Metagenomic insights into the distribution, mobility, and hosts of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge under starvation stress. - Related Documents




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793901.0000Metagenomic insights into the distribution, mobility, and hosts of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge under starvation stress. Extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (eARGs) are important emerging environmental pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Nutritional substrate deficiency (i.e., starvation) frequently occurs in WWTPs owing to annual maintenance, water quality fluctuation, and sludge storage; and it can greatly alter the antibiotic resistance and extracellular DNA content of bacteria. However, the fate and corresponding transmission risk of eARGs in activated sludge under starvation stress remain largely unknown. Herein, we used metagenomic sequencing to explore the effects of starvation scenarios (carbon, nitrogen, and/or phosphorus deficiency) and environmental conditions (alternating anaerobic-aerobic, anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic) on the distribution, mobility, and hosts of eARGs in activated sludge. The results showed that 30 days of starvation reduced the absolute abundances of eARGs by 40.9%-88.2%, but high-risk dual and multidrug resistance genes persisted. Starvation, particularly the simultaneous lack of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus under aerobic conditions, effectively alleviated eARGs by reducing the abundance of extracellular mobile genetic elements (eMGEs). Starvation also altered the profile of bacterial hosts of eARGs and the bacterial community composition, the latter of which had an indirect positive effect on eARGs via changing eMGEs. Our findings shed light on the response patterns and mechanisms of eARGs in activated sludge under starvation conditions and highlight starvation as a potential strategy to mitigate the risk of previously neglected eARGs in WWTPs.202337060877
856310.9998Overlooked role of extracellular polymeric substances in antibiotic-resistance gene transfer within microalgae-bacteria system. Controlling the spread of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) under antibiotic stress has become an increasingly urgent issue. Microalgae possess the capability to remove antibiotics while concurrently inhibiting ARGs. Microalgae-bacteria systems can produce significant quantities of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). However, the roles of EPS in the spread of ARGs have not been sufficiently explored, resulting in an insufficient understanding of the contribution of each EPS component and a lack of analysis on the complex interactions between EPS and ARGs. This study systematically explored the overlooked role of EPS in the transmission of ARGs within microalgae-bacteria systems. The current results showed that the potential of the microalgae-bacteria system for treating antibiotic wastewater. The tightly bound-EPS (TB-EPS) can acquire the higher absolute abundances of ARGs compared with the loosely bound-EPS (LB-EPS). The correlation coefficient between polysaccharides and TB-EPS ARGs was higher than that between polysaccharides and LB-EPS ARGs. The gene patterns of LB-EPS closely clustered with those of TB-EPS, while intracellular ARG gene patterns differed from both TB-EPS and LB-EPS. Metagenomic analyses indicated that the relative abundances of sul1 and sul2 were considerably higher at the beginning stage compared to the end stage. The abundance of Achromobacter, increased by the end stage, aligning with its potential to produce exopolysaccharide. Additionally, the absolute abundance of genes encoding exopolysaccharides (nagB and galE) and conjugative transfer transcription regulator (traF), increased over time. These findings enhanced our comprehension of the significance of EPS on the fate of ARGs in microalgae-bacteria systems during the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.202539879767
856720.9998System-dependent divergence of microbial community and resistome in two anaerobic niches under sulfamethoxazole selection. The prevalence of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in high-strength wastewater poses a significant threat to the stability and efficiency of anaerobic biological treatment systems, particularly when deployed as initial treatment units. However, the complex interactions arising from SMX biodegradation and their resultant effects on typical anaerobic digestion (AD) and sulfate-reducing (SR) systems are not thoroughly understood. This study revealed that SMX exposure stimulated methanogenesis in the AD system and sulfate reduction in the SR system, driven primarily by enriched key functional taxa (e.g., methanogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria). Organic matter removal efficiency increased significantly in the AD system under SMX stress, attributed