Presence of microplastic particles increased abundance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in microbial communities from the Oder river water and sediment. - Related Documents




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351601.0000Presence of microplastic particles increased abundance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in microbial communities from the Oder river water and sediment. High abundance of microplastic particles (MPs) in the water environment could be a factor in spreading of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes (AMR), especially antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The aim of our study was to assess changes in the microbial community developing on microplastic surfaces incubated in water from the Oder River-one of Central Europe's major rivers, flowing through three countries (Czechia, Germany, and Poland)-whose diverse, 20,000-km(2) catchment area (encompassing industrial, agricultural, and urban regions) ensures a relatively high abundance of microbial communities.Samples of water and sediment were taken from river in Wroclaw area. Then the water was poured into disinfected glass liquid containers and pre-drained sediment was added. Control samples of water and sediment were collected on day 0. Then microplastic particles were added (500 mg; ~ 1 mm). Subsequent sampling was performed after incubation on 7(th) and 14(th) day. From each group, samples of sediment and water were collected after the incubation period (n = 5/group), for extraction of microbial DNA and library preparation. Sequencing was performed, using MinION sequencer with 10.4.1 Flow cell. Galaxy Europe platform and R program (v 4.3.3), alpha diversity and PERMANOVA with Benjamini-Hochberg p-value correction for multiple comparisons were used. For identification of biomarker taxa being different between groups, ANCOMBC (Analysis of Compositions of Microbiomes with Bias Correction) was performed. Obtained results shown higher abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Aeromonas salmonicida Vibrio spp., Escherichia coli or Salmonella after 7 days of incubation in water and sediment. Additionally, after 7 days of incubation numbers of ARGs was higher compared to control group.202540348784
530310.9997Wastewater irrigation increases the abundance of potentially harmful gammaproteobacteria in soils in Mezquital Valley, Mexico. Wastewater contains large amounts of pharmaceuticals, pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance determinants. Only a little is known about the dissemination of resistance determinants and changes in soil microbial communities affected by wastewater irrigation. Community DNAs from Mezquital Valley soils under irrigation with untreated wastewater for 0 to 100 years were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR for the presence of sul genes, encoding resistance to sulfonamides. Amplicon sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes from community DNAs from soils irrigated for 0, 8, 10, 85, and 100 years was performed and revealed a 14% increase of the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in rainy season soils and a 26.7% increase in dry season soils for soils irrigated for 100 years with wastewater. In particular, Gammaproteobacteria, including potential pathogens, such as Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Acinetobacter spp., were found in wastewater-irrigated fields. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 96 isolates from soils irrigated with wastewater for 100 years (48 from dry and 48 from rainy season soils) revealed that 46% were affiliated with the Gammaproteobacteria (mainly potentially pathogenic Stenotrophomonas strains) and 50% with the Bacilli, whereas all 96 isolates from rain-fed soils (48 from dry and 48 from rainy season soils) were affiliated with the Bacilli. Up to six types of antibiotic resistance were found in isolates from wastewater-irrigated soils; sulfamethoxazole resistance was the most abundant (33.3% of the isolates), followed by oxacillin resistance (21.9% of the isolates). In summary, we detected an increase of potentially harmful bacteria and a larger incidence of resistance determinants in wastewater-irrigated soils, which might result in health risks for farm workers and consumers of wastewater-irrigated crops.201424951788
535220.9997Microbiological characterization of aquatic microbiomes targeting taxonomical marker genes and antibiotic resistance genes of opportunistic bacteria. The dissemination of medically relevant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) (blaVIM-1, vanA, ampC, ermB, and mecA) and opportunistic bacteria (Enterococcus faecium/faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, and CNS) was determined in different anthropogenically influenced aquatic habitats in a selected region of Germany. Over a period of two years, four differently sized wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with and without clinical influence, three surface waters, four rain overflow basins, and three groundwater sites were analyzed by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). Results were calculated in cell equivalents per 100 ng of total DNA extracted from water samples and per 100 mL sample volume, which seems to underestimate the abundance of antibiotic resistance and opportunistic bacteria. High abundances of opportunistic bacteria and ARG were quantified in clinical wastewaters and influents of the adjacent WWTP. The removal capacities of WWTP were up to 99% for some, but not all investigated bacteria. The abundances of most ARG targets were found to be increased in the bacterial population after conventional wastewater treatment. As a consequence, downstream surface water and also some groundwater compartments displayed high abundances of all four ARGs. It became obvious that the dynamics of the ARG differed from the fate of the opportunistic bacteria. This underlines the necessity of an advanced microbial characterization of anthropogenically influenced environments.201525634736
