# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 8431 | 0 | 0.9752 | A quaternary ammonium salt grafted tannin-based flocculant boosts the conjugative transfer of plasmid-born antibiotic resistance genes: The nonnegligible side of their flocculation-sterilization properties. This study developed dual-function tannin-based flocculants, namely tannin-graft-acrylamide-diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (TGCC-A/TGCC-C), endowed with enhanced flocculation-sterilization properties. The impacts of these flocculants on proliferation and transformation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among bacteria during the flocculation-deposition process were examined. TGCC-A/TGCC-C exhibited remarkable flocculation capacities towards both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, encompassing a logarithmic range of initial cell density (10(8)-10(9) CFU/mL) and a broad pH spectrum (pH 2-11). The grafted quaternary ammonium salt groups played pivotal parts in flocculation through charge neutralization and bridging mechanisms, concurrently contributing to sterilization by disrupting cellular membranes. The correlation between flocculation and sterilization entails a sequential progression, where an excess of TGCC, initially employed for flocculation, is subsequently consumed for sterilization purposes. The frequencies of ARGs conjugative transfer were enhanced in bacterial flocs across all TGCC treatments, stemming from augmented bacterial aggregation and cell membrane permeability, elicited stress response, and up-regulated genes encoding plasmid transfer. These findings underscore the indispensable role of flocculation-sterilization effects in mediating the propagation of ARGs, consequently providing substantial support for the scientific evaluation of the environmental risks associated with flocculants in the context of ARGs dissemination during the treatment of raw water featuring high bacterial density. | 2023 | 37619725 |
| 7872 | 1 | 0.9751 | Quaternary ammonium compounds promoted anoxic sludge granulation and altered propagation risk of intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes. Surfactants could influence sludge morphology and disinfectants were linked to antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Thus, the response of activated sludge and ARGs to long-term quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) exposure required further investigation, which is a popular surfactant and disinfectant. Here, three sequencing batch reactors were fed with 5 mg/L most frequently detected QACs (dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (ATMAC C12), dodecyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BAC C12) and didodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DADMAC C12)) for 180 d. The long-term inhibitory effect on denitrification ranked: DADMAC C12 > BAC C12 > ATMAC C12. Besides, obvious granular sludge promoted by the increase of α-Helix/(β-Sheet + Random coil) appeared in DADMAC C12 system. Moreover, intracellular ARGs increased when denitrification systems encountered QACs acutely but decreased in systems chronically exposed to QACs. Although replication and repair metabolism in ATMAC C12 system was higher, ATMAC C12 significantly promoted proliferation of extracellular ARGs. It was noteworthy that the propagation risk of extracellular ARGs in sludge increased significantly during sludge granulation process, and intracellular sul2 genes in sludge and water both increased with the granular diameter in DADMAC C12 system. The universal utilization of QACs may enhance antibiotic resistance of bacteria in wastewater treatment plants, deserving more attention. | 2023 | 36444811 |
| 519 | 2 | 0.9746 | The Ruegeria pomeroyi acuI gene has a role in DMSP catabolism and resembles yhdH of E. coli and other bacteria in conferring resistance to acrylate. The Escherichia coli YhdH polypeptide is in the MDR012 sub-group of medium chain reductase/dehydrogenases, but its biological function was unknown and no phenotypes of YhdH(-) mutants had been described. We found that an E. coli strain with an insertional mutation in yhdH was hyper-sensitive to inhibitory effects of acrylate, and, to a lesser extent, to those of 3-hydroxypropionate. Close homologues of YhdH occur in many Bacterial taxa and at least two animals. The acrylate sensitivity of YhdH(-) mutants was corrected by the corresponding, cloned homologues from several bacteria. One such homologue is acuI, which has a role in acrylate degradation in marine bacteria that catabolise dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) an abundant anti-stress compound made by marine phytoplankton. The acuI genes of such bacteria are often linked to ddd genes that encode enzymes that cleave DMSP into acrylate plus dimethyl sulfide (DMS), even though these are in different polypeptide families, in unrelated bacteria. Furthermore, most strains of Roseobacters, a clade of abundant marine bacteria, cleave DMSP into acrylate plus DMS, and can also demethylate it, using DMSP demethylase. In most Roseobacters, the corresponding gene, dmdA, lies immediately upstream of acuI and in the model Roseobacter strain Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS-3, dmdA-acuI were co-regulated in response to the co-inducer, acrylate. These observations, together with findings by others that AcuI has acryloyl-CoA reductase activity, lead us to suggest that YdhH/AcuI enzymes protect cells against damaging effects of intracellular acryloyl-CoA, formed endogenously, and/or via catabolising exogenous acrylate. To provide "added protection" for bacteria that form acrylate from DMSP, acuI was recruited into clusters of genes involved in this conversion and, in the case of acuI and dmdA in the Roseobacters, their co-expression may underpin an interaction between the two routes of DMSP catabolism, whereby the acrylate product of DMSP lyases is a co-inducer for the demethylation pathway. | 2012 | 22563425 |
| 523 | 3 | 0.9732 | Sulfide-carbonate-mineralized functional bacterial consortium for cadmium removal in flue gas. Sulfide-carbonate-mineralized functional bacterial consortium was constructed for flue gas cadmium biomineralization. A membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) using the bacterial consortium containing sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and denitrifying bacteria (DNB) was investigated for flue gas cadmium (Cd) removal. Cadmium removal efficiency achieved 90%. The bacterial consortium containing Citrobacter, Desulfocurvus and Stappia were dominated for cadmium resistance-nitrate-sulfate reduction. Under flue gas cadmium stress, ten cadmium resistance genes (czcA, czcB, czcC, czcD, cadA, cadB, cadC, cueR, copZ, zntA), and seven genes related to sulfate reduction, increased in abundance; whereas others, nine genes related to denitrification, decreased, indicating that cadmium stress was advantageous to sulfate reduction in the competition with denitrification. A bacterial consortium could capable of simultaneously cadmium resistance, sulfate reduction and denitrification. Microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) and biological adsorption process would gradually yield to sulfide-mineralized process. Flue gas cadmium could transform to Cd-EPS, cadmium carbonate (CdCO(3)) and cadmium sulfide (CdS) bioprecipitate. The functional bacterial consortium was an efficient and eco-friendly bifunctional bacterial consortium for sulfide-carbonate-mineralized of cadmium. This provides a green and low-carbon advanced treatment technology using sulfide-carbonate-mineralized functional bacterial consortium for the removal of cadmium or other hazardous heavy metal contaminants in flue gas. | 2024 | 39019186 |
| 7828 | 4 | 0.9731 | Simultaneous elimination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes by different Fe-N co-doped biochars activating peroxymonosulfate: The key role of pyridine-N and Fe-N sites. The coexistence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the environment poses a potential threat to public health. In our study, we have developed a novel advanced oxidation process for simultaneously removing ARGs and ARB by two types of iron and nitrogen-doped biochar derived from rice straw (FeN-RBC) and sludge (FeN-SBC). All viable ARB (approximately 10(8) CFU mL(-1)) was inactivated in the FeN-RBC/ peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system within 40 min and did not regrow after 48 h even in real water samples. Flow cytometry identified 96.7 % of dead cells in the FeN-RBC/PMS system, which verified the complete inactivation of ARB. Thorough disinfection of ARB was associated with the disruption of cell membranes and intracellular enzymes related to the antioxidant system. Whereas live bacteria (approximately 200 CFU mL(-1)) remained after FeN-SBC/PMS treatment. Intracellular and extracellular ARGs (tetA and tetB) were efficiently degraded in the FeN-RBC/PMS system. The production of active species, primarily •OH, SO(4)(•-) and Fe (IV), as well as electron transfer, were essential to the effective disinfection of FeN-RBC/PMS. In comparison with FeN-SBC, the better catalytic performance of FeN-RBC was mainly ascribed to its higher amount of pyridine-N and Fe(0), and more reactive active sites (such as CO group and Fe-N sites). Density functional theory calculations indicated the greater adsorption energy and Bader charge, more stable Fe-O bond, more easily broken OO bond in FeN-RBC/PMS, which demonstrated the stronger electron transfer capacity between FeN-RBC and PMS. To encapsulate, our study provided an efficient and dependable method for the simultaneous elimination of ARGs and ARB in water. | 2024 | 38669989 |
