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Zhu S, Tan Z, Guo Z, Zheng H, Zhang B, Qin Z, Xie J, Lin Y, Sheng B, Qiu G, Preis S, Wei C. Symbiotic virus-bacteria interactions in biological treatment of coking wastewater manipulating bacterial physiological activities. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121741. [PMID: 38744061 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Biological treatment is commonly used in coking wastewater (CWW) treatment. Prokaryotic microbial communities in CWW treatment have been comprehensively studied. However, viruses, as the critical microorganisms affecting microbial processes and thus engineering parameters, still remain poorly understood in CWW treatment context. Employing viromics sequencing, the composition and function of the viral community in CWW treatment were discovered, revealing novel viral communities and key auxiliary metabolic functions. Caudovirales appeared to be the predominant viral order in the oxic-hydrolytic-oxic (OHO) CWW treatment combination, showing relative abundances of 62.47 %, 56.64 % and 92.20 % in bioreactors O1, H and O2, respectively. At the family level, Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae mainly prevailed in bioreactors O1 and H while Phycodnaviridae dominated in O2. A total of 56.23-92.24% of novel viral contigs defied family-level characterization in this distinct CWW habitat. The virus-host prediction results revealed most viruses infecting the specific functional taxa Pseudomonas, Acidovorax and Thauera in the entire OHO combination, demonstrating the viruses affecting bacterial physiology and pollutants removal from CWW. Viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were screened, revealing their involvement in the metabolism of contaminants and toxicity tolerance. In the bioreactor O1, AMGs were enriched in detoxification and phosphorus ingestion, where glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) and beta-ketoadipyl CoA thiolase (fadA) participated in biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, respectively. In the bioreactors H and O2, the AMGs focused on cell division and epicyte formation of the hosts, where GDPmannose 4,6-dehydratase (gmd) related to lipopolysaccharides biosynthesis was considered to play an important role in the growth of nitrifiers. The diversities of viruses and AMGs decreased along the CWW treatment process, pointing to a reinforced virus-host adaptive strategy in stressful operation environments. In this study, the symbiotic virus-bacteria interaction patterns were proposed with a theoretical basis for promoting CWW biological treatment efficiency. The findings filled the gaps in the virus-bacteria interactions at the full-scale CWW treatment and provided great value for understanding the mechanism of biological toxicity and sludge activity in industrial wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhu
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Zhijie Tan
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Ziyu Guo
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Huijian Zheng
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Baoshan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Zhi Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Junting Xie
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yuexia Lin
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Binbin Sheng
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Guanglei Qiu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Sergei Preis
- Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn 19086, Estonia
| | - Chaohai Wei
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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Sun H, Zhou ZJ, Wen HQ, Chen FF, Pan Y, Tang Q, Yu HQ. Deciphering the Roles of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) in Shaping Disinfection Kinetics through Permanent Removal via Genetic Disruption. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6552-6563. [PMID: 38571383 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01612] [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: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) ubiquitously encapsulate microbes and play crucial roles in various environmental processes. However, understanding their complex interactions with dynamic bacterial behaviors, especially during the disinfection process, remains very limited. In this work, we investigated the impact of EPS on bacterial disinfection kinetics by developing a permanent EPS removal strategy. We genetically disrupted the synthesis of exopolysaccharides, the structural components of EPS, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a well-known EPS-producing opportunistic pathogen found in diverse environments, creating an EPS-deficient strain. This method ensured a lasting absence of EPS while maintaining bacterial integrity and viability, allowing for real-time in situ investigations of the roles of EPS in disinfection. Our findings indicate that removing EPS from bacteria substantially lowered their susceptibility threshold to disinfectants such as ozone, chloramine B, and free chlorine. This removal also substantially accelerated disinfection kinetics, shortened the resistance time, and increased disinfection efficiency, thereby enhancing the overall bactericidal effect. The absence of EPS was found to enhance bacterial motility and increase bacterial cell vulnerability to disinfectants, resulting in greater membrane damage and intensified reactive oxygen species (ROS) production upon exposure to disinfectants. These insights highlight the central role of EPS in bacterial defenses and offer promising implications for developing more effective disinfection strategies.
