Aerosolization behavior of antimicrobial resistance in animal farms: a field study from feces to fine particulate matter. - Related Documents




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715201.0000Aerosolization behavior of antimicrobial resistance in animal farms: a field study from feces to fine particulate matter. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in animal feces can be released into the atmosphere via aerosolization, posing a high health risk to farm workers. So far, little attention has been paid to the characterization of the aerosolization process. In this study, fecal and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples were collected from 20 animal farms involving swine, cattle, layers, and broilers, and the ARGs, ARB, and human pathogenic bacteria (HPB) were loaded in these two media. The results showed that approximately 70% of ARGs, 60% of ARBs, and 43% of HPBs were found to be preferential aerosolization. The bioaerosolization index (BI) of target 30 ARGs varied from 0.04 to 460.07, and the highest value was detected from tetW. The highest BI values of erythromycin- and tetracycline-resistant bacteria were for Kocuria (13119) and Staphylococcus (24746), respectively, and the distribution of BI in the two types of dominant ARB was similar. Regarding the bioaerosolization behavior of HPB, Clostridium saccharolyticum WM1 was the most easily aerosolized pathogen in swine and broiler farms, and Brucella abortus strain CNM 20040339 had the highest value in cattle and layer farms. Notably, the highest BI values for ARGs, ARB, and HPB were universally detected on chicken farms. Most ARGs, ARB, and HPB positively correlated with animal age, stocking density, and breeding area. Temperature and relative humidity have significant effects on the aerosolization behavior of targets, and the effects of these two parameters on the same target are usually opposite. The results of this study provide a basis for a better understanding of the contribution of animal feces to airborne ARGs and HPBs in farms, as well as for controlling the transport of the fecal microbiome to the environment through the aerosolization pathway.202337152737
715110.9998Pollution profiles of antibiotic resistance genes associated with airborne opportunistic pathogens from typical area, Pearl River Estuary and their exposure risk to human. To reveal the selective pressures of near-shore human activities on marine and continental bioaerosols, the pollution profile and potential exposure risk of airborne pathogens and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in Pearl River Estuaries (113.52 (o)E, 22.69 (o)N), a transitional zone between marine and continental environments, were fully explored. The results showed that the total bacteria among bioaerosols varied largely with average pollution levels of 1.86 × 10(5) and 4.35 × 10(4) cfu m(-3) in spring and summer, respectively, and were high than those of airborne fungi. The predominant aerodynamic diameters of bioaerosols were in respirable size range (<4.7 µm), and the microbes communities' diversity and abundance varied significantly. Besides, many opportunistic pathogenic bacteria (Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia, Staphylococcus and Acinetobacter) and fungi (Alternaria, Penicillium and Cladosporium) were dominant in bioaerosol samples. Of 21 ARGs subtypes detected, the tetracycline resistance gene tetA was the most abundant, followed by aminoglycoside resistance gene and mobile genetic elements. Correlation analysis revealed that the changes of pathogens community contributed significantly to the prevalence of ARGs in bioaerosol. Based on the average daily dose rates of microorganisms and human direct intake of ARGs, health risk of bioaerosols from the Pearl River Estuaries were also evaluated. In summary, the presence of opportunistic pathogens and diversity of ARGs strengthens the call to consider the bioaerosol in air quality monitoring and risk assessment in the future.202032645489
683920.9997Bioaerosol is an important transmission route of antibiotic resistance genes in pig farms. Although pig farms are hotspots of antibiotic resistance due to intensive use of antibiotics, little is known about the abundance, diversity and transmission of airborne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study reports that bioaerosol is an important spread route of ARGs in pig farms. ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and bacterial communities were investigated in both air and feces samples during winter and summer. The average concentration of airborne ARGs and MGEs during winter is higher than that during summer when using the ventilation system. The tetM is identified as the predominant airborne ARG with abundance of 6.3 ± 1.2 log copies/m(3). Clostridium and Streptococcus are two dominant bacteria and several opportunistic pathogens are detected in air samples. High temperature is favorable for more diverse bacterial communities, but relative humidity has negative effects. The wind speed promotes the spread of airborne ARGs. The network analysis results show the average fecal contribution to airborne bacteria is 19.9% and 59.4% during summer and winter, respectively. Horizontal gene transfer plays an important role in the dissemination of airborne ARGs during winter (77.8% possibility), while a lower possibility of 12.0% in summer.202133864959
684030.9997High-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