| 7871 | 5 | 0.9730 | Effects of different quaternary ammonium compounds on intracellular and extracellular resistance genes in nitrification systems under the pre-contamination of benzalkyl dimethylammonium compounds. As the harm of benzalkyl dimethylammonium compounds (BACs) on human health and environment was discovered, alkyltrimethyl ammonium compound (ATMAC) and dialkyldimethyl ammonium compound (DADMAC), which belong to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), were likely to replace BACs as the main disinfectants. This study simulated the iterative use of QACs to explore their impact on resistance genes (RGs) in nitrification systems pre-contaminated by BACs. ATMAC could initiate and maintain partial nitrification. DADMAC generated higher levels of reactive oxygen species and lactate dehydrogenase, leading to increased biological toxicity in bacteria. The abundance of intracellular RGs of sludge was higher with the stress of QACs. DADMAC also induced higher extracellular polymeric substance secretion. Moreover, it facilitated the transfer of RGs from sludge to water, with ATMAC disseminating RGs through si-tnpA-04 and DADMAC through si-intI1. Sediminibacterium might be potential hosts for RGs. This study offered insights into disinfectant usage in the post-COVID-19 era. | 2025 | 39612960 |
| 528 | 6 | 0.9729 | Effect of dimethyl sulphoxide on the expression of nitrogen fixation in bacteria. Storage in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) of Escherichia coli K12 hybrids carrying nif+ genes from Klebsiella pneumoniae can result in selection of a defective nitrogen-fixing phenotype. Similar results are obtained with E. coli K12 hybrids containing the nitrogen-fixing capacity from Rhizobium trifolii. DMSO appears to affect particular inner membrane proteins associated with energy metabolism in E. coli K12 and four chromosomal regions (chlD, chlG, his and unc) are associated with resistance to DMSO. | 1977 | 332135 |
| 7889 | 7 | 0.9728 | The interaction between extracellular polymeric substances and corrosion products in pipes shaped different bacterial communities and the effects of micropollutants. There are growing concerns over the effects of micropollutants on biofilms formation and antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs) transmission in drinking water distribution pipes. However, there was no reports about the influence of the interaction between extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and corrosion products on biofilms formation. Our results indicated that the abundance of quorum sensing (QS)-related genes, polysaccharide and amino acids biosynthesis genes of EPS was 6747-8055 TPM, 2221-2619 TPM, and 1461-1535 TPM in biofilms of cast iron pipes, respectively, which were higher than that of stainless steel pipes. The two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analysis of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) results indicated that polysaccharide of EPS was more easily adsorbed onto the corrosion products of cast iron pipes. Therefore, more human pathogenic bacteria (HPB) carrying ARGs were formed in biofilms of cast iron pipes. The amide I and amide II components and phosphate moieties of EPS were more susceptible to the corrosion products of stainless steel pipes. Thus, more bacteria genera carrying mobile genetic elements (MGE)-ARG were formed in biofilms of stainless steel pipes due to more abundance of QS-related genes, amino acids biosynthesis genes of EPS and the functional genes related to lipid metabolism. The enrichment of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and sulfadiazine (SUL) in corrosion products induced upregulation of QS and EPS-related genes, which promoted bacteria carrying different ARGs growth in biofilms, inducing more microbial risks. | 2023 | 37950951 |