to the enrichment of fermentative bacteria. Notably, the enriched class Actinomycetes was capable of SMX biodegradation, thereby likely mitigating SMX stress for other microorganisms. In contrast, the SR system exhibited significantly diminished organic matter removal despite developing a more functionally specialized community under SMX exposure. This community harbored fewer SMX degraders, perpetuating selective pressure on the microbiota. Increasing SMX concentrations failed to induce significant shifts in overall community structure in either system, while significantly promoted the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly pronounced in the SR system exhibiting high SMX accumulation. Moreover, mobile genetic elements mediated the horizontal transfer of the sulfonamide resistance gene sul1 and other co-occurring ARGs located on plasmids. This study provides novel insights into the convergent and divergent microbial responses in the AD and SR systems under SMX exposure, highlighting the dual effects (both stimulatory and inhibitory) of SMX on the functionality of these anaerobic systems.202541130171
856530.9998Deciphering the transfers of antibiotic resistance genes under antibiotic exposure conditions: Driven by functional modules and bacterial community. Antibiotics can exert selective pressures on sludge as well as affect the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the underlying mechanisms of ARGs transfers are still controversial and not fully understood in sludge system. In present study, two anaerobic sequence batch reactors (ASBR) were constructed to investigate the development of ARGs exposed to two sulfonamide antibiotics (SMs, sulfadiazine SDZ and sulfamethoxazole SMX) with increasing concentrations. The abundance of corresponding ARGs and total ARGs obviously increased with presence of SMs. Functional analyses indicated that oxidative stress response, signal transduction and type IV secretion systems were triggered by SMs, which would promote ARGs transfers. Network analysis revealed 18 genera were possible hosts of ARGs, and their abundances increased with SMs. Partial least-squares path modeling suggested functional modules directly influenced mobile genetic elements (MGEs) as well as the ARGs might be driven by both functional modules and bacteria community, while bacteria community composition played a more key role. Sludge with refractory antibiotics (SDZ) may stimulate the relevant functions and shift the microbial composition to a greater extent, causing more ARGs to emerge and spread. The mechanisms of ARGs transfers are revealed from the perspective of functional modules and bacterial community in sludge system for the first time, and it could provide beneficial directions, such as oxidative stress reduction, cellular communication control, bacterial composition directional regulation, for ARGs spread controlling in the future.202134563930
856240.9998Nitrogen and phosphorus limitations promoted bacterial nitrate metabolism and propagation of antibiotic resistome in the phycosphere of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa. Despite that nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play critical roles in the lifecycle of microalgae, how N and P further affect the distribution of bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the phycosphere is still poorly understood. In this study, the effects of N and P on the distribution of ARGs in the phycosphere of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa were investigated. Results showed that the growth and chlorophyll synthesis of microalgae were inhibited when N or P was limited, regardless of the N/P ratios, but the extracellular polymeric substances content and nitrate assimilation efficiency were enhanced in contrast. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that N or P limitation resulted in the recruitment of specific bacteria that highly contribute to the nitrate metabolism in the phycosphere. Besides, N or P limitation promoted the propagation of phycosphere ARGs, primarily through horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements. The enrichment of specific bacteria induced by changes in the algal physiology also contributed to the ARGs proliferation under nutrient limitation. Our results demonstrated that the reduction of algal cells caused by nutrient limitation could promote the propagation of ARGs, which provides new insights into the occurrence and spread of ARGs in the phycosphere.202438367442