321840.9997Airborne bacterial communities in the poultry farm and their relevance with environmental factors and antibiotic resistance genes. The accelerating occurrence and environmental dissemination of bacteria, gas pollutants and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aerosols of poultry farms have become emerging environmental issues due to their potential threat to animals, workers, and the communities located near such farms. Here, aerosol samples were gathered from inside and outside of the chicken house in winter with a transportable high-flow bioaerosol sampler. Then, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to categorize the bacteria in air samples, and the abundance of 12 ARG subtypes was researched via the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results indicated that the bacterial richness and diversity and total absolute abundance of ARGs were similar in the bioaerosols from indoor and downwind site of the poultry farm. The zoonotic pathogens, Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium, were detected both inside and outside of the chicken house, and the four most abundant target genes were bla(TEM), tetQ, ermB and sul1 in aerosols. Moreover, the correlation between the bacterial communities and environmental factors, such as NH(3) and H(2)S concentrations, wind speed, temperature and relative humidity, was analyzed. The result revealed that the indoor bacteria community was positively associated with temperature and concentrations of air pollutants (NH(3) and H(2)S), and could spread from confinement buildings to the ambient atmosphere through wind. In addition, the network analysis result showed that the airborne bacteria might significantly contribute in shaping the ARGs' profiles in bioaerosol from inside and outside of the poultry house. Overall, our results revealed the airborne bacterial communities and their associated influencing factors in the micro-environment (inside of the chicken house and nearby the boundary of the farm), and brought a new perspective for studying the gas pollutants and bioaerosol from poultry farms in winter.202235850323
685450.9997Characteristics and driving factors of antibiotic resistance genes in aquaculture products from freshwater ponds in China Yangtze River Delta. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are widespread in aquaculture and pose a huge threat to aquaculture organisms and human health. In this study, occurrences and relative abundances of ARGs were analysed in the guts of products cultured in freshwater ponds in the Yangtze River Delta region in China. A total of 29 ARGs were found in the gut samples, with detection frequencies ranging from 4.8% to 81%, and the relative abundances (ARGs/16S rRNA) ranging from 10(-7) to 1. In addition, the human dietary intake of ARGs via aquaculture products was assessed, where the daily intake of most ARGs via aquaculture products was higher than those via PM2.5 and drinking water, but lower than that via vegetables. The relative abundances of MGE (IS613, Tp614, tnpA and int1) were significantly correlated with those of multiple ARGs, indicating the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs among gut microorganisms. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were the dominated microbial communities found in the guts of aquaculture products. In addition, significant correlations were found between Cyanobacteria and int1, between Nitrospira and tetE, and between sul2 and aadA2, indicating potential same hosts of these genes. In addition, results from co-correlation indicated both HGT (dominated by MGEs) of ARGs and the enrichment of ARGs in bacteria. MGEs, mostly int1, were more effective than bacteria in increasing the ARG abundance. This study could provide a better understanding of the transmission of ARGs in the aquaculture environment and improve the quality of aquaculture products and the ecology.202436756971
350860.9997Prevalence 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
717370.9997Animal farms are hot spots for airborne antimicrobial resistance. Animal farms are known reservoirs for environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, knowledge of AMR burden in the air around animal farms remains disproportionately limited. In this study, we characterized the airborne AMR based on the quantitative information of 30 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), four mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and four human pathogenic bacteria (HPBs) involving four animal species from 20 farms. By comparing these genes with those in animal feces, the distinguishing features of airborne AMR were revealed, which included high enrichment of ARGs and their potential mobility to host HPBs. We found that depending on the antimicrobial class, the mean concentration of airborne ARGs in the animal farms ranged from 10(2) to 10(4) copies/m(3) and was accompanied by a considerable intensity of MGEs and HPBs (approximately 10(3) copies/m(3)). Although significant correlations were observed between the ARGs and bacterial communities of air and fecal samples, the abundance of target genes was generally high in fine inhalable particles (PM2.5), with an enrichment ratio of up to 10(2) in swine and cattle farms. The potential transferability of airborne ARGs was universally strengthened, embodied by a pronounced co-occurrence of ARGs-MGEs in air compared with that in feces. Exposure analysis showed that animal farmworkers may inhale approximately 10(4) copies of human pathogenic bacteria-associated genera per day potentially carrying highly transferable ARGs, including multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, PM2.5 inhalation posed higher human daily intake burdens of some ARGs than those associated with drinking water intake. Overall, our findings highlight the severity of animal-related airborne AMR and the subsequent inhalation exposure, thus improving our understanding of the airborne flow of AMR genes from animals to humans. These findings could help develop strategies to mitigate the human exposure and dissemination of ARGs across different media.202235985594
