Horizontal and vertical gene transfer drive sediment antibiotic resistome in an urban lagoon system

Rapid urbanization has resulted in pervasive occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in urban aquatic ecosystems. However, limited information is available concerning the ARG profiles and the forces responsible for their assembly in urban landscape lagoon systems. Here, we employed high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR) to characterize the spatial variations of ARGs in surface and core sediments of Yundang Lagoon, China. The results indicated that the average richness and absolute abundance of ARGs were 11 and 53 times higher in the lagoon sediments as compared to pristine reference Tibetan lake sediments, highlighting the role of anthropogenic activities in ARG pollution. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that various anaerobic prokaryotic genera belonging to Alpha-, Deltaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Euryarchaeota, Firmicutes and Synergistetes were the potential hosts of ARGs. The partial least squares-path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis revealed positive and negative indirect effects of physicochemical factors and heavy metals on the lagoon ARG profiles, via biotic factors, respectively. The horizontal (mediated by mobile genetic elements) and vertical (mediated by prokaryotic communities) gene transfer may directly contribute the most to drive the abundance and composition of ARGs, respectively. Furthermore, the neutral community model demonstrated that the assembly of sediment ARG communities was jointly governed by deterministic and stochastic processes. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the diversity and distribution of ARGs in the benthic habitat of urban lagoon systems and underlying mechanisms for the spread and proliferation of ARGs.     

紫色土丘陵区畜禽养殖场土壤中抗生素抗性基因分布特征

鉴于紫色土高垦殖丘陵区土壤中抗生素抗性基因的潜在生态环境风险,本研究采用高通量荧光定量PCR技术,分析了抗生素抗性基因在不同类型畜禽养殖场(养猪场、养鸡场和养牛场)土壤中的丰度和多样性.结果表明,3种养殖场土壤中共检出79种抗生素抗性基因和5种可移动基因元件,其中多重耐药类基因是养殖场土壤中丰度最高的耐药基因.不同养殖场土壤中抗生素抗性基因的丰度和多样性均表现为养鸡场和养猪场样品高于养牛场土壤,且3种养殖场土壤样品中的抗性基因表现出不同的类别分布特征.养殖场土壤中较高的可移动基因元件丰度,及其与抗生素抗性基因丰度显著的相关性(P0. 05)说明,可移动基因元件可能促进了抗生素抗性基因在养殖场土壤中的迁移和扩散.     

梅花鹿养殖场抗生素抗性基因分布特征

梅花鹿养殖是近年来我国南方地区出现的新兴养殖业.为探究梅花鹿养殖对养殖环境抗生素抗性基因的影响,采用高通量荧光定量PCR研究了抗生素抗性基因在养殖场区对照土壤、梅花鹿新鲜粪便、梅花鹿粪便堆肥产物和施用堆肥菜地土壤中的分布、丰度和多样性.结果表明,抗性基因的绝对丰度梅花鹿粪便堆肥产物梅花鹿新鲜粪便施用堆肥菜地土壤养殖场区对照土壤,抗生素抗性基因在4种环境样品中具有不同分布格局;梅花鹿养殖场环境中抗性基因丰度与可移动基因元件丰度显著相关(P0.05),表明可移动基因元件可能加快了抗性基因的水平转移过程,促进了抗性基因的迁移、传播和富集,加剧了养殖环境抗生素抗性基因污染.     

微塑料影响抗性基因的传播与水平基因转移

微塑料作为一种新兴污染物,在多种环境介质（大气、土壤、水体、沉积物）中均有广泛检出.微塑料能够通过表面形成的生物膜结构携带抗性基因,对人体健康造成的潜在风险已经引起了国内外学者的广泛关注.但是,微塑料在抗性基因的长距离传播以及水平转移方面所发挥的功能,以及微塑料传播耐药性所导致的生态与环境效应还尚不明晰.本文重点对不同环境中的微塑料与抗性基因的污染现状进行了综述讨论,对微塑料传播抗性基因的主要方式与过程进行了对比分析,最后概述了微塑料参与调控抗性基因水平转移的机制,并对未来相关研究的重点方向进行了展望,以促进微塑料污染问题的科学解决.     

