetic acid combination system: Synergistic performance and mechanism. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 452:131357. [PMID: 37027926 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131357] [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: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a novel and green method combining plasma with peracetic acid (plasma/PAA) was developed to simultaneously remove antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater, which achieves significant synergistic effects in the removal efficiencies and energy yield. At a plasma current of 2.6 A and PAA dosage of 10 mg/L, the removal efficiencies of most detected antibiotics in real wastewater exceeded 90 % in 2 min, with the ARG removal efficiencies ranging from 6.3 % to 75.2 %. The synergistic effects of plasma and PAA could be associated with the motivated production of reactive species (including •OH, •CH3, 1O2, ONOO-, •O2- and NO•), which decomposed antibiotics, killed host bacteria, and inhibited ARG conjugative transfer. In addition, plasma/PAA also changed the contributions and abundances of ARG host bacteria and downregulated the corresponding genes of two-component regulatory systems, thus reducing ARG propagation. Moreover, the weak correlations between the removal of antibiotics and ARGs highlights the commendable performance of plasma/PAA in the simultaneous removal of antibiotics and ARGs. Therefore, this study affords an innovative and effective avenue to remove antibiotics and ARGs, which relies on the synergistic mechanisms of plasma and PAA and the simultaneous removal mechanisms of antibiotics and ARGs in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; Shanghai institute of pollution control and ecological security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xinyuan Jiang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yongqiang Ding
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Qian Ping
- Shanghai institute of pollution control and ecological security, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Kay Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Lin Wang
- Shanghai institute of pollution control and ecological security, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Kay Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Yanan Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; Shanghai institute of pollution control and ecological security, Shanghai 200092, China
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34
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Zhu S, Yang B, Wang Z, Liu Y. Augmented dissemination of antibiotic resistance elicited by non-antibiotic factors. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115124. [PMID: 37327521 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The emergence and rapid spread of antibiotic resistance seriously compromise the clinical efficacy of current antibiotic therapies, representing a serious public health threat worldwide. Generally, drug-susceptible bacteria can acquire antibiotic resistance through genetic mutation or gene transfer, among which horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a dominant role. It is widely acknowledged that the sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics are the key drivers in promoting the transmission of antibiotic resistance. However, accumulating evidence in recent years has shown that in addition to antibiotics, non-antibiotics can also accelerate the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Nevertheless, the roles and potential mechanisms of non-antibiotic factors in the transmission of ARGs remain largely underestimated. In this review, we depict the four pathways of HGT and their differences, including conjugation, transformation, transduction and vesiduction. We summarize non-antibiotic factors accounting for the enhanced horizontal transfer of ARGs and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the limitations and implications of current studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyao Zhu
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bingqing Yang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yuan Liu
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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35
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Lin D, Zhu L, Yao Y, Zhu L, Wang M. The ecological and molecular mechanism underlying effective reduction of antibiotic resistance genes pollution in soil by fermentation broth from fruit and vegetable waste. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 451:131201. [PMID: 36931215 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131201] [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: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The strategies to relieve antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) pollution are urgently needed. Fermentation broth from fruit and vegetable waste (FFVW), an agricultural amendment, exhibits a remarkable capacity to reduce ARG pollution; however, the underlying mechanism of this effect remains unclear. We performed microcosm experiments to reappear the phenomenon of FFVW-driven reduction in ARGs. Moderate-level FFVW reduced gene resistance to sulfonamide (41.2 %), macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) (47.2 %), chloramphenicol (63.2 %), and tetracycline (61.4 %). Binning and network analyses revealed that Actinobacteria comprise the primary hosts of ARGs in arable soil, and FFVW substantially inhibited the growth and metabolic activity of these organisms. Moreover, tetracycline and MLS production was partially/completely inhibited by FFVW, further reducing the transfer frequency by 52.9-86.1 % and 46.6-66.6 % in the intragenic and intergenic mating systems, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of genes related to conjugation pairing and plasmid transfer was downregulated. Thus, FFVW effectively reduces ARG pollution by inhibiting Actinobacteria proliferation, thereby reducing selective pressure and restricting horizontal gene transfer. Our findings highlight the important underlying mechanisms of FFVW involved in ARG reduction, supporting its use in arable soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Lin
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Yanlai Yao
- Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Lizhong Zhu
- MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Meizhen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China.