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Van Goethem MW, Marasco R, Hong P, Daffonchio D. The antibiotic crisis: On the search for novel antibiotics and resistance mechanisms. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14430. [PMID: 38465465 PMCID: PMC10926060 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In the relentless battle for human health, the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has emerged as an impending catastrophe of unprecedented magnitude, potentially driving humanity towards the brink of an unparalleled healthcare crisis. The unyielding advance of antibiotic resistance looms as the foremost threat of the 21st century in clinical, agricultural and environmental arenas. Antibiotic resistance is projected to be the genesis of the next global pandemic, with grim estimations of tens of millions of lives lost annually by 2050. Amidst this impending calamity, our capacity to unearth novel antibiotics has languished, with the past four decades marred by a disheartening 'antibiotic discovery void'. With nearly 80% of our current antibiotics originating from natural or semi-synthetic sources, our responsibility is to cast our investigative nets into uncharted ecological niches teeming with microbial strife, the so-called 'microbial oases of interactions'. Within these oases of interactions, where microorganisms intensively compete for space and nutrients, a dynamic and ever-evolving microbial 'arms race' is constantly in place. Such a continuous cycle of adaptation and counter-adaptation is a fundamental aspect of microbial ecology and evolution, as well as the secrets to unique, undiscovered antibiotics, our last bastion against the relentless tide of resistance. In this context, it is imperative to invest in research to explore the competitive realms, like the plant rhizosphere, biological soil crusts, deep sea hydrothermal vents, marine snow and the most modern plastisphere, in which competitive interactions are at the base of the microorganisms' struggle for survival and dominance in their ecosystems: identify novel antibiotic by targeting microbial oases of interactions could represent a 'missing piece of the puzzle' in our fight against antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc W. Van Goethem
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Ramona Marasco
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Pei‐Ying Hong
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Water Desalination and Reuse CenterBiological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Daniele Daffonchio
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
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4
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Wang H, Xu K, Wang J, Feng C, Chen Y, Shi J, Ding Y, Deng C, Liu X. Microplastic biofilm: An important microniche that may accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes via natural transformation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132085. [PMID: 37494793 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132085] [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: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) biofilms provide a specific microniche for microbial life and are a potential hotspot for the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Nevertheless, the acquisition of ARGs in MP biofilms via natural transformation mediated by extracellular DNA (eDNA) has been rarely explored. This study demonstrated that MP biofilms promoted the natural transformation of extracellular ARGs at the single-cell and multi-species levels, compared to natural substrate (NS) biofilms and bacterioplankton. The transformation frequency on MP biofilms was up to 1000-fold compare to that on NS. The small MPs and aged MPs enhanced the ARG transformation frequencies up to 77.16-fold and 32.05-fold, respectively, compared with the large MPs and pristine MPs. The transformation frequencies on MP biofilms were significantly positively correlated with the bacterial density and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content (P < 0.05). Furthermore, MPs significantly increased the expression of the biofilm formation related genes (motA and pgaA) and DNA uptake related genes (pilX and comA) compared to NS and bacterioplankton. The more transformants colonized on MPs contributed to the enhanced transformation frequencies at the community-wide level. Overall, eDNA-mediated transformation in MP biofilms may be an important path of ARG spread, which was promoted by heterogeneous biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huixiang Wang
- School of Biology, Food, and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China; School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Kaiwen Xu
- School of Biology, Food, and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China; International (Sino-German) Joint Research Center for Biomass of Anhui Province, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Biology, Food, and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China; School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Chong Feng
- School of Biology, Food, and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Yihan Chen
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Jianghong Shi
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yan Ding
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Chengxun Deng
- School of Biology, Food, and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China; International (Sino-German) Joint Research Center for Biomass of Anhui Province, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- School of Biology, Food, and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China; International (Sino-German) Joint Research Center for Biomass of Anhui Province, Hefei 230601, China.