环境中抗生素抗性基因丰度与抗生素和重金属含量的相关性分析:基于Web of Science数据库检索

抗生素和重金属是两种重要的环境污染物和耐药性选择压力源,但低含量水平下其对环境微生物种群耐药性水平的影响尚不明确.本文全面检索了截至2020年1月1日发表在Web of Science数据库中同时监测了抗生素抗性基因（ARGs）丰度、抗生素含量或重金属含量的研究文献,提取相关数据,利用统计回归方法调查环境介质中3个参数的相关关系.结果表明,除废水外,地表水、沉积物和土壤等环境介质中,即使在非常低的抗生素含量水平下,抗生素选择压力也会对ARGs丰度的增加产生显著的统计效应（P<0.05）.不同类别抗生素对耐药基因表现出不同程度的选择和富集作用.重金属含量以及抗生素含量和重金属含量的交互作用对ARGs的传播也具有显著影响（P<0.05）.水相和固相环境样本的多变量统计回归模型的最终R²分别为0.482和0.707,比单变量回归的R²更高,能更好地解释ARGs丰度的差异,但环境中还存在其他可能影响ARGs丰度的因素.本文的研究结果可为环境中抗生素耐药性风险评估及传播控制提供支撑.     

Co-occurrence of genes for antibiotic resistance and arsenic biotransformation in paddy soils

Paddy soils are potential hotspots of combined contamination with arsenic (As) and antibiotics, which may induce co-selection of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and As biotransformation genes (ABGs), resulting in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and modification in As biogeochemical cycling. So far, little information is available for these co-selection processes and specific patterns between ABGs and ARGs in paddy soils. Here, the 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and high-throughput quantitative PCR and network analysis were employed to investigate the dynamic response of ABGs and ARGs to As stress and manure application. The results showed that As stress increased the abundance of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), resulting in dissemination risk of antimicrobial resistance. Manure amendment increased the abundance of ABGs, enhanced As mobilization and methylation in paddy soil, posing risk to food safety. The frequency of the co-occurrence between ABGs and ARGs, the host bacteria carrying both ARGs and ABGs were increased by As or manure treatment, and remarkably boosted in soils amended with both As and manure. Multidrug resistance genes were found to have the preference to be co-selected with ABGs, which was one of the dominant co-occurring ARGs in all treatments, and manure amendment increased the frequency of Macrolide-Lincosamide-Streptogramin B resistance (MLSB) to co-occur with ABGs. Bacillus and Clostridium of Firmicutes are the dominant host bacteria carrying both ABGs and ARGs in paddy soils. This study would extend our understanding on the co-selection between genes for antibiotics and metals, also unveil the hidden environmental effects of combined pollution.     

Coastal mudflats as reservoirs of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes: Studies in Eastern China

Despite coastal mudflats serving as essential ecological zones interconnecting terrestrial/freshwater and marine systems, little is known about the profiles of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in this area. In this study, characteristics of typical ARGs, involving both intracellular (iARGs) and extracellular ARGs (eARGs) at different physical states, were explored in over 1000 km of coastal mudflats in Eastern China. Results indicated the presence of iARGs and eARGs at states of both freely present or attached by particles. The abundance of eARGs was significantly higher than that of iARGs (87.3% vs 12.7%), and their dominance was more significant than those in other habitats (52.7%-76.3%). ARG abundance, especially for eARGs, showed an increasing trend (p < 0.05) from southern (Nantong) to northern (Lianyungang) coastal mudflats. Higher salinity facilitated the transformation from iARGs to eARGs, and smaller soil particle size was conducive to the persistence of eARGs in northern coastal mudflats. This study addresses the neglected function of coastal mudflats as eARGs reservoirs.     

Metagenomic insights into the profile of antibiotic resistomes in sediments of aquaculture wastewater treatment system

To meet the rapidly growing global demand for aquaculture products, large amounts of antibiotics were used in aquaculture, which might accelerate the evolution of antibioticresistant bacteria(ARB) and the propagation of antibiotic genes(ARGs). In our research, we revealed the ARGs profiles, their co-occurrence with mobile genetic elements(MGEs), and potential hosts in sediments of a crab pond wastewater purification system based on metagenomic analysis. The residual antibiotic seems to increase ...     