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36
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Song J, Zhang H, Wu Z, Qiu M, Zhan X, Zheng C, Shi N, Zhang Q, Zhang L, Yu Y, Fang H. A novel bidirectional regulation mechanism of mancozeb on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 455:131559. [PMID: 37163893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The high abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the fungicide residual environment, posing a threat to the environment and human health, raises the question of whether and how fungicide promotes the prevalence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Here, we reported a novel mechanism underlying bidirectional regulation of a typical heavy-metal-containing fungicide mancozeb on the horizontal transfer of ARGs. Our findings revealed that mancozeb exposure significantly exerted oxidative and osmotic stress on the microbes and facilitated plasmid-mediated ARGs transfer, but its metallic portions (Mn and Zn) were potentially utilized as essential ions by microbes for metalating enzymes to deal with cellular stress and thus reduce the transfer. The results of transcriptome analysis with RT-qPCR confirmed that the expression levels of cellular stress responses and conjugation related genes were drastically altered. It can be concluded mancozeb bidirectionally regulated the ARGs dissemination which may be attributed to the diverse effects on the microbes by its different portions. This novel mechanism provides an updated understanding of neglected fungicide-triggered ARGs dissemination and crucial insight for comprehensive risk assessment of fungicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajin Song
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Houpu Zhang
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agri-food Safety of Anhui Province, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Zishan Wu
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mengting Qiu
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiuping Zhan
- Shanghai Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, Shanghai 201103, China
| | - Conglai Zheng
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Nan Shi
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States
| | - Qianke Zhang
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Luqing Zhang
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yunlong Yu
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hua Fang
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Wu J, Zhou JH, Liu DF, Wu J, He RL, Cheng ZH, Li HH, Li WW. Phthalates Promote Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes: An Overlooked Environmental Risk. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6876-6887. [PMID: 37083356 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Plastics-microorganism interactions have aroused growing environmental and ecological concerns. However, previous studies concentrated mainly on the direct interactions and paid little attention to the ecotoxicology effects of phthalates (PAEs), a common plastic additive that is continuously released and accumulates in the environment. Here, we provide insights into the impacts of PAEs on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among environmental microorganisms. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP, a model PAE) at environmentally relevant concentrations (2-50 μg/L) significantly boosted the plasmid-mediated conjugation transfer of ARGs among intrageneric, intergeneric, and wastewater microbiota by up to 3.82, 4.96, and 4.77 times, respectively. The experimental and molecular dynamics simulation results unveil a strong interaction between the DMP molecules and phosphatidylcholine bilayer of the cell membrane, which lowers the membrane lipid fluidity and increases the membrane permeability to favor transfer of ARGs. In addition, the increased reactive oxygen species generation and conjugation-associated gene overexpression under DMP stress also contribute to the increased gene transfer. This study provides fundamental knowledge of the PAE-bacteria interactions to broaden our understanding of the environmental and ecological risks of plastics, especially in niches with colonized microbes, and to guide the control of ARG environmental spreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jun-Hua Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Dong-Feng Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jie Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ru-Li He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhou-Hua Cheng
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Hui-Hui Li
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wen-Wei Li
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
