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Zhao CX, Su XX, Xu MR, An XL, Su JQ. Uncovering the diversity and contents of gene cassettes in class 1 integrons from the endophytes of raw vegetables. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 247:114282. [PMID: 36371907 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114282] [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: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rapid spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in pathogens is threatening human health. Integrons allow bacteria to integrate and express foreign genes, facilitating horizontal transfer of ARGs in environments. Consumption of raw vegetables represents a pathway for human exposure to environmental ARGs. However, few studies have focused on integron-associated ARGs in the endophytes of raw vegetables. Here, based on the approach of qPCR and clone library, we quantified the abundance of integrase genes and analyzed the diversity and contents of resistance gene cassettes in class 1 integrons from the endophytes of six common raw vegetables. The results revealed that integrase genes for class 1 integron were most prevalent compared with class 2 and class 3 integron integrase genes (1-2 order magnitude, P < 0.05). The cucumber endophytes harbored a higher absolute abundance of integrase genes than other vegetables, while the highest bacterial abundance was detected in cabbage and cucumber endophytes. Thirty-two unique resistance gene cassettes were detected, the majority of which were associated with the genes encoding resistance to beta-lactam and aminoglycoside. Antibiotic resistance gene cassettes accounted for 52.5 % of the functionally annotated gene cassettes, and blaTEM-157 and aadA2 were the most frequently detected resistance cassettes. Additionally, carrot endophytes harbored the highest proportion of antibiotic resistance gene cassettes in the class 1 integrons. Collectively, these results provide an in-depth view of acquired resistance genes by integrons in the raw vegetable endophytes and highlight the potential health risk of the transmission of ARGs via the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai-Xia Zhao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Su
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Mei-Rong Xu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xin-Li An
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Jian-Qiang Su
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Zhang Y, Su YA, Qiu X, Mao Q, Liu H, Liu H, Wen D, Su Z. Temperature affects variations of class 1 integron during sludge anaerobic digestion. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 364:128005. [PMID: 36155808 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Revealing class 1 integron characteristics under different operating conditions is of great importance to control antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during sludge anaerobic digestion (AD). This study investigated the variations of class 1 integrons and the ARGs carried by class 1 integrons in anaerobic sludge digesters under 25 °C, 35 °C, and 55 °C. The results showed lower intI1 abundance and fewer class I integrons with long gene cassette arrays at 55 °C than at 25 °C and 35 °C. Multi-resistance gene cassette arrays were observed in the digesters at 25 °C and 35 °C. Abundant ARGs were detected on class 1 integrons in all digesters with aminoglycosides as the dominant class. The abundance of ARGs on class 1 integrons in digesters at 55 °C was lower than that at 25 °C and 35 °C. Thermophilic AD is better than mesophilic ones in the control of ARGs carried by class 1 integrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Treatment Technology and Material, Suzhou 215011, China
| | - Yu-Ao Su
- School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xuyang Qiu
- School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Qiuyan Mao
- School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Hongbo Liu
- School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Treatment Technology and Material, Suzhou 215011, China
| | - He Liu
- School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Treatment Technology and Material, Suzhou 215011, China.
| | - Donghui Wen
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhiguo Su
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Ali N, Lin Y, Jiang L, Ali I, Ahmed I, Akhtar K, He B, Wen R. Biochar and Manure Applications Differentially Altered the Class 1 Integrons, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Gene Cassettes Diversity in Paddy Soils. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:943880. [PMID: 35847108 PMCID: PMC9277118 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.943880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrons are genetic components that are critically involved in bacterial evolution and antimicrobial resistance by assisting in the propagation and expression of gene cassettes. In recent decades, biochar has been introduced as a fertilizer to enhance physiochemical properties and crop yield of soil, while manure has been used as a fertilizer for centuries. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of biochar, manure, and a combination of biochar and manure on integrons, their gene cassettes, and relative antimicrobial resistance in paddy soil. Field experiments revealed class 1 (CL1) integrons were prevalent in all samples, with higher concentration and abundance in manure-treated plots than in biochar-treated ones. The gene cassette arrays in the paddy featured a broad pool of cassettes with a total of 35% novel gene cassettes. A majority of gene cassettes encoded resistance to aminoglycosides, heat shock protein, heavy metals, pilus secretory proteins, and twin-arginine translocases (Tat), TatA, TatB, and TatC. Both in combination and solo treatments, the diversity of gene cassettes was increased in the manure-enriched soil, however, biochar reduced the gene cassettes’ diversity and their cassettes array. Manure considerably enhanced CL1 integrons abundance and antimicrobial resistance, whereas biochar amendments significantly reduced integrons and antimicrobial resistance. The results highlighted the differential effects of biochar and manure on integrons and its gene cassette arrays, showing increased abundance of integrons and antibiotic resistance upon manure application and decrease of the same with biochar. The use of biochar alone or in combination with manure could be a beneficial alternative to mitigate the spread of antimicrobial resistance and bacterial evolution in the environment, specifically in paddy soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niyaz Ali
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bio-Resources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yinfu Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bio-Resources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Ligeng Jiang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Izhar Ali
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Ishtiaq Ahmed
- Department of Regional Science Operations, La Trobe Rural Health School, Albury-Wodonga, VIC, Australia
| | - Kashif Akhtar
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bio-Resources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Bing He
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Bing He,
| | - Ronghui Wen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bio-Resources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- Ronghui Wen,
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Pennone V, Cobo-Díaz JF, Prieto M, Alvarez-Ordóñez A. Application of genomics and metagenomics to improve food safety based on an enhanced characterisation of antimicrobial resistance. Curr Opin Food Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Yang Y, Zhang AN, Che Y, Liu L, Deng Y, Zhang T. Underrepresented high diversity of class 1 integrons in the environment uncovered by PacBio sequencing using a new primer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 787:147611. [PMID: 34000537 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Class 1 integrons (CL1s) are one of the major contributors to the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, our knowledge of CL1 in the environment is still very limited due to the limitations of the current PCR primers and the sequencing methods adopted. This study developed a new primer coupled with PacBio sequencing to investigate the underrepresented diversity of CL1s in a mixed environmental sample (i.e. activated sludge from wastewater treatment plant and pig feces from animal farm). The new primer successfully uncovered 20 extra ARGs subtypes and 57% (422/739) more unique integron array structures than the previous primers. Compared to the whole genome database, CL1s revealed in the environment in this study were of much greater diversity, having 93% (900/967) novel array structures. Antibiotic resistance is the predominant function (78.3% genes) carried by CL1, and a vast majority (98.6% genes) of them confer resistance to aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, trimethoprim, or chloramphenicol. Additionally, 78.5% unique CL1 arrays carried more than one ARGs, and 25.9% of them carried ARGs of clinical relevance with high transferability potential posing threat to the general public. Our results indicated the importance of CL1s in the spread of ARGs. Overall, combining PacBio sequencing with the new primer designed in this study largely broadened our knowledge of CL1s in the environment and their significance in the environmental proliferation of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - An-Ni Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - You Che
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lei Liu
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu Deng
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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