Export of dissolved carbonaceous and nitrogenous substances in rivers of the “Water Tower of Asia”

Rivers are critical links in the carbon and nitrogen cycle in aquatic,terrestrial,and atmospheric environments.Here riverine carbon and nitrogen exports in nine large rivers on the Tibetan Plateau—the"Water Tower of Asia"—were investigated in the monsoon season from 2013 to 2015.Compared with the world average,concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon(DIC,30.7 mg/L)were high in river basins of the plateau due to extensive topographic relief and intensive water erosion.Low concentrations of dissolved organic carbon(DOC,1.16 mg/L)were likely due to the low temperature and unproductive land vegetation environments.Average concentrations of riverine DIN(0.32 mg/L)and DON(0.35 mg/L)on the Tibetan Plateau were close to the world average.However,despite its predominantly pristine environment,discharge from agricultural activities and urban areas of the plateau has raised riverine N export.In addition,DOC/DON ratio(C/N,~6.5)in rivers of the Tibetan Plateau was much lower than the global average,indicating that dissolved organic carbon in the rivers of this region might be more bioavailable.Therefore,along with global warming and anthropogenic activities,increasing export of bioavailable riverine carbon and nitrogen from rivers of the Tibetan Plateau can be expected in the future,which will possibly influence the regional carbon and nitrogen cycle.     

土壤中抗生素抗性基因的分布及迁移转化

为明晰土壤中抗生素抗性基因的存在及传播状况,并为开展抗生素抗性基因土壤污染的风险评价工作提供科学的理论依据.本文根据抗生素抗性基因存在和转移的理论基础,结合国内外研究进展,详细阐述了土壤中抗生素抗性基因的来源、分布传播及其影响因素,发现已有研究对外源抗生素抗性基因在土壤中的丰度和种类变化的研究较为深入,而对其在土壤中的空间分布特征、传播扩散及行为机理等研究工作尚处于起步阶段.因此提出未来土壤抗生素抗性基因的研究重点应为掌握抗生素抗性基因的空间分布、溯源、迁移转化规律及其关键制约因子,并建立相应的数量关系.     

北京地区菜田土壤抗生素抗性基因的分布特征

为研究北京地区菜田土壤抗生素抗性基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)的污染状况和分布特征,采集了11个长期施用粪肥蔬菜基地的温室土壤和大田土壤,进行了抗生素以及ARGs种类和丰度的检测.结果表明,菜田土壤中四环素类抗生素残留量最高,其次为磺胺类抗生素,温室土壤抗生素残留普遍高于大田土壤.温室和大田土壤磺胺类抗性基因sul1、sul2和四环素类抗性基因tet L的检出率均为100%.温室土壤的Ⅰ类整合子(int I1)检出率比大田土壤高1.5倍.定量PCR的检测结果表明,菜田土壤中sul2和tet L的相对丰度介于10-4~10-2之间,温室土壤sul2和tet L的相对丰度普遍高于大田土壤.sul2的相对丰度与磺胺二甲嘧啶和强力霉素的含量显著正相关(P0.05),tet L相对丰度与抗生素含量无明显相关性(P0.05).本研究结果对于掌握北京地区农田土壤ARGs的污染现状,以及从ARGs角度评估农艺措施具有重要的指导意义.     