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Li H, Yu H, Liang Y, Zhang X, Yang D, Wang L, Shi D, Chen T, Zhou S, Yin J, Yang Z, Li J, Jin M. Extended chloramination significantly enriched intracellular antibiotic resistance genes in drinking water treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 232:119689. [PMID: 36739658 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Chloramination and chlorination are both strong barriers that prevent the transmission of potential pathogens to humans through drinking water. However, the comparative effects of chloramination and chlorination on the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) remain unknown. Herein, the antibiotic resistome in water before and after chloramination or chlorination was analyzed through metagenomic sequencing and then verified through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). After the treatment of 90 min, chloramination led to higher enrichment of the total relative abundance of intracellular ARGs (iARGs) in water than chlorination, whereas chlorination facilitated the release of more extracellular ARGs (eARGs) than chloramination. According to redundancy and Pearson's analyses, the total concentration of the observed iARGs in the finished water exhibited a strong positive correlation with ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) concentration, presenting a linear upward trend with an increase in the NH4+-N concentration. This indicated that NH4+-N is a crucial driving factor for iARG accumulation during chloramination. iARG enrichment ceases if the duration of chloramination is shortened to 40 min, suggesting that shortening the duration would be a better strategy for controlling iARG enrichment in drinking water. These findings emphasized the potential risk of antibiotic resistance after extended chloramination, shedding light on the control of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through water by optimizing disinfection procedures in DWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibei Li
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Hongling Yu
- Water Quality Monitoring Center of Tianjin Water Group Co. Ltd, Tianjin, 300240, China
| | - Yongbing Liang
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Water Quality Monitoring Center of Tianjin Water Group Co. Ltd, Tianjin, 300240, China
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Water Quality Monitoring Center of Tianjin Water Group Co. Ltd, Tianjin, 300240, China
| | - Danyang Shi
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Tianjiao Chen
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Shuqing Zhou
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Jing Yin
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Zhongwei Yang
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Junwen Li
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Min Jin
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental & Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, 300050, China.
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Jütte M, Abdighahroudi MS, Waldminghaus T, Lackner S, V Lutze H. Bacterial inactivation processes in water disinfection - mechanistic aspects of primary and secondary oxidants - A critical review. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 231:119626. [PMID: 36709565 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Water disinfection during drinking water production is one of the most important processes to ensure safe drinking water, which is gaining even more importance due to the increasing impact of climate change. With specific reaction partners, chemical oxidants can form secondary oxidants, which can cause additional damage to bacteria. Cases in point are chlorine dioxide which forms free available chlorine (e.g., in the reaction with phenol) and ozone which can form hydroxyl radicals (e.g., during the reaction with natural organic matter). The present work reviews the complex interplay of all these reactive species which can occur in disinfection processes and their potential to affect disinfection processes. A quantitative overview of their disinfection strength based on inactivation kinetics and typical exposures is provided. By unifying the current data for different oxidants it was observable that cultivated wild strains (e.g., from wastewater treatment plants) are in general more resistant towards chemical oxidants compared to lab-cultivated strains from the same bacterium. Furthermore, it could be shown that for selective strains chlorine dioxide is the strongest disinfectant (highest maximum inactivation), however as a broadband disinfectant ozone showed the highest strength (highest average inactivation). Details in inactivation mechanisms regarding possible target structures and reaction mechanisms are provided. Thereby the formation of secondary oxidants and their role in inactivation of pathogens is decently discussed. Eventually, possible defense responses of bacteria and additional effects which can occur in vivo are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mischa Jütte
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Chair of environmental analytics and pollutants, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Mohammad Sajjad Abdighahroudi
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Chair of environmental analytics and pollutants, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Torsten Waldminghaus
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Centre for synthetic biology, Chair of molecular microbiology, Schnittspahnstraße 12, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Susanne Lackner
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Chair of water and environmental biotechnology, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Holger V Lutze
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Chair of environmental analytics and pollutants, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany; IWW Water Centre, Moritzstraße 26, D-45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Universitätsstraße 5, D-45141 Essen, Germany.