857750.9998Viral and thermal lysis facilitates transmission of antibiotic resistance genes during composting. While the distribution of extracellular ARGs (eARGs) in the environment has been widely reported, the factors governing their release remain poorly understood. Here, we combined multi-omics and direct experimentation to test whether the release and transmission of eARGs are associated with viral lysis and heat during cow manure composting. Our results reveal that the proportion of eARGs increased 2.7-fold during composting, despite a significant and concomitant reduction in intracellular ARG abundances. This relative increase of eARGs was driven by composting temperature and viral lysis of ARG-carrying bacteria based on metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) analysis. Notably, thermal lysis of mesophilic bacteria carrying ARGs was a key factor in releasing eARGs at the thermophilic phase, while viral lysis played a relatively stronger role during the non-thermal phase of composting. Furthermore, MAG-based tracking of ARGs in combination with direct transformation experiments demonstrated that eARGs released during composting pose a potential transmission risk. Our study provides bioinformatic and experimental evidence of the undiscovered role of temperature and viral lysis in co-driving the spread of ARGs in compost microbiomes via the horizontal transfer of environmentally released DNA. IMPORTANCE: The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a critical global health concern. Understanding the factors influencing the release of extracellular ARGs (eARGs) is essential for developing effective strategies. In this study, we investigated the association between viral lysis, heat, and eARG release during composting. Our findings revealed a substantial increase in eARGs despite reduced intracellular ARG abundance. Composting temperature and viral lysis were identified as key drivers, with thermal lysis predominant during the thermophilic phase and viral lysis during non-thermal phases. Moreover, eARGs released during composting posed a transmission risk through horizontal gene transfer. This study highlights the significance of temperature and phage lysis in ARG spread, providing valuable insights for mitigating antibiotic resistance threats.202439078126
856460.9997Effects of functional modules and bacterial clusters response on transmission performance of antibiotic resistance genes under antibiotic stress during anaerobic digestion of livestock wastewater. The formation and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have attracted increasing attention. It is unclear whether the internal mechanisms by which antibiotics affect horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs during anaerobic digestion (AD) were influenced by dose and type. We investigated the effects of two major antibiotics (oxytetracycline, OTC, and sulfamethoxazole, SMX) on ARGs during AD according to antibiotic concentration in livestock wastewater influent. The low-dose antibiotic (0.5 mg/L) increased ROS and SOS responses, promoting the formation of ARGs. Meanwhile, low-dose antibiotics could also promote the spread of ARGs by promoting pili, communication responses, and the type IV secretion system (T4SS). However, different types and doses of antibiotics would lead to changes in the above functional modules and then affect the enrichment of ARGs. With the increasing dose of SMX, the advantages of pili and communication responses would gradually change. In the OTC system, low-dose has the strongest promoting ability in both pili and communication responses. Similarly, an increase in the dose of SMX would change T4SS from facilitation to inhibition, while OTC completely inhibits T4SS. Microbial and network analysis also revealed that low-dose antibiotics were more favorable for the growth of host bacteria.202336063716
797870.9997Metagenomic insight into the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge upon exposure to nanoplastics. Activated sludge is an important reservoir for the co-occurring emerging contaminants including nanoplastics (NPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the impacts and potential mechanisms of NPs on the fate of ARGs in activated sludge are not fully understood. Herein, we used metagenomic approach to investigate the responses of ARGs, host bacteria, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and functional genes to polystyrene (PS) NPs at environmentally relevant (0.5 mg/L) and high stress concentrations (50 mg/L) in activated sludge. The results showed that 0.5 and 50 mg/L PS NPs increased the relative abundance of ARGs in the activated sludge by 58.68% and 46.52%, respectively (p < 0.05). Host tracking analysis elucidated that the hosts of ARGs were significantly enriched by PS NPs (p < 0.05), with Proteobacteria being the predominant host bacteria. Additionally, the occurrence of new ARGs hosts and the enrichment of MGEs and functional genes (i.e., genes related to SOS response, cell membrane permeability, and secretion system, etc.) indicated that PS NPs promoted horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs. Finally, path modeling analysis revealed that the proliferation of ARGs caused by PS NPs was primarily attributed to the enhancement of HGT and the enrichment of host bacteria. Our findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the spread risk of ARGs in activated sludge under NPs pollution.202439510298