321430.9997Characteristics of the antibiotic resistance genes in the soil of medical waste disposal sites. The inappropriate disposal of medical waste allows bacteria to acquire antibiotic resistance, which results in a threat to public health. Antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) profiles were determined for 45 different soil samples containing medical waste and 15 nearby soil samples as controls. Besides physical and chemical analyses (i.e., dry matter content, pH value, and metal content), the genomes of microorganisms from the soil samples were extracted for high-throughput sequencing. ARG abundances of these samples were obtained by searching the metagenomic sequences against the antibiotic resistance gene database and the copies of ARGs per copy of the 16S rRNA gene at different levels were assessed. The results showed medical waste accumulation significantly enriched the contents of Cu, Cr, Pb, and As in the tested soil samples. Compared to the controls, the samples collected from areas containing medical waste were significantly enriched (p < 0.05, t-test) with ARGs annotated as sulfonamide and multidrug resistance genes, and in particular, the subtypes sul1 and sul2 (sulfonamide resistance genes), and multidrug_transporter (multidrug resistance gene). Moreover, the ARGs of the samples from the polluted areas were more diverse than those of the control samples (p < 0.05, t-test). The comparatively higher abundance and diversity of ARGs in contaminated soil pose a potential risk to human health.202032402966
532340.9996Monitoring and assessing the impact of wastewater treatment on release of both antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their typical genes in a Chinese municipal wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important hotspots for the spread of antibiotic resistance. However, the release and impact factors of both antibiotic resistant bacteria and the relevant genes over long periods in WWTPs have rarely been investigated. In this study, the fate of bacteria and genes resistant to six commonly used antibiotics was assessed over a whole year. In WWTP effluent and biosolids, a high prevalence of heterotrophic bacteria resistant to vancomycin, cephalexin, sulfadiazine and erythromycin were detected, each with a proportion of over 30%. The corresponding genes (vanA, ampC, sulI and ereA) were all detected in proportions of (2.2 ± 0.8) × 10(-10), (6.2 ± 3.2) × 10(-9), (1.2 ± 0.8) × 10(-7) and (7.6 ± 4.8) × 10(-8), respectively, in the effluent. The sampling season imposed considerable influence on the release of all ARB. High release loads of most ARB were detected in the spring, while low release loads were generally found in the winter. In comparison, the ARG loads changed only slightly over various seasons. No statistical relevance was found between all ARB abundances and their corresponding genes over the long-term investigation period. This inconsistent behavior indicates that bacteria and genes should both be considered when exploring resistance characteristics in wastewater. A redundancy analysis was adopted to assess the impact of wastewater quality and operational conditions on antibiotic resistance. The results indicated that most ARB and ARG proportions were positively related to the COD and turbidity of the raw sewage, while negatively related to those of the effluent. DO and temperature exhibited strong negative relevance to most ARB prevalence.201424927359
534850.9996Characterization of microbial community and antibiotic resistome in intra urban water, Wenzhou China. The present study investigated the water quality index, microbial composition and antimicrobial resistance genes in urban water habitats. Combined chemicals testing, metagenomic analyses and qualitative PCR (qPCR) were conducted on 20 locations, including rivers from hospital surrounds (n = 7), community surrounds (n = 7), and natural wetlands (n = 6). Results showed that the indexes of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and ammonia nitrogen of hospital waters were 2-3 folds high than that of water from wetlands. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a total of 1,594 bacterial species from 479 genera from the three groups of water samples. The hospital-related samples had the greatest number of unique genera, followed by those from wetlands and communities. The hospital-related samples contained a large number of bacteria associated with the gut microbiome, including Alistipes, Prevotella, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium, which were all significantly enriched compared to samples from the wetlands. Nevertheless, the wetland waters enriched bacteria from Nanopelagicus, Mycolicibacterium and Gemmatimonas, which are typically associated with aquatic environments. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) that were associated with different species origins in each water sample was observed. The majority of ARGs from hospital-related samples were carried by bacteria from Acinetobacter, Aeromonas and various genera from Enterobacteriaceae, which each was associated with multiple ARGs. In contrast, the ARGs that were exclusively in samples from communities and wetlands were carried by species that encoded only 1 to 2 ARGs each and were not normally associated with human infections. The qPCR showed that water samples of hospital surrounds had higher concentrations of intI1 and antimicrobial resistance genes such as tetA, ermA, ermB, qnrB, sul1, sul2 and other beta-lactam genes. Further genes of functional metabolism reported that the enrichment of genes associated with the degradation/utilization of nitrate and organic phosphodiester were detected in water samples around hospitals and communities compared to those from wetlands. Finally, correlations between the water quality indicators and the number of ARGs were evaluated. The presence of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and ammonia nitrogen were significantly correlated with the presence of ermA and sul1. Furthermore, intI1 exhibited a significant correlation with ermB, sul1, and bla(SHV), indicating a prevalence of ARGs in urban water environments might be due to the integron intI1's diffusion-promoting effect. However, the high abundance of ARGs was limited to the waters around the hospital, and we did not observe the geographical transfer of ARGs along with the river flow. This may be related to water purifying capacity of natural riverine wetlands. Taken together, continued surveillance is required to assess the risk of bacterial horizontal transmission and its potential impact on public health in the current region.202337396356
535360.9996The influence of the autochthonous wastewater microbiota and gene host on the fate of invasive antibiotic resistance genes. The aim of this study was to assess the fate of invasive antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) discharged in wastewater. With this objective, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) known to harbor specific ARG were inoculated in wastewater (hospital effluent, or municipal raw and treated wastewater) and in ultra-pure sterile water microcosms. Two sets of wastewater ARB isolates were used - set 1, Enterococcus faecalis, Acinetobacter johnsonii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and set 2, Enterococcus faecium, Acinetobacter johnsonii, Escherichia coli. Non-inoculated controls were run in parallel. Samples were collected at the beginning and at the end (15days) of the incubation period and the abundance of the genes 16S rRNA, intI1, bla(TEM) and vanA and the bacterial community composition were analyzed. In general, the genes bla(TEM) and vanA had lower persistence in wastewater and in ultra-pure water than the genes 16S rRNA or the class 1 integron integrase intI1. This effect was more pronounced in wastewater than in ultra-pure water, evidencing the importance of the autochthonous microbiota on the elimination of invasive ARG. Wastewater autochthonous bacterial groups most correlated with variations of the genes intI1, bla(TEM) and vanA were members of the classes Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli or Bacteroidia. For bla(TEM), but not for vanA, the species of the ARB host was important to determine its fate. These are novel findings on the ecology of ARB in wastewater environments.201727697350
708670.9996Detection of faecal bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in biofilms attached to plastics from human-impacted coastal areas. Plastics have been proposed as vectors of bacteria as they act as a substrate for biofilms. In this study, we evaluated the abundance of faecal and marine bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from biofilms adhered to marine plastics. Floating plastics and plastics from sediments were collected in coastal areas impacted by human faecal pollution in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Culture and/or molecular methods were used to quantify faecal indicators (E. coli, Enterococci and crAssphage), and the ARGs sulI, tetW and bla(TEM) and the 16S rRNA were detected by qPCR assays. Pseudomonas and Vibrio species and heterotrophic marine bacteria were also analysed via culture-based methods. Results showed that, plastic particles covered by bacterial biofilms, primarily consisted of marine bacteria including Vibrio spp. Some floating plastics had a low concentration of viable E. coli and Enterococci (42% and 67% of the plastics respectively). Considering the median area of the plastics, we detected an average of 68 cfu E. coli per item, while a higher concentration of E. coli was detected on individual plastic items, when compared with 100 ml of the surrounding water. Using qPCR, we quantified higher values of faecal indicators which included inactive and dead microorganisms, detecting up to 2.6 × 10(2) gc mm(-2). The ARGs were detected in 67-88% of the floating plastics and in 29-57% of the sediment plastics with a concentration of up to 6.7 × 10(2) gc mm(-2). Furthermore, enrichment of these genes was observed in biofilms compared with the surrounding water. These results show that floating plastics act as a conduit for both the attachment and transport of faecal microorganisms. In contrast, low presence of faecal indicators was detected in plastic from seafloor sediments. Therefore, although in low concentrations, faecal bacteria, and potential pathogens, were identified in marine plastics, further suggesting plastics act as a reservoir of pathogens and ARGs.202336596379