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40
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Zhao H, Liu X, Sun Y, Liu J, Waigi MG. Effects and mechanisms of plant growth regulators on horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes through plasmid-mediated conjugation. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 318:137997. [PMID: 36720410 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137997] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A vast number of bacteria occur in both soil and plants, with some of them harboring antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). When bacteria congregate on the interface of soil particles or on plant root surfaces, these ARGs can be transferred between bacteria via conjugation, leading to the formation of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that threaten human health. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are widely used in agricultural production, promoting plant growth and increasing crop yields. However, until now, little information has been known about the effects of PGRs on the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs. In this study, with Escherichia coli DH5α (carrying RP4 plasmid with TetR, AmpR, KanR) as the donor and E. coli HB101 as the recipient, a series of diparental conjugation experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of indoleacetic acid (IAA), ethel (ETH) and gibberellin (GA3) on HGT of ARGs via plasmid-mediated conjugation. Furthermore, the mechanisms involved were also clarified. The results showed that all three PGRs affected the ARG transfer frequency by inducing the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, changing the cell membrane permeability, and regulating the gene transcription of traA, traL, trfAp, trbBp, kilA, and korA in plasmid RP4. In detail, 50-100 mg⋅L-1 IAA, 20-50 mg⋅L-1 ETH and 1500-2500 mg⋅L-1 GA3 all significantly promoted the ARG conjugation. This study indicated that widespread use of PGRs in agricultural production could affect the HGT of ARGs via plasmid-mediated conjugation, and the application of reasonable concentrations of PGRs could reduce the ARG transmission in both soil environments and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhao
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Yulong Sun
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Juan Liu
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China.
| | - Michael Gatheru Waigi
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
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Zhang S, Xu B, Chen M, Zhang Q, Huang J, Cao Y, Li B. Profile and actual transmissibility of Carbapenem resistance genes: Intracellular and extracellular DNA in hospital wastewater. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 329:117085. [PMID: 36571956 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The current worldwide spread of carbapenem resistance genes (CRGs) has posed a major public health threat, which continues to grow in severity. Hospital wastewaters (HWWs) are major reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes, while resistomes in HWWs are still poorly characterized when it comes to CRGs. We comprehensively characterized the profile and actual transmissibility of extracellular CRGs (eCRGs) and intracellular CRGs (iCRGs) in HWWs for the first time. In this study, CRGs showed similar relative abundance in treated and untreated HWWs. Meanwhile, HWWs treatments led to the enrichment of blaIMP-8, probably attributed to the promotion of Novosphingobium and Prosthecobacter after treatment. To evaluate the transmission potential of CRGs, extracellular and intracellular carbapenem-resistant plasmids were captured from HWWs by transformation and conjugation, respectively. We found an interesting phenomenon regarding the transmission characteristics of CRGs: blaKPC-carrying plasmids could only be captured by transformation, while blaNDM-carrying plasmids were captured by conjugation. Further experiments showed that HWW treatments increased the conjugation ability of blaNDM. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that HWWs are significant reservoirs of CRGs and various CRGs exhibit different modes of transmission in HWWs. CRGs cannot be removed by membrane bioreactor and chlorine disinfection. An urgent need is to develop more efficient wastewater treatments to limit CRG dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengcen Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Binbin Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Mo Chen
- Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian,350001, China
| | - Qianwen Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Jiangqing Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Yingping Cao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China.