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5
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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: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [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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6
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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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7
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Lu J, Yu Z, Ding P, Guo J. Triclosan Promotes Conjugative Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes to Opportunistic Pathogens in Environmental Microbiome. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:15108-15119. [PMID: 36251935 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although triclosan, as a widely used antiseptic chemical, is known to promote the transmission of antibiotic resistance to diverse hosts in pure culture, it is still unclear whether and how triclosan could affect the transmission of broad-host-range plasmids among complex microbial communities. Here, bacterial culturing, fluorescence-based cell sorting, and high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing were combined to investigate contributions of triclosan on the transfer rate and range of an IncP-type plasmid from a proteobacterial donor to an activated sludge microbiome. Our results demonstrate that triclosan significantly enhances the conjugative transfer of the RP4 plasmid among activated sludge communities at environmentally relevant concentrations. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing on sorted transconjugants demonstrates that triclosan not only promoted the intergenera transfer but also the intragenera transfer of the RP4 plasmid among activated sludge communities. Moreover, triclosan mediated the transfer of the RP4 plasmid to opportunistic human pathogens, for example, Legionella spp. The mechanism of triclosan-mediated conjugative transfer is primarily associated with excessive oxidative stress, followed by increased membrane permeability and provoked SOS response. Our findings offer insights into the impacts of triclosan on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in the aquatic environmental microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Lu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Zhigang Yu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Pengbo Ding
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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8
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Li W, Zhang G. Detection and various environmental factors of antibiotic resistance gene horizontal transfer. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113267. [PMID: 35413299 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial antibiotic resistance in water environments is becoming increasingly severe, and new antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have also attracted the attention of researchers. The horizontal transfer of ARGs in water environments is considered one of the main sources of bacterial resistance in the natural environment. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mainly includes conjugation, natural transformation, and transduction, and conjugation has been investigated most. Several studies have shown that there are a large number of environmental factors that might affect the horizontal transfer of ARGs in water environments, such as nanomaterials, various oxidants, and light; however, there is still a lack of systematic and comprehensive reviews on the detection and the effects of the influence factors of on ARG horizontal transfer. Therefore, this study introduced three HGT modes, analysed the advantages and disadvantages of current methods for monitoring HGT, and then summarized the influence and mechanism of various factors on ARG horizontal transfer, and the possible reasons for the different effects caused by similar factors were mainly critically discussed. Finally, existing research deficiencies and future research directions of ARG horizontal transfer in water environments were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China.
| | - Guosheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
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9
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Wang X, Li H, Chen Y, Meng X, Yorgan Dieketseng M, Wang X, Yan S, Wang B, Zhou L, Zheng G. A neglected risk of nanoplastics as revealed by the promoted transformation of plasmid‐borne ampicillin resistance gene by
Escherichia coli. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4946-4959. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Hua Li
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University Nanjing China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Xiaoqing Meng
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Mahlatsi Yorgan Dieketseng
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Xiaomeng Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Su Yan
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Baozhan Wang
- Department of Microbiology College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Lixiang Zhou
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization Nanjing China
| | - Guanyu Zheng
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization Nanjing China
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10
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Zhang C, Zhao X, Wang C, Hakizimana I, Crittenden JC, Laghari AA. Electrochemical flow-through disinfection reduces antibiotic resistance genes and horizontal transfer risk across bacterial species. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 212:118090. [PMID: 35085844 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), as emerging pollutants, are released into environment, increasing the risk of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). However, a limited number of studies quantified the effects of ARB disinfection on the HGT risk. This study investigated the inactivation of E. coli 10667 (sul) and the release and removal of ARGs using an electrochemical flow-through reactor (EFTR). Furthermore, the transfer frequencies and potential mechanisms of HGT after disinfection were explored using non-resistant E. coli GMCC 13373 as the recipient and E. coli DH5α carrying plasmid RP4 as the donor. A threshold of current density (0.25 mA/cm2) was observed to destroy cells and release intracellular ARGs (iARGs) to increase extracellular ARGs (eARGs) concentration. The further increase in the current density to 1 mA/cm2 resulted in the decline of eARGs concentration due to the higher degradation rate of eARGs than the release rate of iARGs. The performance of ARGs degradation and HGT frequency by EFTR were compared with those of conventional disinfection processes, including chlorination and ultraviolet radiation (UV). A higher ARGs degradation (83.46%) was observed by EFTR compared with that under chlorination (10.23%) and UV (27.07%). Accordingly, EFTR reduced the HGT frequency (0.69) of released ARGs into the recipient (Forward transfer), and the value was lower than that by chlorination (2.69) and UV (1.73). Meanwhile, the surviving injured E. coli 10667 (sul) with increased cell permeability was transferred by plasmid RP4 from the donor (Reverse transfer) with a higher frequency of 0.33 by EFTR compared with that under chlorination (0.26) and UV (0.16). In addition, the sul3 gene was the least resistant to EFTR than sul1 and sul2 gene. These findings provide important insights into the mechanism of HGT between the injured E. coli 10667 (sul) and environmental bacteria. EFTR is a promising disinfection technology for preventing the spread of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | - Can Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | - Israel Hakizimana
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - John C Crittenden
- Brook Byers Institute of Sustainable Systems, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Azhar Ali Laghari
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
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11
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Mtetwa HN, Amoah ID, Kumari S, Bux F, Reddy P. Molecular surveillance of tuberculosis-causing mycobacteria in wastewater. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08910. [PMID: 35198775 PMCID: PMC8842018 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The surveillance of tuberculosis infections has largely depended on clinical diagnostics and hospitalization data. The advancement in molecular methods creates an opportunity for the adoption of alternative surveillance systems, such as wastewater-based epidemiology. This study presents the use of conventional and advanced polymerase chain reaction techniques (droplet digital PCR) to determine the occurrence and concentration of total mycobacteria and members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in treated and untreated wastewater. Wastewater samples were taken from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the city of Durban, South Africa, known for a high burden of TB/MDR-TB due to HIV infections. All untreated wastewater samples contained total mycobacteria and MTBC at varying percentages per WWTP studied. Other members of the MTBC related to tuberculosis infection in animals, M. bovis and M. caprae were also detected. The highest median concentration detected in untreated wastewater was up to 4.9 (±0.2) Log10 copies/ml for total mycobacteria, 4.0 (±0.85) Log10 copies/ml for MTBC, 3.9 (±0.54) Log10 copies/ml for M. tuberculosis, 2.7 (±0.42) Log10 copies/ml for M. africanum, 4.0 (±0.29) Log10 copies/ml for M. bovis and 4.5 (±0.52) Log10 copies/ml for M. caprae. Lower concentrations were detected in the treated wastewater, with a statistically significant difference (P-value ≤ 0.05) in concentrations observed. The log reduction achieved for these bacteria in the respective WWTPs was not statistically different, indicating that the treatment configuration did not have an impact on their removal. The detection of M. africanum in wastewater from South Africa shows that it is possible that some of the TB infections in the community could be caused by this mycobacterium. This study, therefore, highlights the potential of wastewater-based epidemiology for monitoring tuberculosis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hlengiwe N. Mtetwa
- Department of Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT), Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Isaac D. Amoah
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT), Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Sheena Kumari
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT), Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Faizal Bux
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT), Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Poovendhree Reddy
- Department of Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
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12
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Jiang Q, Feng M, Ye C, Yu X. Effects and relevant mechanisms of non-antibiotic factors on the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in water environments: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150568. [PMID: 34627113 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has created obstacles in the treatment of infectious diseases with antibiotics. The horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can exacerbate the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in water environments. In addition to antibiotic selective pressure, multiple non-antibiotic factors can affect the horizontal transfer of ARGs. Herein, we seek to comprehensively review the effects and relevant mechanisms of non-antibiotic factors on the horizontal transfer of ARGs in water environments, especially contaminants from human activities and water treatment processes. Four pathways have been identified to accomplish horizontal gene transfer (HGT), i.e., conjugation, transformation, transduction, and vesiduction. Changes in conjugative frequencies by non-antibiotic factors are mainly related to their concentrations, which conform to hormesis. Relevant mechanisms involve the alteration in cell membrane permeability, reactive oxygen species, SOS response, pilus, and mRNA expression of relevant genes. Transformation induced by extracellular DNA may be more vulnerable to non-antibiotic factors than other pathways. Except bacteriophage infection, the effects of non-antibiotic factors on transduction exhibit many similarities with that of conjugation. Given the secretion of membrane vesicles stimulated by non-antibiotic factors, their effects on vesiduction can be inferred. Furthermore, contaminants from human activities at sub-inhibitory or environmentally relevant concentrations usually promote HGT, resulting in further dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The horizontal transfer of ARGs is difficult to be inhibited by individual water treatment processes (e.g., chlorination, UV treatment, and photocatalysis) unless they attain sufficient intensity. Accordingly, the synergistic application containing two or more water treatment processes is recommended. Overall, we believe this review can elucidate the significance for risk assessments of contaminants from human activities and provide insights into the development of environment-friendly and cost-efficient water treatment processes to inhibit the horizontal transfer of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Jiang