793180.9997The stress response of tetracycline resistance genes and bacterial communities under the existence of microplastics in typical leachate biological treatment system. Landfill leachate is an important source of microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs). Here, in the presence of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) and polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs), the nitrogen and phosphorus removal effect and sludge structure performance were affected in an anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic system, a typical biological leachate treatment process. The abundance of tetracycline-resistance genes (tet genes) in biofilms on the two types of MP was significantly higher than that in the leachate and sludge, and the load on PE-MPs was higher than that on PS-MPs because of the porous structure of PE-MPs. Aging of the MPs increased their surface roughness and abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups and shaped the profile of ARGs in the MP biofilms. The biofilm biomass and growth rate on the two types of MP increased with the incubation time in the first 30 days, and was affected by environmental factors. Structural equation models and co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that the MPs indirectly affected the spectrum of ARGs by affecting biofilm formation, and, to a lesser extent, had a direct impact on the selective enrichment of ARGs. We discuss the mechanisms of the relationships between MPs and ARGs in the leachate treatment system, which will have guiding significance for future research. Our data on the colonization of microorganisms and tet genes in MPs biofilms provide new evidence concerning the accumulation and transmission of these ARGs, and are important for understanding the mechanisms of MPs in spreading pollution.202439018858
756690.9997Antibiotic sulfadiazine degradation by persulfate oxidation: Intermediates dependence of ecotoxicity and the induction of antibiotic resistance genes. To preserve the water resources, this study has analyzed the ecotoxicity and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) induction capacity of sulfadiazine degradation intermediates resulting from persulfate activation oxidation enhanced by ultraviolet, ultrasound and microwave. The five degradation pathways caused by the contribution discrepancy of electron transfer and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) and variations in the ecotoxicity of different degradation products were analyzed. Microcosm experiment exhibited that the microbial community in actual water changed significantly with SDZ and degradation intermediates, in which the dominant genera were Aeromonas, Cupriavidus, Elizabethkingia and Achromobacter. Except for the selective pressure on bacteria, the degradation intermediates also exert a certain degree or even stronger induction on sulfonamide ARGs (sul4, sul1 and sul2) than SDZ. Furthermore, the potential hosts for sulfonamide ARGs were revealed by network analysis. These results provide a better understanding of antibiotics degradation mechanism and ARGs occurrence, which is useful for controlling the spread of ARGs.202336372382
7981100.9997Dissolved biochar eliminates the effect of Cu(II) on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. The proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has posed significant risks to human and environmental health. Research has confirmed that Cu(II) could accelerate the conjugative transfer of ARGs between bacteria. This study found that adding dissolved biochar effectively weakened or eliminated the Cu(II)-facilitated efficient transfer of ARGs. The efficiency of conjugative transfer was promoted after treatment with Cu(II) (0.05 mg/L) or dissolved biochar at a pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C. When exposed to the combination of Cu(II) and dissolved biochar, the transfer frequency was significantly reduced; this occurred regardless of the Cu(II) concentration or pyrolysis temperature of dissolved biochar. In particular, when the Cu(II) concentration exceeded 0.5 mg/L, the transfer efficiency was entirely inhibited. Gene expression analysis indicated that different treatments affect transfer efficiency by regulating the expression of three global regulatory genes: korA, korB, and trbA. Among them, humic acid repressed the expression of these genes; however, Cu(II) formed complex with the humic acid-like components, gradually weakening the inhibitive effect of these components. The promotion of low molecule organic matters dominated, resulting in a dynamic decline in the transfer efficiency. This study provides a new environmental contaminant treatment approach to eliminate the heavy metal-facilitated transfer of ARGs between bacteria.202234583164