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Fatimazahra S, Latifa M, Laila S, Monsif K. Review of hospital effluents: special emphasis on characterization, impact, and treatment of pollutants and antibiotic resistance. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:393. [PMID: 36780024 PMCID: PMC9923651 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11002-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Health care institutions generate large volumes of liquid effluents from specific activities related to healthcare, analysis, and research. Their direct discharge into the environment has various negative effects on aquatic environments and human health, due to their high organic matter charges and the presence of various emerging contaminants such as disinfectants, drugs, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Moreover, hospital effluents, by carrying antibiotics, contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the environment. This resistance has become a global issue that manifests itself variously in different countries, causing the transmission of different infections. In this respect, an effort is provided to protect water resources by current treatment methods that imply physical-chemical processes such as adsorption and advanced oxidation processes, biological processes such as activated sludge and membrane bioreactors and other hybrid techniques. The purpose of this review is to improve the knowledge on the composition and impact of hospital wastewater on man and the environment, highlighting the different treatment techniques appropriate to this type of disposal before discharge into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayerh Fatimazahra
- Process Engineering and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology of Mohammedia, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mouhir Latifa
- Process Engineering and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology of Mohammedia, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Saafadi Laila
- Process Engineering and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology of Mohammedia, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Khazraji Monsif
- Process Engineering and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology of Mohammedia, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
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Ye C, Zhang K, Wu X, Wan K, Cai WF, Feng M, Yu X. Uncovering novel disinfection mechanisms of solar light/periodate system: The dominance of singlet oxygen and metabolomic insights. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 443:130177. [PMID: 36308932 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130177] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Disinfection plays an essential role in waterborne pathogen control and disease prevention, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catalyst-free solar light/periodate (PI) system has recently presented great potential in water disinfection, whereas the in-depth chemical and microbiological mechanisms for efficient bacterial inactivation remain unclear. Our work delineated firstly the critical role of singlet oxygen, instead of reported hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, in dominating bacterial inactivation by the PI/simulated sunlight (SSL) system. Multi-evidence demonstrated the prominent disinfection performance of this system for Staphylococcus aureus in terms of culturability (> 6 logs CFU), cellular integrity, and metabolic activity. Particularly, the excellent intracellular DNA removal (> 95%) indicated that PI/SSL system may function as a selective disinfection strategy to diminish bacterial culturability without damaging the cell membrane. The PI/SSL system could also effectively inhibit bacterial regrowth for > 5 days and horizontal gene transfer between E. coli genera. Nontargeted metabolomic analysis suggested that PI/SSL system inactivated bacteria by triggering the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the depletion of reduced glutathione. Additionally, the PI/SSL system could accomplish simultaneous micropollutant removal and bacterial inactivation, suggesting its versatility in water decontamination. Overall, this study deciphers more comprehensive antibacterial mechanisms of this environmentally friendly disinfection system, facilitating the technical development and application of the selective disinfection strategy in environmental pathogen control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengsong Ye
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Kaiting Zhang
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xu Wu
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Kun Wan
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Wei-Feng Cai
- Xiamen Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361009, China
| | - Mingbao Feng
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xin Yu
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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Du L, Ahmad S, Liu L, Wang L, Tang J. A review of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) adsorption by biochar and modified biochar in water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159815. [PMID: 36328262 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics have been used in massive quantities for human and animal medical treatment, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are of great concern worldwide. Antibiotics and ARGs are exposed to the natural environment through the discharge of medical wastewater, causing great harm to the environment and human health. Biochar has been widely used as a green and efficient adsorbent to remove pollutants. However, pristine and unmodified biochars are not considered sufficient and efficient to cope with the current serious water pollution. Therefore, researchers have chosen to improve the adsorption capacity of biochar through different modification methods. To have a better understanding of the application of modified biochar, this review summarizes the biochar modification methods and their performance, particularly, molecular imprinting and biochar aging are outlined as new modification methods, influencing factors of biochar and modified biochar in adsorption of antibiotics and ARGs and adsorption mechanisms, wherein adsorption mechanism of ARGs on biochar is found to be different than that of antibiotics. After that, the directions of biochar and modified biochar worthy of research and the issues that need attention are proposed. It can be noted that under the current dual carbon policy, biochar may have wider application prospects in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linqing Du
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Shakeel Ahmad