723280.9997Occurrence and prevalence of antibiotic resistance in landfill leachate. Antibiotic resistance (AR) is extensively present in various environments, posing emerging threat to public and environmental health. Landfill receives unused and unwanted antibiotics through household waste and AR within waste (e.g., activated sludge and illegal clinical waste) and is supposed to serve as an important AR reservoir. In this study, we used culture-dependent methods and quantitative molecular techniques to detect and quantify antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in 12 landfill leachate samples from six geographic different landfills, China. Five tested ARGs (tetO, tetW, bla(TEM), sulI, and sulII) and seven kinds of antibiotic-resistant heterotrophic ARB were extensively detected in all samples, demonstrating their occurrence in landfill. The detected high ratio (10(-2) to 10(-5)) of ARGs to 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene copies implied that ARGs are prevalent in landfill. Correlation analysis showed that ARGs (tetO, tetW, sulI, and sulII) significantly correlated to ambient bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies, suggesting that the abundance of bacteria in landfill leachate may play an important role in the horizontal spread of ARGs.201525903180
715490.9997Deciphering the natural and anthropogenic drivers on the fate and risk of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in a typical river-estuary system, China. This study conducts an in-depth assessment of the spatial distribution, ecological risks, and correlations among 12 antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and dominant microorganisms in a representative river-estuary system, classified by land use and hydrodynamic conditions. Sulfonamides and quinolones were identified as the major contaminants in surface waters, with aquaculture and healthcare wastewater responsible for over 80 % of the antibiotic load. Contrasting seasonal patterns were observed between freshwater (wet season: 215 ng/L, dry season: 99.9 ng/L) and tidal estuaries (wet season: 45.9 ng/L, dry season: 121 ng/L), attributed to antibiotic transport from terrestrial sources or coastal aquaculture areas. The estimated annual antibiotic influx into Jiaozhou Bay was 70.4 kg/year, posing a considerable threat to aquatic algae and disrupting the stability of aquatic food chain. BugBase predictions suggested that antibiotics in the environment suppressed bacteria characterized by biofilm formation (FB) and the presence of mobile elements (CME). However, ARG transmission was likely to drive the spread of CME, FB, and stress-tolerant (OST) bacteria within microbial communities. The significant positive correlations observed between sulfamethoxazole and 63 microbial genera indicate a broad distribution of microbial resistance, which exacerbates the potential for ARG accumulation and dissemination across both the bay and the Yellow Sea.202439357363
3504100.9997Distribution of antibiotic resistance genes and bacteria from six atmospheric environments: Exposure risk to human. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), as an emerging environmental pollutant, have received widespread attention. There are many studies on ARGs in water and soil. However, there are few studies on airborne ARGs. We used qPCR to detect 19 ARG subtypes in six atmospheric environments. Among the different atmospheric environments including wastewater treatment plant (fine screens and sludge thickener), bathroom, laboratory, hospital and outdoor, the highest total concentration of ARGs is detected in the haze outdoor (9 × 10(5) copies/m(3)), while the lowest is in the bathroom atmosphere (4.2 × 10(4) copies/m(3)). Furthermore, β-lactam ARGs are found to be the dominant ARGs in these 6 atmospheric environments. Due to the large number and widespread use of antibiotics, the airborne ARGs in hospital have the highest diversity and equitability. The β-lactam ARGs are significantly positively correlated with sulfonamides ARGs, indicating the mechanism of co-resistance since these two ARGs may be on the same genetic elements and thus simultaneously exhibit both resistances. The network analysis provides potential host information between the airborne ARGs and the coexisted microbial taxa. Sphingomonas and Bradyhizoblum strains presumably host for tetracycline and β-lactam ARGs, respectively. The ADD(outdoor) of bla(TEM-1) was 7.8 × 10(5) copies/d/kg, more than the ADD (7.6 × 10(3) copies/d/kg) of bla(TEM-1) by drinking water. We can't ignore ARGs in the atmospheric environments.201931400672