722680.9996Seasonal variation in antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial phenotypes in swine wastewater during three-chamber anaerobic pond treatment. Antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern. Antibiotic usage in pigs makes swine wastewater (SW) a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). SW is usually stored and treated in a three-chamber anaerobic pond (3-CAP) in medium and small pig farms in northern China. However, the yet unexplored presence of ARGs in SW during 3-CAP treatment may result in ARGs spreading into the environment if farmers apply SW to farmland as a liquid organic fertilizer. This study investigated the profiles of and changes in ARGs in SW during its treatment in 3-CAP over four seasons and analyzed the correlation between ARGs and bacterial phenotypes, along with the physicochemical parameters of the water. The results revealed that ARG abundance decreased considerably after 3-CAP treatment in April (47%), October (47%), and December (62%) but increased in May (43%) and August (73%). The ARG copies in the influent and other SW samples increased significantly from 10(7) copies/mL in April to 10(9) copies/mL in October and were maintained in December. The increase in ARG abundance was not as rapid as the growth of the bacterial population, resulting in lower relative abundance in October and December. Bacterial communities possessed more sul1 and tetM genes, which were also positively correlated with mobile genetic elements. After the 3-CAP treatment, 16% of antibiotics and 60% of heavy metals were removed, and both had a weak correlation with ARGs. Predicted phenotypes showed that gram-positive (G(+)) and gram-negative (G(-)) bacteria have different capacities for carrying ARGs. G(+) bacteria carry more ARGs than G(-) bacteria. This study revealed the persistence of ARGs in SW after 3-CAP treatment over different seasons. Applying SW in the proper month will mitigate ARG dissemination to the environment.202336208778
712090.9996Impact of liquid hog manure applications on antibiotic resistance genes concentration in soil and drainage water in field crops. Agricultural practices such as manure applications could contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within the environment. Our objective was to assess the impact of certain fertilization methods (mineral or manure) and tillage practices (reduced or conventional) on the presence of ARGs and bacteria in soil and drainage water under wheat and grain corn crops. Targeted ARGs tet(T), sul1, and bla(CTX-M-1) in liquid hog manure, soil, and water samples were quantified by qPCR. Conventional PCR was used to detect mcr-1 and mcr-2. ARGs in control plots were detected despite the absence of manure, representing an environmental reservoir of resistant microorganisms. The manure application rate higher than 39 m(3)/ha increased tet(T) and sul1 gene concentrations in soil for more than 180 days. Tillage practices had no impact on ARG concentrations in soil and water samples. The bla(CTX-M-1) gene was only detected in seven water samples in 2016, but no link was established with the treatments. The mcr-1 and mcr-2 genes were not detected in all tested samples. This study demonstrated that tet(T) and sul1 gene concentrations increased in soil after liquid hog manure application as well as in drainage water in the next weeks.202032330390
7114100.9996Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Freshwater Trout Farms in a Watershed in Chile. Point sources such as wastewater treatment plants, terrestrial agriculture, and aquaculture may release antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into aquatic ecosystems. However, there is a lack of quantitative studies attributing environmental ARG abundance to specific sources. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of freshwater trout farms in the release and dissemination of ARGs into the environment. Sediment samples upstream and downstream from five rainbow trout farms were collected over time in southern Chile. A microfluidic quantitative polymerase chain reaction approach was used to quantify an ARG array covering different mechanisms of resistance, and data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear mixed regression models. Surveys were also conducted to obtain information about management practices, including antibiotic use, at the farms. Florfenicol and oxytetracycline were used at these farms, although at different rates. A total of 93 samples were analyzed. In the PCA, , , , , (A), (B), (C), (W), and grouped together. A statistically significant increase in abundance of , , , and several genes was found downstream from the farms compared with upstream sites, and retention ponds had the highest ARG abundance at each site. Antibiotic resistance gene levels returned to baseline at an average distance of 132.7 m downstream from the farms. Although results from this study indicate an influence of trout farms on the presence of ARGs in the immediate environment, the extent of their contribution to ARG dissemination is unknown and deserves further investigation.201931589726