基于宏基因组学探讨东平湖水库的菌群结构、耐药基因谱及其公共健康风险

水库中长时间滞留的水体会成为耐药基因的存储库,因此研究其菌群结构、耐药基因谱及其潜在的健康风险具有重要的公共卫生学意义.本研究以东平湖水库的水体和沉积物为研究对象,采用宏基因组测序技术,系统分析其在旱季和雨季中的菌群结构、耐药基因谱、耐药基因水平转移以及携带耐药基因的致病菌类型.结果表明,与水库沉积物相比,水体中的菌群结构和耐药基因谱受季节影响较大,且旱季的总耐药基因丰度明显高于雨季;水库沉积物中总耐药基因丰度高于水体,但水体中耐药基因的水平转移高于沉积物.本研究共检测到20个耐药基因型,377个耐药基因亚型;杆菌素和万古霉素耐药基因分别是水和沉积物中主要的耐药基因型,变形杆菌和放线菌分别是水体和沉积物中主要携带耐药基因的菌群.此外,本研究还鉴定出30株携带耐药基因的致病菌,包括大肠杆菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌、肠炎沙门氏菌以及鲍曼不动杆菌,其中有2株大肠杆菌携带毒力因子.综上所述,东平湖水库中的耐药基因不仅种类繁多,而且还存在潜在的公共健康风险;因此定期检测水体环境的菌群结构及其耐药基因谱具有重要的科学价值和现实意义.     

Film mulching reduces antibiotic resistance genes in the phyllosphere of lettuce

Phyllosphere is an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs), but the transfer mechanism of ARGs from soil and air to phyllosphere remains unclear. This study demonstrated that soil-air-phyllosphere was the dominant ARG transfer pathway, and blocking it by film mulching can reduce typical phyllosphere ARGs in lettuce by 80.7%-98.7%(89.5% on average). To further eliminate phyllosphere ARGs in lettuce grown with film mulching, the internal soil-endosphere-phyllosphere transfer pathw...     

Comparison of different disinfection processes in the effective removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes

This study compared three different disinfection processes(chlorination, E-beam, and ozone) and the efficacy of three oxidants(H2O2, S2O-8, and peroxymonosulfate(MPS)) in removing antibiotic resistant bacteria(ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs) in a synthetic wastewater. More than30 mg/L of chlorine was needed to remove over 90% of ARB and ARG. For the E-beam method, only1 dose(kGy) was needed to remove ARB and ARG, and ozone could reduce ARB and ARG by more than 90% even at 3 mg/L ozone concentration. In the ozone process, CT values(concentration × time)were compared for ozone alone and combined with different catalysts based on the 2-log removal of ARB and ARG. Ozone treatment yielded a value of 31 and 33(mg·min)/L for ARB and ARGs respectively. On the other hand, ozone with persulfate yielded 15.9 and 18.5(mg·min)/L while ozone with monopersulfate yielded a value of 12 and 14.5(mg·min)/L. This implies that the addition of these catalysts significantly reduces the contact time to achieve a 2-log removal, thus enhancing the process in terms of its kinetics.     

Temporal variation and sharing of antibiotic resistance genes between water and wild fish gut in a peri-urban river

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) as emergence contaminations have spread widely in the water environment. Wild fish may be recipients and communicators of ARGs in the water environment, however, the distribution and transmission of ARGs in the wild fish and relevant water environment were rarely reported. Here, we have profiled ARGs and bacterial communities in wild freshwater fish and relevant water in a peri-urban river using high-throughput qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequence. A total of 80 and 220 unique ARG subtypes were identified in fish and water samples. Fish and water both showed significant ARG seasonal variations (P < 0.05). The highest absolute abundance of ARGs in fish and water occurred in summer (1.32 × 10⁹ copies per g, on average) and autumn (9.04 × 10⁶ copies per mL), respectively. In addition, the bipartite network analysis showed that 9 ARGs and 1 mobile genetic element continuously shared in fish and water. Furthermore, bacteria shared in fish and water were found to significantly correlate with shard ARGs. The findings demonstrate that bacteria and ARGs in fish and water could interconnect and ARGs might transfer between fish and water using bacteria as a spreading medium.     

动物粪便施肥措施促进耐药基因在粪便-土壤-蔬菜之间的散播

耐药基因（antibiotic resistant gene,ARG）在动物粪肥施用的土壤中被越来越多地检出,已经引起了人们对公共安全的担忧,但目前关于动物粪便施肥对蔬菜内生菌中耐药基因的影响尚不清楚.因此,本研究利用高通量定量PCR技术,探讨鸡粪肥施用对土壤、苦菊根和叶片中内生细菌菌群和耐药基因谱的影响.研究结果发现,鸡粪肥的施用不仅增加了土壤和苦菊根内生菌中ARG的数量,而且增加了土壤、苦菊根和叶片中内生菌的ARG丰度.相关性分析显示,土壤菌群和苦菊内生菌中ARG谱与细菌菌群组成密切相关,主要涉及变形杆菌纲、酸杆菌纲、放线菌纲和蓝藻细菌纲等细菌菌群.此外,苦菊内生菌与土壤菌群之间存在共有的ARG,表明土壤-苦菊之间存在耐药基因的内部传播.综上所述,鸡粪肥施用会通过粪便-土壤-植物路径增加蔬菜内生菌中ARG的多样性和丰度.     