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Mingbao Feng
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Chengsong Ye
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xin Yu
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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13
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Zhang S, Lu J, Wang Y, Verstraete W, Yuan Z, Guo J. Insights of metallic nanoparticles and ions in accelerating the bacterial uptake of antibiotic resistance genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 421:126728. [PMID: 34339990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The increasing release of nanomaterials has attracted significant concerns for human and environmental health. Similarly, the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis affecting approximately 700,000 people a year. However, a knowledge gap persists between the spread of AMR and nanomaterials. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating whether and how nanomaterials could directly facilitate the dissemination of AMR through horizontal gene transfer. Our results show that commonly-used nanoparticles (NPs) (Ag, CuO and ZnO NPs) and their ion forms (Ag+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) at realistic concentrations within aquatic environments can significantly promote the transformation of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 by a factor of 11.0-folds, which is comparable to the effects of antibiotics. The enhanced transformation by Ag NPs/Ag+ and CuO NPs/Cu2+ was primarily associated with the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and cell membrane damage. ZnO NPs/Zn2+ might increase the natural transformation rate by stimulating the stress response and ATP synthesis. All tested NPs/ions resulted in upregulating the competence and SOS response-associated genes. These findings highlight a new concern that nanomaterials can speed up the spread of AMR, which should not be ignored when assessing the holistic risk of nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science &Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Ji Lu
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yue Wang
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Willy Verstraete
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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14
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Extracellular DNA in environmental samples: Occurrence, extraction, quantification, and impact on microbial biodiversity assessment. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 88:e0184521. [PMID: 34818108 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01845-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental DNA, i.e., DNA directly extracted from environmental samples, has been applied to understand microbial communities in the environments and to monitor contemporary biodiversity in the conservation context. Environmental DNA often contains both intracellular DNA (iDNA) and extracellular DNA (eDNA). eDNA can persist in the environment and complicate environmental DNA sequencing-based analyses of microbial communities and biodiversity. Although several studies acknowledged the impact of eDNA on DNA-based profiling of environmental communities, eDNA is still being neglected or ignored in most studies dealing with environmental samples. In this article, we summarize key findings on eDNA in environmental samples and discuss the methods used to extract and quantify eDNA as well as the importance of eDNA on the interpretation of experimental results. We then suggest several factors to consider when designing experiments and analyzing data to negate or determine the contribution of eDNA to environmental DNA-based community analyses. This field of research will be driven forward by: (i) carefully designing environmental DNA extraction pipelines by taking into consideration technical details in methods for eDNA extraction/removal and membrane-based filtration and concentration; (ii) quantifying eDNA in extracted environmental DNA using multiple methods including qPCR and fluorescent DNA binding dyes; (iii) carefully interpretating effect of eDNA on DNA-based community analyses at different taxonomic levels; and (iv) when possible, removing eDNA from environmental samples for DNA-based community analyses.
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15
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Chlorine disinfection facilitates natural transformation through ROS-mediated oxidative stress. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:2969-2985. [PMID: 33941886 PMCID: PMC8091644 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-00980-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial infection that involves antimicrobial resistance is a rising global threat to public health. Chlorine-based water disinfection processes can inactivate antibiotic resistant bacteria. However, at the same time, these processes may cause the release of antibiotic resistance genes into the water as free DNA, and consequently increase the risk to disseminate antibiotic resistance via natural transformation. Presently, little is known about the contribution of residual chlorine affecting the transformation of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study investigates whether chloramine and free chlorine promote the transformation of ARGs and how this may occur. We reveal that both chloramine and free chlorine, at practically relevant concentrations, significantly stimulated the transformation of plasmid-encoded ARGs by the recipient Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1, by up to a 10-fold increase. The underlying mechanisms underpinning the increased transformations were revealed. Disinfectant exposure induced a series of cell responses, including increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), bacterial membrane damage, ROS-mediated DNA damage, and increased stress response. These effects thus culminated in the enhanced transformation of ARGs. This promoted transformation was observed when exposing disinfectant-pretreated A. baylyi to free plasmid. In contrast, after pretreating free plasmid with disinfectants, the transformation of ARGs decreased due to the damage of plasmid integrity. These findings provide important insight on the roles of disinfectants affecting the horizontal transfer of ARGs, which could be crucial in the management of antibiotic resistance in our water systems.