5324110.9996Abundances of tetracycline, sulphonamide and beta-lactam antibiotic resistance genes in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with different waste load. Antibiotics and antibiotic resistant bacteria enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), an environment where resistance genes can potentially spread and exchange between microbes. Several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were quantified using qPCR in three WWTPs of decreasing capacity located in Helsinki, Tallinn, and Tartu, respectively: sulphonamide resistance genes (sul1 and sul2), tetracycline resistance genes (tetM and tetC), and resistance genes for extended spectrum beta-lactams (blaoxa-58, blashv-34, and blactx-m-32). To avoid inconsistencies among qPCR assays we normalised the ARG abundances with 16S rRNA gene abundances while assessing if the respective genes increased or decreased during treatment. ARGs were detected in most samples; sul1, sul2, and tetM were detected in all samples. Statistically significant differences (adjusted p<0.01) between the inflow and effluent were detected in only four cases. Effluent values for blaoxa-58 and tetC decreased in the two larger plants while tetM decreased in the medium-sized plant. Only blashv-34 increased in the effluent from the medium-sized plant. In all other cases the purification process caused no significant change in the relative abundance of resistance genes, while the raw abundances fell by several orders of magnitude. Standard water quality variables (biological oxygen demand, total phosphorus and nitrogen, etc.) were weakly related or unrelated to the relative abundance of resistance genes. Based on our results we conclude that there is neither considerable enrichment nor purification of antibiotic resistance genes in studied conventional WWTPs.201425084517
6840120.9996High-throughput profiling and analysis of antibiotic resistance genes in East Tiaoxi River, China. The rapid human activities and urbanization exacerbate the human health risks induced by antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, the profiling of ARGs was investigated using high-throughput qPCR from water samples of 13 catchment areas in East Tiaoxi River, China. High prevalence of ARGs indicated significant antibiotic resistance pollution in the research area (absolute abundance: 6.1 × 10(8)-2.1 × 10(10) copies/L; relative abundance: 0.033-0.158 copies/cell). Conventional water qualities (COD, TN, TP, NH(3)-N), bacterial communities and mobile gene elements (MGEs) were detected and analyzed as factors of ARGs shift. Nutrient and MGEs showed positive correlation with most ARGs (P < 0.05) and bacteria community was identified as the key contributing factor driving ARGs alteration. With the land-use study and field investigation, country area, especially arable, was expected as a high spot for ARGs shift and pathogen breeding. Comparing to environmental background, promotion of ARGs and marked shift of bacterial community were observed in country and urban city areas, indicating that human activities may lead to the spread of ARGs. Analysis of factors affecting ARGs in this study may shed new light on the mechanism of the maintenance and propagation of ARGs in urban rivers.201728715769
5351130.9996Bacterial hosts of clinically significant beta-lactamase genes in Croatian wastewaters. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide a suitable environment for the interaction of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) from human, animal, and environmental sources. The aim was to study the influent and effluent of two WWTPs in Croatia to identify bacterial hosts of clinically important beta-lactamase genes (blaTEM, blaVIM, blaOXA-48-like) and observe how their composition changes during the treatment process. A culture-independent epicPCR (Emulsion, Paired isolation and Concatenation Polymerase Chain Reaction) was used to identify the ARG hosts, and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to study the entire bacterial community. Different wastewater sources contributed to the significant differences in bacterial composition of the wastewater between the two WWTPs studied. A total of 167 genera were detected by epicPCR, with the Arcobacter genus, in which all ARGs studied were present, dominating in both WWTPs. In addition, the clinically important genera Acinetobacter and Aeromonas contained all ARGs examined. The blaOXA-48-like gene had the highest number of hosts, followed by blaVIM, while blaTEM had the narrowest host range. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, ARG hosts were detected in both abundant and rare taxa. The number of hosts carrying investigated ARGs was reduced by wastewater treatment. EpicPCR provided valuable insights into the bacterial hosts of horizontally transmissible beta-lactamase genes in Croatian wastewater.202438796694