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Linan Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lan Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jingchun Tang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Tu Z, Shui J, Liu J, Tuo H, Zhang H, Lin C, Feng J, Feng Y, Su W, Zhang A. Exploring the abundance and influencing factors of antimicrobial resistance genes in manure plasmidome from swine farms. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 124:462-471. [PMID: 36182154 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plasmids play a critical role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), however, a systematical understanding of ARGs originated from plasmids in swine production is currently lacking. Herein, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to determine the prevalence of ten ARGs and the class1 integron gene intI1 of plasmid source in swine manure from 44 farms in Sichuan, Hubei and Hebei provinces, China. All assayed ARGs were observed in plasmid DNA samples, and the average absolute abundance of aac(6')-Ib-cr, blaNDM, blaCTX-M, optrA, ermB, floR, mcr-1, qnrS, tetM, sul1 and intI1 were 7.09, 2.90, 4.67, 6.62, 7.55, 7.14, 4.08, 4.85, 7.16, 7.11 and 8.07 of 10 log copies/gram, respectively. IntI1 showed a high correlation (r > 0.8, P < 0.01) with the abundance of aac(6')-Ib-cr and sul1 in swine manure. Moreover, the farm scale (i.e., herd population) and geographical location were not found to be critical factors influencing the absolute abundance of ARGs of plasmid DNA in swine farms. However, the concentrations of florfenicol, Cu, Zn, Fe, total phosphorus (TP) and total potassium (TK) demonstrated a significant correlation with the abundance of several ARGs. Particularly, Cu and Zn had high correlations with optrA and blaCTX-M, respectively. Our results demonstrated that antibiotics, heavy metals and environmental nutrients are likely jointly contributing to the long-term persistence of ARGs in swine production. This study provides insights into the abundance and influencing factors of ARGs from swine manure, which is of significance for assessing and reducing the public health risks in livestock production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunfang Tu
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Junrui Shui
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hongmei Tuo
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Haoyu Zhang
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Cong Lin
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jingyi Feng
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yuxuan Feng
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Wen Su
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Anyun Zhang
- Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
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Bai H, He LY, Gao FZ, Wu DL, Yao KS, Zhang M, Jia WL, He LX, Zou HY, Yao MS, Ying GG. Airborne antibiotic resistome and human health risk in railway stations during COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 172:107784. [PMID: 36731187 PMCID: PMC9884615 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as one of the greatest public health concerns. It is becoming an increasingly threat during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increasing usage of antimicrobials, such as antibiotics and disinfectants, in healthcare facilities or public spaces. To explore the characteristics of airborne antibiotic resistome in public transport systems, we assessed distribution and health risks of airborne antibiotic resistome and microbiome in railway stations before and after the pandemic outbreak by culture-independent and culture-dependent metagenomic analysis. Results showed that the diversity of airborne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) decreased following the pandemic, while the relative abundance of core ARGs increased. A total of 159 horizontally acquired ARGs, predominantly confering resistance to macrolides and aminoglycosides, were identified in the airborne bacteria and dust samples. Meanwhile, the abundance of horizontally acquired ARGs hosted by pathogens increased during the pandemic. A bloom of clinically important antibiotic (tigecycline and meropenem) resistant bacteria was found following the pandemic outbreak. 251 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were recovered from 27 metagenomes, and 86 genera and 125 species were classified. Relative abundance of ARG-carrying MAGs, taxonomically assigned to genus of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Staphylococcus, was found increased during the pandemic. Bayesian source tracking estimated that human skin and anthropogenic activities were presumptive resistome sources for the public transit air. Moreover, risk assessment based on resistome and microbiome data revealed elevated airborne health risks during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Bai
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Liang-Ying He
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Fang-Zhou Gao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Dai-Ling Wu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Kai-Sheng Yao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Min Zhang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wei-Li Jia
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lu-Xi He
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hai-Yan Zou
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Mao-Sheng Yao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, 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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Liu X, Wang X, Wang R, Guo S, Ahmad S, Song Y, Gao P, Chen J, Liu C, Ding N. Effects comparison between the secondary nanoplastics released from biodegradable and conventional plastics on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 317:120680. [PMID: 36414161 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have caused widespread concern because of their potential harm to environmental safety and human health. As substitutes for conventional plastics, the toxic effects of short-term degradation products of biodegradable plastics (polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)) on bacteria and their impact on ARGs transfer were the focus of this study. After 60 days of degradation, more secondary nanoplastics were released from the biodegradable plastics PLA and PHA than that from the conventional plastics polystyrene (PS). All kinds of nanoplastics, no matter released from biodegradable plastics or conventional plastics, had no significant toxicity to bacteria. Nanoplastic particles from biodegradable plastics could significantly increase the transfer efficiency of ARGs. Although the amount of secondary nanoplastics produced by PHA microplastics was much higher than that of PLA, the transfer frequency after exposure to PLA was much higher, which may be due to the agglomeration of PHA nanoplastics caused by plastic instability in solution. After exposure to the 60 d PLA nanoplastics, the transfer frequency was the highest, which was approximately 28 times higher than that of control. The biodegradable nanoplastics significantly enhanced the expression of the outer membrane pore protein genes ompA and ompC, which could increase cell membrane permeability. The expression levels of trfAp and trbBp were increased by repressed major global regulatory genes korA, korB, and trbA, which eventually led to an increase in conjugative transfer frequency. This study provides important insights into the evaluation of the environmental and health risks caused by secondary nanoplastics released from biodegradable plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China.