| 806 | 8 | 0.9728 | A two-component small multidrug resistance pump functions as a metabolic valve during nicotine catabolism by Arthrobacter nicotinovorans. The genes nepAB of a small multidrug resistance (SMR) pump were identified as part of the pAO1-encoded nicotine regulon responsible for nicotine catabolism in Arthrobacter nicotinovorans. When [(14)C]nicotine was added to the growth medium the bacteria exported the (14)C-labelled end product of nicotine catabolism, methylamine. In the presence of the proton-motive force inhibitors 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) or the proton ionophore nigericin, export of methylamine was inhibited and radioactivity accumulated inside the bacteria. Efflux of [(14)C]nicotine-derived radioactivity from bacteria was also inhibited in a pmfR : cmx strain with downregulated nepAB expression. Because of low amine oxidase levels in the pmfR : cmx strain, gamma-N-methylaminobutyrate, the methylamine precursor, accumulated. Complementation of this strain with the nepAB genes, carried on a plasmid, restored the efflux of nicotine breakdown products. Both NepA and NepB were required for full export activity, indicating that they form a two-component efflux pump. NepAB may function as a metabolic valve by exporting methylamine, the end product of nicotine catabolism, and, in conditions under which it accumulates, the intermediate gamma-N-methylaminobutyrate. | 2007 | 17464069 |
| 7881 | 9 | 0.9727 | Bacterial community shift and antibiotics resistant genes analysis in response to biodegradation of oxytetracycline in dual graphene modified bioelectrode microbial fuel cell. This study explored the biodegradation mechanisms of oxytetracycline (OTC/O) and electrochemical characteristics from the perspective of bacterial community shift and OTC resistance genes in dual graphene modified bioelectrode microbial fuel cell (O-D-GM-BE MFC). In phylum level, Proteobacteria was accounted to 95.04% in O-GM-BA, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were accounted to 59.13% and 20.52% in O-GM-BC, which were beneficial for extracellular electron transport (EET) process and OTC biodegradation. In genus level, the most dominant bacteria in O-GM-BA were Salmonella and Trabulsiella, accounting up to 83.04%, moreover, representative exoelectrogens (Geobacter) were enriched, which contributed to OTC biodegradation and electrochemical performances; abundant degrading bacteria (Moheibacter, Comamonas, Pseudomonas, Dechloromonas, Nitrospira, Methylomicrobium, Pseudorhodoferax, Thiobacillus, Mycobacterium) were enriched in O-GM-BC, which contributed to the maximum removal efficiency of OTC; coding resistance genes of efflux pump, ribosome protective protein and modifying or passivating were all found in O-GM-BE, and this explained the OTC removal mechanisms from gene level. | 2019 | 30640017 |
| 8532 | 10 | 0.9724 | Simultaneous volatile fatty acids promotion and antibiotic resistance genes reduction in fluoranthene-induced sludge alkaline fermentation: Regulation of microbial consortia and cell functions. The impact and mechanism of fluoranthene (Flr), a typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon highly detected in sludge, on alkaline fermentation for volatile fatty acids (VFAs) recovery and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transfer were studied. The results demonstrated that VFAs production increased from 2189 to 4272 mg COD/L with a simultaneous reduction of ARGs with Flr. The hydrolytic enzymes and genes related to glucose and amino acid metabolism were provoked. Also, Flr benefited for the enrichment of hydrolytic-acidifying consortia (i.e., Parabacteroides and Alkalibaculum) while reduced VFAs consumers (i.e., Rubrivivax) and ARGs potential hosts (i.e., Rubrivivax and Pseudomonas). Metagenomic analysis indicated that the genes related to cell wall synthesis, biofilm formation and substrate transporters to maintain high VFAs-producer activities were upregulated. Moreover, cell functions of efflux pump and Type IV secretion system were suppressed to inhibit ARGs proliferation. This study provided intrinsic mechanisms of Flr-induced VFAs promotion and ARGs reduction during alkaline fermentation. | 2024 | 38266788 |