7936110.9997Impact of uranium on antibiotic resistance in activated sludge. The emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the environment is well established as a human health crisis. The impact of radioactive heavy metals on ecosystems and ultimately on human health has become a global issue, especially for the regions suffering various nuclear activities or accidents. However, whether the radionuclides can affect the fate of antibiotic resistance in bacteria remains poorly understood. Here, the dynamics of ARB, three forms of ARGs-intracellular ARGs (iARGs), adsorbed extracellular ARGs (aeARGs), and free extracellular ARGs (feARGs)-and microbial communities were investigated following exposure to uranium (U), a representative radioactive heavy metal. The results showed that 90-d of U exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations of 0.05 mg/L or 5 mg/L significantly increased the ARB concentration in activated sludge (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 90-d of U exposure slightly elevated the absolute abundance of aeARGs (except tetO) and sulfonamide iARGs, but decreased tetracycline iARGs. Regarding feARGs, the abundance of tetC, tetO, and sul1 decreased after 90-d of U stress, whereas sul2 showed the opposite trend. Partial least-squares path model analysis revealed that the abundance of aeARGs and iARGs under U stress was predominantly driven by increased cell membrane permeability/intI1 abundance and cell membrane permeability/reactive oxygen species concentration, respectively. Conversely, the changes in feARGs abundance depended on the composition of the microbial community and the expression of efflux pumps. Our findings shed light on the variations of ARGs and ARB in activated sludge under U exposure, providing a more comprehensive understanding of antibiotic resistance risks aggravated by radioactive heavy metal-containing wastewater.202438278272
7912120.9997Distinct effects of hypochlorite types on the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes during waste activated sludge fermentation: Insights of bacterial community, cellular activity, and genetic expression. The effectiveness of hypochlorites (NaClO and Ca(ClO)(2)) on the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during waste activated sludge (WAS) fermentation was determined by the quantitative PCR. NaClO and Ca(ClO)(2) exhibited distinct effects on ARGs fates. Ca(ClO)(2) was effective in removing all investigated ARGs, and the efficiency was highly dose-dependent. Unexpectedly, the NaClO treatment attenuated ARGs with lower efficiency and even caused the propagation of certain ARGs (i.e., aadA1 and tetQ) at higher doses. The extracellular polymeric substances dissolution and membrane integrity suggested that unstable NaClO had acute effects on bacteria initially, while it was ineffective to further attenuate ARGs released from hosts due to the rapid consumption of oxidative ClO(-). Without lasting and strong oxidative stress, the microbial activities of tolerant ARGs hosts will partially recover and then contribute to the ARGs dissemination across genera. In contrast, solid-state Ca(ClO)(2) was slowly released and exhibited prolonged effects on bacteria by disrupting cell membranes and removing the susceptible ARGs released from hosts. Furthermore, bacterial taxa-ARG network analysis indicated that Ca(ClO)(2) reduced the abundance of potential hosts, and the metabolic pathway and gene expression related to ARGs propagation were significantly downregulated by Ca(ClO)(2), which contributed to efficient ARGs attenuation.202133265039
7909130.9997Simultaneous efficient removal of tetracycline and mitigation of antibiotic resistance genes enrichment by a modified activated sludge process with static magnetic field. To address the increasing issue of antibiotic wastewater, this study applied a static magnetic field (SMF) to the activated sludge process to increase the efficiency of tetracycline (TC) removal from swine wastewater and to reveal its enhanced mechanisms. The results demonstrated that the SMF-modified activated sludge process could achieve almost complete TC removal at sludge loading rates of 0.3 mg TC/g MLSS/d. Analysis of zeta potential and extracellular polymeric substances composition of the activated sludge revealed that SMF increased electrostatic interactions between TC and activated sludge and made activated sludge has much more binding sites, finally resulting in the increased TC biosorption. Metagenomic analysis showed that SMF promoted the enrichment of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, TC-degrading bacteria, and aromatic compounds-degrading bacteria; it also enhanced ammonia monooxygenase- and cytochrome P450-mediated TC metabolism while upregulating functional genes associated with oxidase, reductase, and dehydrogenase - all contributing to increased TC biodegradation. Additionally, SMF mitigated the enrichment and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) by decreasing the abundance of potential hosts of ARGs and inhibiting the upregulation of genes encoding ABC transporters and putative transposase. Based on these findings, this study demonstrates that magnetic field is an enhancement strategy with great potential to relieve the harmful impacts of the growing antibiotic wastewater problem on human health and the ecosystem.202439038424