5349140.9996Spread and persistence of antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater from human and animal sources in São Paulo, Brazil. The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through multiple reservoirs is a global concern. Wastewater is a critical AMR dissemination source, so this study aimed to assess the persistence of resistance genetic markers in wastewater using a culture-independent approach. Raw and treated wastewater samples (n = 121) from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), a human hospital, a veterinary hospital, and a pig farm were monthly collected and concentrated by filtration. DNA was extracted directly from filter membranes, and PCR was used in the qualitative search of 32 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Selected genes (bla(CTX-M), bla(KPC), qnrB, and mcr-1) were enumerated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Twenty-six ARGs were detected in the qualitative ARGs search, while quantitative data showed a low variation of the ARG's relative abundance (RA) throughout the months, especially at the human hospital and the WWTP. At the WWTP, despite significantly reducing the absolute number of gene copies/L after each treatment stage (p < 0.05), slight increases (p > 0.05) in the RAs of genes bla(CTX-M), qnrB, and mcr-1 were observed in reused water (tertiary treatment) when compared with secondary effluent. Although the increase is not statistically significant, it is worth noting that there was some level of ARGs concentration after the disinfection process. No significant absolute or relative after-treatment quantification reductions were observed for any ARGs at the veterinary hospital or the pig farm. The spread of ARGs through sewage needs to be continuously addressed, because their release into natural environments may pose potential risks of exposure to resistant bacteria and impact local ecosystems.202438545908
3508150.9996Prevalence and distribution of antibiotic resistance in marine fish farming areas in Hainan, China. Antibiotic resistance represents a global health crisis for humans, animals, and for the environment. Transmission of antibiotic resistance through environmental pathways is a cause of concern. In this study, quantitative PCR and culture-dependent bacteriological methods were used to detect the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the quantity of culturable heterotrophic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in marine fish farming areas. The results indicated that sul and tet family genes were widely distributed in marine fish farming areas of Hainan during both rearing and harvesting periods. Specifically, sul1 and tetB were the most dominant ARGs. The total abundance of ARGs increased significantly from the rearing to the harvesting period. A total of 715 ARB strains were classified into 24 genera, within these genera Vibrio, Acinetobacter, Pseudoalteromonas, and Alteromonas are opportunistic pathogens. High bacterial resistance rate to oxytetracycline (OT) was observed. The numbers of OT- and enrofloxacin-resistant bacteria dropped significantly from rearing the period to the harvesting. The co-occurrence pattern showed that Ruegeria and tetB could be indicators of ARB and ARGs, respectively, which were found in the same module. Redundancy analysis indicated that salinity was positively correlated with the most dominant ARB, and was negatively correlated with the most dominant ARGs. These findings demonstrated the prevalence and persistence of ARGs and ARB in marine fish farming areas in China.201930414589
5350160.9996Role of wastewater treatment plants on environmental abundance of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Chilean rivers. BACKGROUND: Point sources such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) commonly discharge their effluent into rivers. Their waste may include antibiotic residues, disinfectants, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARG). There is evidence that ARG can be found in the natural environment, but attribution to specific point sources is lacking. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the release and dissemination of ARG from three WWTPs in southern Chile via two pathways: through the river systems, and through wild birds. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted, collecting river sediment samples at different distances both upstream and downstream from each WWTP. Wild birds were sampled from around one of the WWTPs once a month for 13 months. A microfluidic q-PCR approach was used to quantify 48 genes covering different molecular mechanisms of resistance, and data was analyzed using ordination methods and linear mixed regression models. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase downstream from the WWTPs (p < 0.05) for 17 ARG, but the downstream dissemination through the rivers was not clear. Beta-lactamase genes bla(KPC), bla(TEM), and bla(SHV) were the most abundant in birds, with higher abundance of bla(SHV) in migratory species compared to resident species (p < 0.05). The gene profile was more similar between the migratory and resident bird groups compared to the WWTP gene profile. CONCLUSIONS: While results from this study indicate an influence of WWTPs on ARG abundance in the rivers, the biological significance of this increase and the extent of the WWTPs influence are unclear. In addition, wild birds were found to play a role in disseminating ARG, although association to the specific WWTP could not be ascertained.202031722832