7265110.9997Airborne bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance gene dynamics in PM(2.5) during rainfall. The biotoxicity and public health effects of airborne bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) are being increasingly recognized. The characteristics of bacterial community composition and ARGs in PM(2.5) under different rainfall conditions were studied based on the on-site synchronous measurements in downtown Beijing. Marked differences were evident in the bacterial community characteristics of PM(2.5) before, during, and after rain events (p < 0.05). The rain intensities affected the bacterial community abundance in PM(2.5) and heavy rain had greater washing effects. The Proteobacteria (phylum level), α-Proteobacteria (class level), Pseudomonadales (order level), Pseudomonadaceae (family level), and Cyanobacteria (genus level) were the dominant bacterial taxa associated with PM(2.5) in Beijing during rain events. However, the bacteria at each level that displayed the biggest percentage variance was not the dominant type under different rain intensities. The ermB, tetW, and mphE genes were the primary ARGs, with abundances of 18 to 30 copies/m(3), which was a relatively smaller value than other observations. Real-time monitoring of the meteorological condition of rain events and physicochemical properties of PM(2.5) were used to identify the main factors during rainfall. The bacterial community was sensitive to the ionic and metal element components of PM(2.5) during rainfall. The abundance of ARGs was closely correlated with some groups of the bacterial community, which were also close to the initial value before the rain. Statistical analysis demonstrated that temperature, relative humidity, and duration of rain were the primary meteorological factors for the biological characteristics. The ionic species, rather than metal elements, in PM(2.5) were the sensitive factors for the bacteria community and ARGs, which varied at the phylum, class, order, family, and genus levels. The observations provide insights for the biological risk assessment in an urban rainfall water and the potential health impact on citizens.202031726367
6870120.9997Antibiotic resistome in landfill leachate and impact on groundwater. Landfill leachate is a hotspot in antibiotic resistance development. However, little is known about antibiotic resistome and host pathogens in leachate and their effects on surrounding groundwater. Here, metagenomic sequencing was used to explore profiles, host bacteria, environmental risks and influencing factors of antibiotic resistome in raw and treated leachate and surrounding groundwater of three landfills. Results showed detection of a total of 324 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The ARGs conferring resistance to multidrug (8.8 %-25.7 %), aminoglycoside (13.1 %-39.2 %), sulfonamide (10.0 %-20.9 %), tetracycline (5.7 %-34.4 %) and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS, 5.3 %-29.5 %) were dominant in raw leachate, while multidrug resistance genes were the major ARGs in treated leachate (64.1 %-83.0 %) and groundwater (28.7 %-76.6 %). Source tracking analysis suggests non-negligible influence of leachate on the ARGs in groundwater. The pathogens including Acinetobacter pittii, Pseudomonas stutzeri and P. alcaligenes were the major ARG-carrying hosts. Variance partitioning analysis indicates that the microbial community, abiotic variables and their interaction contributed most to the antibiotic resistance development. Our results shed light on the dissemination and driving mechanisms of ARGs from leachate to the groundwater, indicating that a comprehensive risk assessment and efficient treatment approaches are needed to deal with ARGs in landfill leachate and nearby groundwater. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: Antibiotic resistance genes are found abundant in the landfill sites, and these genes could be disseminated into groundwater via leaching of wastewater and infiltration of leachate. This results in deterioration of groundwater quality and human health risks posed by these ARGs and related pathogens. Thus measures should be taken to minimize potential negative impacts of landfills on the surrounding environment.202438547976
7047130.9997Characteristics of airborne bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance genes under different air quality levels. Pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in bioaerosols are major threats to human health. In this study, the microbial community structure and ARG distribution characteristics of airborne bacteria in total suspended particulates (TSP) and PM(2.5) were investigated under different air quality levels in Xinxiang, Central China. The results revealed that with the deterioration of air quality, the concentrations of airborne bacteria in both TSP and PM(2.5) decreased; however, the relative amounts of pathogenic bacteria increased. The predominant genera in pathogenic bacteria of Bacillus, Sphingomonas, Corynebacterium, Rhodococcus, and Staphylococcus were identified in both TSP and PM(2.5). Although the airborne bacteria concentrations and absolute abundances of ARGs in TSP were higher than those in PM(2.5) under identical air quality conditions, the bacterial community structure and relative amounts of pathogenic bacteria were similar. In addition, the relationship between environmental factors of ions, metal elements, and meteorological parameters and the community structures of airborne bacteria and pathogenic bacteria were also analyzed. The effects of soluble ions and metal elements on several dominant genera of total bacteria and pathogenic bacteria differed, probably due to the strong tolerance of pathogenic bacteria to harsh atmospheric environments Different subtypes of ARGs showed various distribution characteristics with variations in air quality. The deterioration of air quality can inhibit the dissemination of ARGs, as the minimum values of all ARGs and class 1 integrase intI1 were observed under Severely Polluted conditions. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the effect of air pollution levels on the airborne bacteria community composition and ARG distribution.202235180669