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16
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Augsburger N, Zaouri N, Cheng H, Hong PY. The use of UV/H 2O 2 to facilitate removal of emerging contaminants in anaerobic membrane bioreactor effluents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 198:110479. [PMID: 33212130 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Effluent from anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) contains ammonia and would require post-polishing treatment before it can be disinfected by chlorine. However, additional post-treatment steps to remove nutrients offset the energetic benefits derived from anaerobic fermentation. The use of chlorine or ozone also promotes concerns associated with disinfection byproducts. This study evaluates UV/H2O2 as a potential strategy suited for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds as well as antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from AnMBR effluent. Our findings indicate that 10 mg/L H2O2 and 61.5 mJ/cm2 of UV fluence are able to achieve a 4-log removal of both Escherichia coli PI7 and Klebsiella pneumoniae L7. However, a higher fluence of 311 mJ/cm2 with the same amount of H2O2 would be required to achieve >90% removal of atenolol, carbamazepine and estrone. The removal of the pharmaceutical compounds was driven by the hydroxyl radicals generated from H2O2, while UV exposure governed the inactivation of ARB and ARGs. UV/H2O2 increased overall mutagenicity of the treated wastewater matrix but did not result in any changes to the natural transformation rates. Instead, UV significantly reduced natural transformation rates by means of DNA damage. Overall, UV/H2O2 could be the ideal final disinfection strategy for AnMBR effluent without requiring additional post-treatment prior disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Augsburger
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Center of Excellence for NEOM Research, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noor Zaouri
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hong Cheng
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Center of Excellence for NEOM Research, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pei-Ying Hong
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Center of Excellence for NEOM Research, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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17
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Sivakumar K, Lehmann R, Rachmadi AT, Augsburger N, Zaouri N, Tegner J, Hong PY. Elucidating the Role of Virulence Traits in the Survival of Pathogenic E. coli PI-7 Following Disinfection. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:614186. [PMID: 33415102 PMCID: PMC7783314 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.614186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reuse and discharge of treated wastewater can result in dissemination of microorganisms into the environment. Deployment of disinfection strategies is typically proposed as a last stage remediation effort to further inactivate viable microorganisms. In this study, we hypothesize that virulence traits, including biofilm formation, motility, siderophore, and curli production along with the capability to internalize into mammalian cells play a role in survival against disinfectants. Pathogenic E. coli PI-7 strain was used as a model bacterium that was exposed to diverse disinfection strategies such as chlorination, UV and solar irradiation. To this end, we used a random transposon mutagenesis library screening approach to generate 14 mutants that exhibited varying levels of virulence traits. In these 14 isolated mutants, we observed that an increase in virulence traits such as biofilm formation, motility, curli production, and internalization capability, increased the inactivation half-lives of mutants compared to wild-type E. coli PI-7. In addition, oxidative stress response and EPS production contributed to lengthening the lag phase duration (defined as the time required for exposure to disinfectant prior to decay). However, traits related to siderophore production did not help with survival against the tested disinfection strategies. Taken together, the findings suggested that selected virulence traits facilitate survival of pathogenic E. coli PI-7, which in turn could account for the selective enrichment of pathogens over the non-pathogenic ones after wastewater treatment. Further, the study also reflected on the effectiveness of UV as a more viable disinfection strategy for inactivation of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnakumar Sivakumar
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Robert Lehmann
- Living Systems Laboratory, Environmental Epigenetic Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Andri Taruna Rachmadi
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nicolas Augsburger
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noor Zaouri
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jesper Tegner
- Living Systems Laboratory, Environmental Epigenetic Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pei-Ying Hong
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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18
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Antibiotic Resistance in Recreational Waters: State of the Science. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17218034. [PMID: 33142796 PMCID: PMC7663426 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ambient recreational waters can act as both recipients and natural reservoirs for antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria and antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs), where they may persist and replicate. Contact with AMR bacteria and ARGs potentially puts recreators at risk, which can thus decrease their ability to fight infections. A variety of point and nonpoint sources, including contaminated wastewater effluents, runoff from animal feeding operations, and sewer overflow events, can contribute to environmental loading of AMR bacteria and ARGs. The overall goal of this article is to provide the state of the science related to recreational exposure and AMR, which has been an area of increasing interest. Specific objectives of the review include (1) a description of potential sources of antibiotics, AMR bacteria, and ARGs in recreational waters, as documented in the available literature; (2) a discussion of what is known about human recreational exposures to AMR bacteria and ARGs, using findings from health studies and exposure assessments; and (3) identification of knowledge gaps and future research needs. To better understand the dynamics related to AMR and associated recreational water risks, future research should focus on source contribution, fate and transport-across treatment and in the environment; human health risk assessment; and standardized methods.