7282170.9996Sewers as potential reservoirs of antibiotic resistance. Wastewater transport along sewers favors the colonization of inner pipe surfaces by wastewater-derived microorganisms that grow forming biofilms. These biofilms are composed of rich and diverse microbial communities that are continuously exposed to antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) from urban wastewater. Sewer biofilms thus appear as an optimal habitat for the dispersal and accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, the concentration of antibiotics, integron (intI1) and antibiotic resistance genes (qnrS, sul1, sul2, bla(TEM), bla(KPC), ermB, tetM and tetW), and potential bacterial pathogens were analyzed in wastewater and biofilm samples collected at the inlet and outlet sections of a pressurized sewer pipe. The most abundant ARGs detected in both wastewater and biofilm samples were sul1 and sul2 with roughly 1 resistance gene for each 10 copies of 16s RNA gene. Significant differences in the relative abundance of gene intI1 and genes conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones (qnrS), sulfonamides (sul1 and sul2) and betalactams (bla(TEM)) were only measured between inlet and outlet biofilm samples. Composition of bacterial communities also showed spatial differences in biofilms and a higher prevalence of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) with high sequence identity (>98%) to well-known human pathogens was observed in biofilms collected at the inlet pipe section. Our study highlights the role of sewer biofilms as source and sink of ARB and ARGs and supports the idea that community composition rather than antibiotic concentration is the main factor driving the diversity of the sewage resistome.201728709370
7113180.9996Stormwater loadings of antibiotic resistance genes in an urban stream. Antibiotic resistance presents a critical public health challenge and the transmission of antibiotic resistance via environmental pathways continues to gain attention. Factors driving the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in surface water and sources of ARGs in urban stormwater have not been well-characterized. In this study, five ARGs (sul1, sul2, tet(O), tet(W), and erm(F)) were quantified throughout the duration of three storm runoff events in an urban inland stream. Storm loads of all five ARGs were significantly greater than during equivalent background periods. Neither fecal indicator bacteria measured (E. coli or enterococci) was significantly correlated with sul1, sul2, or erm(F), regardless of whether ARG concentration was absolute or normalized to 16S rRNA levels. Both E. coli and enterococci were correlated with the tetracycline resistance genes, tet(O) and tet(W). Next-generation shotgun metagenomic sequencing was conducted to more thoroughly characterize the resistome (i.e., full complement of ARGs) and profile the occurrence of all ARGs described in current databases in storm runoff in order to inform future watershed monitoring and management. Between 37 and 121 different ARGs were detected in each stream sample, though the ARG profiles differed among storms. This study establishes that storm-driven transport of ARGs comprises a considerable fraction of overall downstream loadings and broadly characterizes the urban stormwater resistome to identify potential marker ARGs indicative of impact.201728662396
7291190.9996Accumulation of clinically relevant antibiotic-resistance genes, bacterial load, and metals in freshwater lake sediments in Central Europe. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) receive the effluents from various sources (communities, industrial, and hospital effluents) and are recognized as reservoir for antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) that are associated with clinical pathogens. The aquatic environment is considered a hot-spot for horizontal gene transfer, and lake sediments offer the opportunity for reconstructing the pollution history and evaluating the impacts. In this context, variation with depth and time of the total bacterial load, the abundance of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB; E. coli and Enterococcus spp. (ENT)), Pseudomonas spp., and ARGs (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaNDM, and aadA) were quantified in sediment profiles of different parts of Lake Geneva using quantitative PCR. The abundance of bacterial marker genes was identified in sediments contaminated by WWTP following eutrophication of the lake. Additionally, ARGs, including the extended-spectrum ß-lactam- and aminoglycoside-resistance genes, were identified in the surface sediments. The ARG and FIB abundance strongly correlated (r ≥ 0.403, p < 0.05, n = 34) with organic matter and metal concentrations in the sediments, indicating a common and contemporary source of contamination. The contamination of sediments by untreated or partially treated effluent water can affect the quality of ecosystem. Therefore, the reduction of contaminants from the source is recommended for further improvement of water quality.201525933054