Aquatic microplastics (MPs) act as reservoirs for microbial communities, fostering the formation of a mobile resistome encompassing diverse antibiotic (ARGs) and biocide/metal resistance genes (BMRGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). This collective genetic repertoire, referred to as the "plastiome," can potentially perpetuate environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our study examining two Japanese rivers near Tokyo revealed that waterborne MPs are primarily composed of polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and sheets of diverse origin. Clinically important genera like Exiguobacterium and Eubacterium were notably enriched on MPs. Metagenomic analysis uncovered a 3.46-fold higher enrichment of ARGs on MPs than those in water, with multidrug resistance genes (MDRGs) and BMRGs prevailing, particularly within MPs. Specific ARG and BMRG subtypes linked to resistance to vancomycin, beta-lactams, biocides, arsenic, and mercury showed selective enrichment on MPs. Network analysis revealed intense associations between host genera with ARGs, BMRGs, and MGEs on MPs, emphasizing their role in coselection. In contrast, river water exhibited weaker associations. This study underscores the complex interactions shaping the mobile plastiome in aquatic environments and emphasizes the global imperative for research to comprehend and effectively control AMR within the One Health framework.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134353 | DOI Listing |
Environ Res
January 2025
College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address:
Urban rivers are the main water bodies humans frequently come into contact with, so the risks posed are closely monitored. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) residues in reclaimed water pose serious risks to human health. There are urgent needs to improve the understanding of distribution of and risks posed by ARGs in urban rivers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hazard Mater
December 2024
College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address:
The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in activated sludge (AS) systems poses significant environmental and public health challenges. The role of viruses, primarily bacteriophages, in storing and spreading ARGs in AS systems remains largely unexplored. This study characterized the viral community, virus-associated ARGs (vir_ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) of aerobic AS viromes from eight wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in eastern China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Pollut
December 2024
Xiamen Key Laboratory of Indoor Air and Health, Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
J Hazard Mater
December 2024
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Carbon Neutrality, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
Anaerobic digestion (AD) reject water serves as a significant reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), underscoring the importance of understanding ARGs dynamics during treatment processes. Partial nitritation /anammox (PN/A) has become an increasingly adopted process, while comprehensive investigation on ARG behavior within this system, especially in full-scale, remains limited. This study explores the distribution of ARGs in a full-scale two-stage PN/A system, with an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (AAO) system for comparison.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater Res
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China. Electronic address:
As a byproduct of shale gas extraction, flowback water (FW) is produced in large quantities globally. Due to the unique interactions between pollutants and microorganisms, FW always harbor multiple antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that have been confirmed in our previous findings, potentially serving as a point source for ARGs released into the environment. However, whether ARGs in FW can disseminate or integrate into the environmental resistome remains unclear.
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