6853140.9997Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in the guts of shrimp from different coastal areas of China. With the continuous increase in shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) aquaculture production, the widespread use of antibiotics as a means of preventing and treating diseases has adversely affected the environment, animal health and symbiotic microorganisms in gut environments. At the same time, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are widespread in aquaculture and pose a great threat to aquatic organisms and humans. Therefore, in the present study, the occurrence and distribution of 17 antibiotics, ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected in the guts of shrimp collected from 12 coastal regions of China. The results showed that sulfadiazine, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were detectable in the guts of L. vannamei at all sampling sites. Sul1, sul2, floR and intI-1 were also detected in the guts of L. vannamei at all sampling sites. The total relative abundances of ARGs and MGEs were significantly positively correlated according to Pearson correlation analysis. Sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1 and sul2) were significantly positively correlated with intI-1. These results indicated that MGEs could increase the risk of horizontal gene transfer of ARGs in a gut environment. MGEs are the most important factors promoting the spread of ARGs. Correlation analysis showed that sulfadiazine was significantly positively correlated with sul1 and sul2 and that fluoroquinolone antibiotics were significantly positively correlated with floR, indicating that antibiotics could induce the production of ARGs. Network analysis indicated that Iamia and Alkaliphilus species may harbor the most antibiotic resistance genes, and these bacteria were closely related to the proliferation and spread of ARGs in a gut environment. Antibiotic use and the spread of ARGs in mariculture systems may have negative effects on shrimp and human health. The use of antibiotics should be strictly regulated to control contaminants in mariculture systems, including pathogens and ARGs, thereby reducing potential risks to human health.202234990667
3509150.9997Persistence and spatial variation of antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial populations change in reared shrimp in South China. More attention has been paid to the abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments. However, few studies have investigated the persistence and spatial variation of ARGs in aquatic organisms. This study investigated the occurrence and abundance of ARGs and the bacterial populations in shrimp intestinal tracts during the rearing period in different regions of Guangdong, South China. The results showed that sul1, sul2, qnrD, and floR were the predominant ARGs. Compared with those of juvenile shrimp, the total concentrations of ARGs in the intestinal tract of adult shrimp in three shrimp farms were 2.45-3.92 times higher (p < 0.05), and the bacterial populations in the adult shrimp intestinal tract changed considerably. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobia in Farms A, B, and C, respectively, were strongly positively correlated with the most abundant and predominant genes (sul1 and qnrD for Farm A; floR and sul2 for Farm B; floR and sul2 for Farm C) in the shrimp intestinal tract. The results of this study indicated that ARGs gained persistence in the developmental stages of the reared shrimp. Different phyla of predominant bacteria were responsible for the increase of ARGs abundance in the shrimp intestinal tract in different regions. This study represents a case study of the persistence and spatial variation of ARGs in aquaculture and can be a reference for the determination of harmful impacts of ARGs on food safety and human health.201829990953
7048160.9997Airborne antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, and bacterial pathogens in a commercial composting facility: Transmission and exposure risk. Multiple elements associated with antimicrobial resistance in compost may escape into the air during the composting process, including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), human pathogenic bacteria (HPBs), and even antibiotics. Although antibiotics play a critical role in the evolution of resistance in HPBs, no information is available on airborne antibiotics in composting facilities. In this study, we systematically quantified airborne antibiotics, ARGs, and HPBs in comparison with those in compost. The burden of antibiotics in the air reached 4.17 ± 2.71 × 10(2) ng/g, significantly higher than that in compost. The concentration of ARGs (10(2) copies/g) in air also increased compared with that in compost. Concentrations of target contaminants in air were affected by temperature, organic matter, and heavy metals. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed the connectivity and complexity of antibiotics, ARGs, and HPBs were greater in air than in compost. The maximum daily antibiotic intake dose was up to 1.18 × 10(-1)ng/d/kg, accompanied by considerable inhalation levels of ARGs and HPBs. Our results reveal the severity of airborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) elements in composting facilities, highlight the non-negligible amount of antibiotics and their co-existence with ARGs and HPBs, and shed light on the potential role of airborne antibiotics in the evolution of environmental AMR.202439442303