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19
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Riva F, Riva V, Eckert EM, Colinas N, Di Cesare A, Borin S, Mapelli F, Crotti E. An Environmental Escherichia coli Strain Is Naturally Competent to Acquire Exogenous DNA. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:574301. [PMID: 33013812 PMCID: PMC7494812 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.574301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The diffusion of antibiotic resistance determinants in different environments, e.g., soil and water, has become a public concern for global health and food safety and many efforts are currently devoted to clarify this complex ecological and evolutionary issue. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has an important role in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, among the different HGT mechanisms, the capacity of environmental bacteria to acquire naked exogenous DNA by natural competence is still poorly investigated. This study aimed to characterize the ability of the environmental Escherichia coli strain ED1, isolated from the crustacean Daphnia sp., to acquire exogenous DNA by natural competence. Transformation experiments were carried out varying different parameters, i.e., cell growth phase, amount of exogenous DNA and exposition to artificial lake water (ALW) and treated wastewater to mimic environmental-like conditions that may be encountered in the agri-food system. Results were compared with those showed by the laboratory E. coli strain DH5α. Our experimental data, supported by genomic sequencing, showed that, when exposed to pure water, ED1 strain was able to acquire exogenous DNA with frequencies (10–8–10–9) statistically higher than the ones observed for DH5α strain (10–10). Interestingly, higher values were retrieved for ED1 than DH5α strains exposed to ALW (10–7 vs. 10–9, respectively) or treated wastewater (10–8 vs. 10–10, respectively). We tested, therefore, ED1 strain ability to colonize the rhizosphere of lettuce, a model plant representative of raw-consumed vegetables of high economic importance in the ready-to-eat food industry. Results showed that ED1 strain was able to efficiently colonize lettuce rhizosphere, revealing a stable colonization for 14 days-long period. In conclusion, ED1 strain ability to acquire exogenous DNA in environmental-like conditions by natural competence, combined with its ability to efficiently and stably colonize plant rhizosphere, poses the attention to food and human safety showing a possible route of diffusion of antibiotic resistance in the agri-food system, sustaining the “One Health” warnings related to the antibiotic spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Riva
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Riva
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ester M Eckert
- Molecular Ecology Group, National Research Council - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Noemi Colinas
- Molecular Ecology Group, National Research Council - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy.,Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrea Di Cesare
- Molecular Ecology Group, National Research Council - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Sara Borin
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Mapelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Crotti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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20
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Lu J, Wang Y, Zhang S, Bond P, Yuan Z, Guo J. Triclosan at environmental concentrations can enhance the spread of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes through transformation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 713:136621. [PMID: 32019018 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The dissemination of antibiotic resistance mediated by horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is exacerbating the global antibiotic crisis. Currently, little is known about whether non-antibiotic, anti-microbial (NAAM) chemicals are associated with the dissemination of ARGs in the environment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether a ubiquitous NAAM chemical, triclosan (TCS), is able to promote the transformation of plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). By using the plasmid pUC19 carrying ampicillin resistance genes as the extracellular ARG and a model microorganism Escherichia coli DH5ɑ as the recipient, we found that TCS at environmentally detected concentrations (0.2 μg/L to 20 μg/L) significantly enhanced the transformation of plasmid-borne ARGs into E. coli DH5ɑ for up to 1.4-fold. The combination of phenotypic experiments, genome-wide RNA sequencing and proteomic analyses revealed that TCS exposure stimulated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production for 1.3- to 1.5-fold, induced bacterial membrane damage and up-regulated the translation of outer membrane porin. Moreover, general secretion system Sec (1.4-fold), twin arginine translocation system Tat (1.2-fold) and type IV pilus secretion systems (2.5-fold) were enhanced by TCS, which might contribute to the DNA searching/capture by pilus. Together, TCS might increase the transformation frequency of ARGs into E. coli DH5ɑ by ROS over-production, damaging cell membrane barrier, mediating the pilus capture of plasmid and the translocation of plasmid via cell membrane channels. This study reports that TCS could accelerate the transformation of extracellular ARGs to competent bacteria at environmentally relevant concentrations. The findings advance our understanding of the fate of ARGs in ecosystems and call for risk assessments of NAAM chemicals on disseminating antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Lu
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yue Wang
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Philip Bond
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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