Effect of subinhibitory concentrations on the spreading of the ampicillin resistance gene in an activated sludge microcosm.

As the problem of multi-resistant bacteria grows a better understanding of the spread of antibiotic resistance genes is of utmost importance for society. Wastewater treatment plants contain subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics and are thought to be hotspots for antibiotic resistance gene propagation. Here we evaluate the influence of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on the spread of resistance genes within the bacterial community in activated sludge laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors.

The effect of disinfectants and antiseptics on co- and cross-selection of resistance to antibiotics in aquatic environments and wastewater treatment plants.

The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to increased use of disinfectants and antiseptics (DAs), resulting in higher concentrations of these compounds in wastewaters, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and receiving water bodies. Their constant presence in water bodies may lead to development and acquisition of resistance against the DAs. In addition, they may also promote antibiotic resistance (AR) due to cross- and co-selection of AR among bacteria that are exposed to the DAs, which is a highly important issue with regards to human and environmental health.

Effect of low temperature and municipal wastewater organic loading on anaerobic granule reactor performance.

Biogas production and municipal wastewater COD removal at low temperatures by granulated anaerobic biomass were investigated. Two anaerobic granule reactors were operated continuously for 1025 days by stepwise increase of organic loading from 1.3 to 15.

A Review on Occurrence and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Wastewaters and in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Mechanisms and Perspectives.

This paper reviews current knowledge on sources, spread and removal mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in microbial communities of wastewaters, treatment plants and downstream recipients. Antibiotic is the most important tool to cure bacterial infections in humans and animals. The over- and misuse of antibiotics have played a major role in the development, spread, and prevalence of antibiotic resistance (AR) in the microbiomes of humans and animals, and microbial ecosystems worldwide.

Engineered methanotrophic syntrophy in photogranule communities removes dissolved methane.

The anaerobic treatment of wastewater leads to the loss of dissolved methane in the effluent of the treatment plant, especially when operated at low temperatures. The emission of this greenhouse gas may reduce or even offset the environmental gain from energy recovery through anaerobic treatment. We demonstrate here the removal and elimination of these comparably small methane concentrations using an ecologically engineered methanotrophic community harbored in oxygenic photogranules.