7238170.9996Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in different drinking water treatment processes in a northwest Chinese city. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are an emerging issue which are receiving increasing concerns in drinking water safety. However, the factors (e.g. treatment processes and water quality) affecting the removal efficiency of ARGs in the drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) is still unclear. This work investigated the ARG profiles in each treatment process of two DWTPs located in a northwest Chinese city. The results showed that tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes were predominant among the 14 targeted ARGs. After the treatment, the Z water treatment plant which demonstrated a higher removal rate of ARGs (ranging from 50 to 80%), compared to the S plant (50-75%). And the average removal rate of tetracycline resistance genes (tetA, tetG, tetQ, tetX) was about 49.18% (S plant) and 67.50% (Z plant), as well as the removal rate of 64.2% and 72.9% for sulfonamide resistance (sul1 and sul2) at S and Z water plants, respectively. It was found that the relative abundance of main microbial communities (such as Bacteroidota, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobiota, Roseomonas), α-diversity index, as well as the abundance of pathogenic bacteria were all significantly reduced after different treatment processes. Network co-occurrence analysis revealed that Methylocystis possibly was the potential host for most ARGs, and sul1 was found across a broad spectrum of microorganisms in the drinking water environment. Adonis analysis showed that heavy metals and microbial communities explain solely 44.1% and 35.7% of variances of ARGs within DWTPs. This study provides insights into the contamination status and removal efficiencies of ARGs in DWTPs, offering valuable references for future studies on ARG removal, propagation, and diffusion patterns in drinking water treatment.202439316241
7153180.9996Spatial and temporal variation of antibiotic resistance in marine fish cage-culture area of Guangdong, China. The rapid emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance poses a threat to human health and to the marine environment. We have investigated the abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), during the seedling period, rearing period, and harvesting period in seven marine fish cage-culture areas in Guangdong. Spatial and temporal variations of AGRs and ARB were also analyzed. Culture-based methods and quantitative PCR were used to detect ARB and ARGs. Bacterial resistance rates were no significantly different within farming periods. The proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was extremely low (average on 1.15%), except for oxytetracycline-resistant bacteria (average on 34.15%). Vibrio was the most common ARB. Sul1, tetB, and ermB, had the highest relative abundance. The abundance of ARGs in the harvesting period was significant highest. The total abundance of ARGs was highest at Raoping and lowest at Dayawan and Liusha. Most ARGs were associated with opportunistic pathogens. The environmental factors effecting ARB and ARGs are complex, and no key factors were identified. This study provides a theoretical basis for assessing the harmfulness of ARGs and ARB to food safety and human health.201930583154
7155190.9996Profiles of antibiotic resistance genes in an inland salt-lake Ebinur Lake, Xinjiang, China: The relationship with antibiotics, environmental factors, and microbial communities. Lakes in arid northwestern China, as the main pollutant-holding water bodies in the typical ecologically fragile areas, are facing the unknown risk of exposure to antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, five ARGs and one mobile genetic element (intI1) and their relation with antibiotics, microbial communities and water quality were investigated in Ebinur Lake Basin, a typical salt-lake of China. Quantitative PCR analysis indicated that ARGs decreasing order in both surface water and sediment was sul1 >sul2 >tetW>ermB>qnrS, which means sulfonamide resistance genes were the main pollution ARGs. Macrolide antibiotics were the predominant antibiotics in the surface water and sediment in winter, while sulfonamides and quinolones accounted for a high proportion in summer. There was a non-corresponding relationship between ARGs and antibiotics. Moreover, the relationship between ARGs and microbial communities were defined. Sulfonamide resistance genes were carried by a greater diversity of potential host bacteria (76 genera) than other ARGs (9 genera). And their positive correlation with intI1 (p < 0.05) which promotes their migration and provides possibility of their co-occurrence in bacterial populations (e.g., Nitrospira). Bacterial genera were the main driver of ARGs distribution pattern in highly saline lake sediment. Environmental factors like salinity, total nitrogen and organic matter could have a certain influence on the occurrence of ARGs by affecting microorganisms. The results systematically show the distribution and propagation characteristics of ARGs in typical inland salt-lakes in China, and preliminarily explored the relationship between ARGs and antibiotics, resistance genes and microorganisms in lakes in ecologically fragile areas.202134171688