7980140.9997Effect of dissolved biochar on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a global environmental issue. Dissolved biochar is more likely to contact bacteria in water, producing ecological risks. This study explored the effects of dissolved biochar on ARGs transfer in bacteria. Conjugative transfer efficiency was significantly different following treatment with different types of dissolved biochar. Typically, humic acid-like substance in dissolved biochar can significantly improve the transfer efficiency of ARGs between bacteria. When the concentration of dissolved biochar was ≤10 mg biochar/mL, humic acid-like substance substantially promoted ARGs transfer. An increase in dissolved biochar concentration weakened the ARGs transfer from humic acid-like substance. The inhibitory effects of small-molecule matters dominated, decreasing conjugative transfer frequency. At a concentration of 100 mg biochar/mL, the conjugative transfer efficiency of all treatments was lower than that of control. Compared with corn straw dissolved biochar, there were more transconjugants in pine sawdust dissolved biochar. Following treatment with 10 mg biochar/mL pine sawdust dissolved biochar, the number of transconjugants was at its maximum; approximately 7.3 folds higher than the control. We also explored mechanisms by which dissolved biochar impacts conjugative transfer. Due to the complex composition of dissolved biochar, its effects on the expression of conjugative transfer-related genes were also dynamic. This study investigates the ecological risk of biochar and guides its scientific application.202134274650
7928150.9997Insight into the responses of antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic biofilms to zinc oxide nanoparticles and zinc ions pressures in landfill leachate. Microplastic (MP) biofilms are hotspots of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in landfill environment. MP biofilms in landfill leachate coexist with heavy metals and metallic nanoparticles (NPs) that considered to be the selective agents of ARGs. However, the effects of these selective pressures on ARGs in MP biofilms and their differences in MP-surrounding leachate have not been well understood. Herein, the changes of ARG abundances in MP biofilms and corresponding leachate under zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs and zinc ion (Zn(2+)) pressures were comparatively analyzed. The presence of ZnO NPs and Zn(2+) promoted the enrichment of ARGs in MP biofilms, and the enrichment was more pronounced in ZnO NPs groups. ZnO NPs and especially Zn(2+) mainly decreased the abundances of ARGs in leachate. The increase of integron abundances and reactive oxygen species production in MP biofilms implied the enhanced potential for horizontal transfer of ARGs under ZnO NPs and Zn(2+) pressures. Meanwhile, the co-occurrence pattern between ARGs and bacterial genera in MP biofilms with more diverse potential ARG hosts was more complex than in leachate, and the enrichment of ARG-hosting bacteria in MP biofilms under ZnO NPs and Zn(2+) pressures supported the enrichment of ARGs.202337480611
8588160.9997Does lipid stress affect performance, fate of antibiotic resistance genes and microbial dynamics during anaerobic digestion of food waste? The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in food waste (FW) disposal can pose severe threats to public health. Lipid is a primary composition in FW, while whether lipid stress can affect ARGs dynamics during anaerobic digestion (AD) process of FW is uncertain. This study focused on the impacts of lipid stress on methane production, fate of ARGs and its microbial mechanisms during AD of FW. Results showed that high lipid content increased methane yield but prolonged hydrolysis and lag time of methane production compared to AD of FW without oil. Moreover, variations of ARGs were more susceptible to lipid stress. Lipid stress could facilitate the reduction of total ARGs abundances compared to the group without oil, particularly restraining the proliferation of sul1, aadA1 and mefA in AD systems (P < 0.05). Mantel test suggested that integrons (intl1 and intl2) were significantly correlated with all detected ARGs (r: 0.33, P < 0.05), indicating that horizontal gene transfer mediated by integrons could be the driving force on ARGs dissemination. Network analysis suggested that Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Synergistetes and Proteobacteria were the main potential hosts of ARGs. In addition, under the lipid stress, the reduction of host bacteria was responsible for the elimination of several specific ARGs, thereby affecting ARGs profiles. These findings firstly deciphered ARGs dynamics and their driving factors responding to lipid stress during anaerobic biological treatment of FW.202133250254