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - RenJun Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
| | - Saisai Guo
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Shakeel Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yuhao Song
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
| | - Peike Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
| | - Chunchen Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
| | - Ning Ding
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
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49
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Huang Q, Zhu J, Qu C, Wang Y, Hao X, Chen W, Cai P, Huang Q. Dichotomous Role of Humic Substances in Modulating Transformation of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Mineral Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:790-800. [PMID: 36516830 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06410] [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: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Widespread antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have emerged as a focus of attention for public health. Transformation is essential for ARGs dissemination in soils and associated environments; however, the mechanisms of how soil components contribute to the transformation of ARGs remain elusive. Here we demonstrate that three representative mineral-humic acid (HA) composites exert contrasting influence on the transformation of plasmid-borne ARGs in Bacillus subtilis. Mineral surface-bound HA facilitated transformation in kaolinite and montmorillonite systems, while an inhibitory effect of HA was observed for goethite. The elevated transformation by HA-coated kaolinite was mainly attributed to the enhanced activity of competence-stimulating factor (CSF), while increased transformation by montmorillonite-HA composites was assigned to the weakened adsorption affinity of DNA and enhanced gene expression induced by flagella-driven cell motility. In goethite system, HA played an overriding role in suppressing transformation via alleviation of cell membrane damage. The results obtained offer insights into the divergent mechanisms of humic substances in modulating bacterial transformation by soil minerals. Our findings would help for a better understanding on the fate of ARGs in soil systems and provide potentials for the utilization of soil components, particularly organic matter, to mitigate the spread of ARGs in a range of settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jiaojiao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chenchen Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yunhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiuli Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, 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
| | - Peng Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, 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
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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50
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Tang T, Chen Y, Du Y, Yao B, Liu M. Effects of functional modules and bacterial clusters response on transmission performance of antibiotic resistance genes under antibiotic stress during anaerobic digestion of livestock wastewater. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 441:129870. [PMID: 36063716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The formation and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have attracted increasing attention. It is unclear whether the internal mechanisms by which antibiotics affect horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs during anaerobic digestion (AD) were influenced by dose and type. We investigated the effects of two major antibiotics (oxytetracycline, OTC, and sulfamethoxazole, SMX) on ARGs during AD according to antibiotic concentration in livestock wastewater influent. The low-dose antibiotic (0.5 mg/L) increased ROS and SOS responses, promoting the formation of ARGs. Meanwhile, low-dose antibiotics could also promote the spread of ARGs by promoting pili, communication responses, and the type IV secretion system (T4SS). However, different types and doses of antibiotics would lead to changes in the above functional modules and then affect the enrichment of ARGs. With the increasing dose of SMX, the advantages of pili and communication responses would gradually change. In the OTC system, low-dose has the strongest promoting ability in both pili and communication responses. Similarly, an increase in the dose of SMX would change T4SS from facilitation to inhibition, while OTC completely inhibits T4SS. Microbial and network analysis also revealed that low-dose antibiotics were more favorable for the growth of host bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taotao Tang
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Ying Chen
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Ye Du
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Bing Yao
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Min Liu
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China.
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