| 8487 | 11 | 0.9722 | Mechanisms of nano zero-valent iron in enhancing dibenzofuran degradation by a Rhodococcus sp.: Trade-offs between ATP production and protection against reactive oxygen species. Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) can enhance pollutants biodegradation, but it displays toxicity towards microorganisms. Gram-positive (G(+)) bacteria exhibit greater resistance to nZVI than Gram-negative bacteria. However, mechanisms of nZVI accelerating pollutants degradation by G(+) bacteria remain unclear. Herein, we explored effects of nZVI on a G(+) bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. strain p52, and mechanisms by which nZVI accelerates biodegradation of dibenzofuran, a typical polycyclic aromatic compound. Electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis revealed that nZVI could penetrate cell membranes, which caused damage and growth inhibition. nZVI promoted dibenzofuran biodegradation at certain concentrations, while higher concentration functioned later due to the delayed reactive oxygen species (ROS) mitigation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that cells adopted response mechanisms to handle the elevated ROS induced by nZVI. ATP production was enhanced by accelerated dibenzofuran degradation, providing energy for protein synthesis related to antioxidant stress and damage repair. Meanwhile, electron transport chain (ETC) was adjusted to mitigate ROS accumulation, which involved downregulating expression of ETC complex I-related genes, as well as upregulating expression of the genes for the ROS-scavenging cytochrome bd complex and ETC complex II. These findings revealed the mechanisms underlying nZVI-enhanced biodegradation by G(+) bacteria, offering insights into optimizing bioremediation strategies involving nZVI. | 2025 | 39549579 |
| 7888 | 12 | 0.9720 | Microecology of aerobic denitrification system construction driven by cyclic stress of sulfamethoxazole. The construction of aerobic denitrification (AD) systems in an antibiotic-stressed environment is a serious challenge. This study investigated strategy of cyclic stress with concentration gradient (5-30 mg/L) of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), to achieve operation of AD. Total nitrogen removal efficiency of system increased from about 10 % to 95 %. Original response of abundant-rare genera to antibiotics was changed by SMX stress, particularly conditionally rare or abundant taxa (CRAT). AD process depends on synergistic effect of heterotrophic nitrifying aerobic denitrification bacteria (Paracoccus, Thauera, Hypomicrobium, etc). AmoABC, napA, and nirK were functionally co-expressed with multiple antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) (acrR, ereAB, and mdtO), facilitating AD process. ARGs and TCA cycling synergistically enhance the antioxidant and electron transport capacities of AD process. Antibiotic efflux pump mechanism played an important role in operation of AD. The study provides strong support for regulating activated sludge to achieve in situ AD function. | 2024 | 38710419 |
| 7860 | 13 | 0.9719 | Enhanced removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes by three-dimensional electrochemical process using MgFe(2)O(4)-loaded biochar as both particle electrode and catalyst for peroxymonosulfate activation. In this study, MgFe(2)O(4)-loaded biochar (MFBC) was used as a three-dimensional particle electrode to active peroxymonosulfate (EC/MFBC/PMS) for the removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The results demonstrated that, under the conditions of 1.0 mM PMS concentration, 0.4 g/L material dosage, 5 V voltage intensity, and MFBC preparation temperature of 600 °C, the EC/MFBC600/PMS system achieved complete inactivation of E. coli DH5α within 5 min and the intracellular sul1 was reduced by 81.5 % after 30 min of the treatment. Compared to EC and PMS alone treatments, the conjugation transfer frequency of sul1 rapidly declined by 92.9 % within 2 min. The cell membrane, proteins, lipids, as well as intracellular and extracellular ARGs in E. coli DH5α were severely damaged by free radicals in solution and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, up-regulation was observed in genes associated with oxidative stress, SOS response and cell membrane permeability in E. coli DH5α, however, no significant changes were observed in functional genes related to gene conjugation and transfer mechanisms. This study would contribute to the underlying of PMS activation by three-dimensional particle electrode, and provide novel insights into the mechanism of ARB inactivation and ARGs degradation under PMS advanced oxidation treatment. | 2024 | 39197284 |