7907170.9997Determination of the fate of antibiotic resistance genes and the response mechanism of plants during enhanced antibiotic degradation in a bioelectrochemical-constructed wetland system. Chloramphenicol (CAP) has a high concentration and detection frequency in aquatic environments due to its insufficient degradation in traditional biological wastewater treatment processes. In this study, bioelectrochemical assistant-constructed wetland systems (BES-CWs) were developed as advanced processes for efficient CAP removal, in which the degradation and transfer of CAP and the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were evaluated. The CAP removal efficiency could reach as high as 90.2%, while the removed CAP can be partially adsorbed and bioaccumulated in plants, significantly affecting plant growth. The vertical gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer increased the abundance of ARGs under high voltage and CAP concentrations. Microbial community analysis showed that CAP pressure and electrical stimulation selected the functional bacteria to increase CAP removal and antibiotic resistance. CAP degradation species carrying ARGs could increase their opposition to the biotoxicity of CAP and maintain system performance. In addition, ARGs are transferred into the plant and upward, which can potentially enter the food chain. This study provides an essential reference for enhancing antibiotic degradation and offers fundamental support for the underlying mechanism and ARG proliferation during antibiotic biodegradation.202336931217
7913180.9997Response of the partial denitrification coupled with anaerobic ammonia oxidation system to disinfectant residues stress. The extensive use of disinfectants, especially NaClO, has resulted in chlorine disinfectant residues entering and impairing the biological treatment system. This study combined with long-term stress and transient shock of chlorine residues to comprehensively evaluate the variations of nitrogen removal performance, microbial community and antibiotic resistance genes composition in the PD/A system. The results showed that low concentration NaClO had no obvious harm to the system, but high concentration (>1 mg/L) NaClO would destroy the nitrogen removal performance of PD/A system. Interestingly, microorganisms in biofilm were more resistant to chlorine residues than that in sludge. Anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria suffered more harm than denitrifying microorganisms, and chlorine residues mainly inhibited the process of converting N(2)H(4) to N(2) in anammox reaction. In addition, this study found that sludge showed a more significant increase in ARGs abundance and risk than biofilm. Moreover, risk assessments indicated that chlorine residues increased the risk of ARGs in PD/A systems.202540010223
7930190.9997Fates of extracellular and intracellular antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge and plastisphere under sulfadiazine pressure. Microplastics, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) represent prominent emerging contaminants that can potentially hinder the efficacy of biological wastewater treatment and pose health risks. Plastisphere as a distinct ecological niche for microorganisms, acts as a repository for ARGs and potential pathogenic bacteria. Nonetheless, the spread pattern of extracellular ARGs (eARGs) and intracellular ARGs (iARGs) in plastisphere under antibiotic exposure was not yet known. This study aimed to investigate disparities in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production, extracellular and intracellular microbial community structures, as well as the transmission of eARGs and iARGs between activated sludge and plastisphere in an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic system under sulfadiazine (SDZ) exposure. SDZ was found to enhance EPS production in activated sludge and plastisphere. Interestingly, as SDZ removal efficiency increased, EPS content decreased in activated sludge and plastisphere collected from oxic zone, and continued to increase in plastisphere samples collected from anaerobic and anoxic zones. There were significant differences in microbial community structure between activated sludge and plastisphere, and the DNA fragments of potential pathogenic bacteria were detected in extracellular samples. SDZ exhibited a promoting effect on the propagation of eARGs, which were more abundant in the plastisphere than in activated sludge, thus heightening the risk of ARGs dissemination. Extracellular mobile genetic elements played a pivotal role in driving the spread of eARGs, while the microbial community induced the changes of iARGs. Potential pathogenic bacteria emerged as potential hosts for ARGs and mobile genetic elements within activated sludge and plastisphere, leading to more serious environmental threats.202337898001