近15年我国土壤抗生素污染特征与生物修复研究进展

近年来,抗生素及其抗性基因(ARGs)污染问题受到国内外学者的广泛关注,土壤作为抗生素和ARGs迁移转化重要的汇给土壤生物和人类健康带来了威胁.从近15年的相关调查研究结果来看,全国各地土壤遭受了不同程度的抗生素污染.生物修复是一种绿色且环保的修复技术,在治理抗生素污染土壤方面有着巨大的潜力.通过综述近15年我国土壤抗生素污染的时空变化特征,总结植物、动物和微生物在抗生素污染土壤修复方面的应用,特别介绍了微生物电化学系统在消减土壤中抗生素和ARGs的研究进展,并指出了相关研究存在的不足和未来发展的方向,以期为土壤污染修复提供科学依据.     

噬菌体编码的抗生素抗性基因研究进展

噬菌体作为地球上丰度最高的生物体,对于全球生态系统的微生物群落组成与动态,生物地球化学循环和细菌进化等都具有重要作用,但噬菌体对抗生素抗性的贡献还所知甚少.通过宏基因组测序和定量PCR等技术,发现了海洋,河流,土壤,动物肠道等环境的噬菌体基因组中存在多种耐药基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs).因此,噬菌体及其介导的转导作用可能对ARGs的富集扩散发挥着重要作用.本文综述了不同环境介质的噬菌体基因组中ARGs的分布特征以及噬菌体介导的ARGs水平转移的研究进展,同时展望了为阐明噬菌体对抗生素抗性贡献需要解决的科学问题.本文将为了解噬菌体在ARGs传播扩散中的作用以及扩展对可移动抗性组的认知奠定基础.     

畜禽养殖废水生物处理与农田利用过程抗生素抗性基因的转归特征研究进展

兽用抗生素的广泛使用造成了畜禽养殖场及其周边环境中抗生素抗性基因丰度的提高,而畜禽养殖废水所携带的抗性基因在生物处理及其农田利用过程中的转归规律尚不明确,存在抗性基因从畜禽养殖场向周边环境的传播风险.本文通过文献调研,综述了畜禽养殖废水中抗性基因的赋存特征、抗性基因在畜禽养殖废水生物处理和农田利用过程中转归的研究进展,并提出了今后的研究方向,以期为揭示畜禽养殖废水在生物处理和农田利用过程中抗性基因的消减规律、降低抗性基因传播风险提供借鉴.     

微塑料对河水抗生素抗性基因的影响

微塑料和抗生素抗性基因都是环境中的新型污染物,两者的复合污染引发了一定的生态环境风险,成为近年的研究热点.本文采集了城市郊区河水,添加不易降解微塑料(聚氯乙烯,PVC)和水溶性微塑料(聚乙烯醇,PVA)进行曝气培养实验,采用高通量定量PCR技术,研究微塑料对河水抗生素抗性基因的影响.结果表明,空白对照河水、添加PVC的河水和添加PVA的河水抗性基因种类数分别为71、 87和95种,微塑料的存在显著增加了河水抗生素抗性基因种类,进而可能增加河流生态风险;曝气培养的河水中抗性基因的种类数和丰度有所减少,但是相对于空白对照组(2.8×10~9 copies·L~(-1)),添加具有水溶性的微塑料仍能显著增加河水抗性基因丰度(8.1×10~9 copies·L~(-1)),并且抗生素抗性基因丰度与可移动遗传元件呈显著正相关关系,说明可移动遗传元件可能通过基因横向转移机制影响抗生素抗性基因的赋存与演变.