| 520 | 14 | 0.9717 | Respiratory chain components are required for peptidoglycan recognition protein-induced thiol depletion and killing in Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Mammalian peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs or PGLYRPs) kill bacteria through induction of synergistic oxidative, thiol, and metal stress. Tn-seq screening of Bacillus subtilis transposon insertion library revealed that mutants in the shikimate pathway of chorismate synthesis had high survival following PGLYRP4 treatment. Deletion mutants for these genes had decreased amounts of menaquinone (MK), increased resistance to killing, and attenuated depletion of thiols following PGLYRP4 treatment. These effects were reversed by MK or reproduced by inhibiting MK synthesis. Deletion of cytochrome aa(3)-600 or NADH dehydrogenase (NDH) genes also increased B. subtilis resistance to PGLYRP4-induced killing and attenuated thiol depletion. PGLYRP4 treatment also inhibited B. subtilis respiration. Similarly in Escherichia coli, deletion of ubiquinone (UQ) synthesis, formate dehydrogenases (FDH), NDH-1, or cytochrome bd-I genes attenuated PGLYRP4-induced thiol depletion. PGLYRP4-induced low level of cytoplasmic membrane depolarization in B. subtilis and E. coli was likely not responsible for thiol depletion. Thus, our results show that the respiratory electron transport chain components, cytochrome aa(3)-600, MK, and NDH in B. subtilis, and cytochrome bd-I, UQ, FDH-O, and NDH-1 in E. coli, are required for both PGLYRP4-induced killing and thiol depletion and indicate conservation of the PGLYRP4-induced thiol depletion and killing mechanisms in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. | 2021 | 33420211 |
| 7877 | 15 | 0.9716 | External circuit loading mode regulates anode biofilm electrochemistry and pollutants removal in microbial fuel cells. This study investigated the effects of different external circuit loading mode on pollutants removal and power generation in microbial fuel cells (MFC). The results indicated that MFC exhibited distinct characteristics of higher maximum power density (P(max)) (named MFC-HP) and lower P(max) (named MFC-LP). And the capacitive properties of bioanodes may affect anodic electrochemistry. Reducing external load to align with the internal resistance increased P(max) of MFC-LP by 54.47 %, without no obvious effect on MFC-HP. However, intermittent external resistance loading (IER) mitigated the biotoxic effects of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) (a persistent organic pollutant) on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH(4)(+)-N removal and maintained high P(max) (424.33 mW/m(2)) in MFC-HP. Meanwhile, IER mode enriched electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) and environmental adaptive bacteria Advenella, which may reduce antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) accumulation. This study suggested that the external circuit control can be effective means to regulate electrochemical characteristics and pollutants removal performance of MFC. | 2024 | 39153696 |
| 7883 | 16 | 0.9714 | Anammox biofilm system under the stress of Hg(II): Nitrogen removal performance, microbial community dynamic and resistance genes expression. The existence of heavy metals in wastewater has obtained more attention due to its high toxicity and non-degradability. In this study, we investigated the changes of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) system under long-term invasion of Hg(Ⅱ). The results indicated that the total nitrogen removal efficiency (TNRE) dropped to around 55 % as Hg(Ⅱ) concentration went up to 20 mg L(-1). But the functional bacteria rapidly developed some resistant abilities and maintained a stable TNRE of 65 % till the end of test. The maximum relative expression fold change of merA, merB, merD and merR were 468.8476, 23.7383, 5.0321 and 15.2514 times, respectively. The high positive correlation between the expression abundance of metal resistance genes and the concentrations of Hg(Ⅱ) revealed the resistant mechanisms of microorganisms to heavy metals. Moreover, the protective strategy based on extracellular polymeric substances also contributed to the stability of Anammox system. | 2020 | 32315795 |
| 8492 | 17 | 0.9713 | Promotion effects and mechanisms of molybdenum disulfide on the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes in soil. The rapid development of nanotechnology has aroused considerable attentions toward understanding the effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on the propagation of antibiotic resistance. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) is an extensively used ENM and poses potential risks associated with environmental exposure; nevertheless, the role of MoS(2) toward antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transfer remains largely unknown. Herein, it was discovered that MoS(2) nanosheets accelerated the horizontal transfer of RP4 plasmid across Escherichia coli in a dose-dependent manner (0.5-10 mg/L), with the maximum transfer frequency 2.07-fold higher than that of the control. Integration of physiological, transcriptomics, and metabolomics analyses demonstrated that SOS response in bacteria was activated by MoS(2) due to the elevation of oxidative damage, accompanied by cell membrane permeabilization. MoS(2) promoted bacterial adhesion and intercellular contact via stimulating the secretion of extracellular polysaccharides. The ATP levels were maximally increased by 305.7 % upon exposure to MoS(2), and the expression of plasmid transfer genes was up-regulated, contributing to the accelerated plasmid conjugation and increased ARG abundance in soil. Our findings highlight the roles of emerging ENMs (e.g., MoS(2)) in ARGs dissemination, which is significant for the safe applications and risk management of ENMs under the development scenarios of nanotechnology. | 2023 | 37062264 |
| 8493 | 18 | 0.9713 | Effects and mechanisms of plant growth regulators on horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes through plasmid-mediated conjugation. A vast number of bacteria occur in both soil and plants, with some of them harboring antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). When bacteria congregate on the interface of soil particles or on plant root surfaces, these ARGs can be transferred between bacteria via conjugation, leading to the formation of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that threaten human health. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are widely used in agricultural production, promoting plant growth and increasing crop yields. However, until now, little information has been known about the effects of PGRs on the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs. In this study, with Escherichia coli DH5α (carrying RP4 plasmid with Tet(R), Amp(R), Kan(R)) as the donor and E. coli HB101 as the recipient, a series of diparental conjugation experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of indoleacetic acid (IAA), ethel (ETH) and gibberellin (GA(3)) on HGT of ARGs via plasmid-mediated conjugation. Furthermore, the mechanisms involved were also clarified. The results showed that all three PGRs affected the ARG transfer frequency by inducing the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, changing the cell membrane permeability, and regulating the gene transcription of traA, traL, trfAp, trbBp, kilA, and korA in plasmid RP4. In detail, 50-100 mg⋅L(-1) IAA, 20-50 mg⋅L(-1) ETH and 1500-2500 mg⋅L(-1) GA(3) all significantly promoted the ARG conjugation. This study indicated that widespread use of PGRs in agricultural production could affect the HGT of ARGs via plasmid-mediated conjugation, and the application of reasonable concentrations of PGRs could reduce the ARG transmission in both soil environments and plants. | 2023 | 36720410 |
| 8489 | 19 | 0.9712 | Signaling molecules accelerate the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes under the stress of copper. Heavy metals can accelerate the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments by imposing environmental stresses. Signaling molecules play a role in bacterial communication and help bacteria adapt to environmental stresses. However, little is known whether the presence of signaling molecules has an effect on the spread of ARGs induced by heavy metals. In this study, we investigated how N-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL) affects copper-induced conjugative transfer of ARGs. We calculated the conjugative transfer frequency and measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, membrane permeability, and the expression of relevant genes. The results demonstrated that the addition of C10-HSL increased the conjugative transfer frequency of ARGs under copper ions (Cu(2+)) stress, showing a 7.2-fold increase under 0.5 μM Cu(2+) and 0.39 μM C10-HSL treatment compared to the control. This enhancement was associated with elevated intracellular ROS production and increased membrane permeability. The reduced conjugative transfer frequency under anaerobic conditions or with thiourea treatment supported the key role of ROS in this process. Furthermore, ROS overproduction triggered the SOS response, as evidenced by a 9-fold upregulation of recA expression. C10-HSL also modulated membrane-associated gene expression by upregulating outer membrane porins and downregulating efflux pump genes under Cu(2+)stress. This study provides a new insight into the spread of ARGs in aquatic environments. | 2025 | 40840413 |