Elimination of antibiotic resistance genes and control of horizontal transfer risk by UV-based treatment of drinking water: A mini review

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes are in water bodies. UV/chlorination method is better to remove ARGs than UV or chlorination alone. Research on UV/hydrogen peroxide to eliminate ARGs is forthcoming. UV-based photocatalytic processes are effective to degrade ARGs. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been recognized as one of the biggest public health issues of the 21st century. Both ARB and ARGs have been determined in water after treatment with conventional disinfectants. Ultraviolet (UV) technology has been seen growth in application to disinfect the water. However, UV method alone is not adequate to degrade ARGs in water. Researchers are investigating the combination of UV with other oxidants (chlorine, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), peroxymonosulfate (PMS), and photocatalysts) to harness the high reactivity of produced reactive species (Clž·, ClOž·ž, Clž₂·ž⁻, žž·OH, and SOž₄ž·⁻€) in such processes with constituents of cell (e.g., deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and its components) in order to increase the degradation efficiency of ARGs. This paper briefly reviews the current status of different UV-based treatments (UV/chlorination, UV/H₂O₂, UV/PMS, and UV-photocatalysis) to degrade ARGs and to control horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in water. The review also provides discussion on the mechanism of degradation of ARGs and application of q-PCR and gel electrophoresis to obtain insights of the fate of ARGs during UV-based treatment processes.     

Bacteriophages in water pollution control: Advantages and limitations

•Phages can be better indicators of enteric viruses than fecal indicator bacteria. •Multiple phages should be added to the microbial source tracking toolbox. •Engineered phage or phage cocktail can effectively target resistant bacteria. •In phage use, phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer cannot be ignored. •More schemes are needed to prevent phage concentration from decreasing. Wastewater is a breeding ground for many pathogens, which may pose a threat to human health through various water transmission pathways. Therefore, a simple and effective method is urgently required to monitor and treat wastewater. As bacterial viruses, bacteriophages (phages) are the most widely distributed and abundant organisms in the biosphere. Owing to their capacity to specifically infect bacterial hosts, they have recently been used as novel tools in water pollution control. The purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate the roles of phages in monitoring pathogens, tracking pollution sources, treating pathogenic bacteria, infecting bloom-forming cyanobacteria, and controlling bulking sludge and biofilm pollution in wastewater treatment systems. We also discuss the limitations of phage usage in water pollution control, including phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer, the evolution of bacterial resistance, and phage concentration decrease. This review provides an integrated outlook on the use of phages in water pollution control.     

Effects of exotic Spartina alterniflora on rhizosphere and endophytic bacterial community structures and diversity in roots of native mangroves北大核心CSCD

Root-associated microbial communities are very important for biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in wetland ecosystems, and help to enhance the mechanisms of plant invasions. In the estuary of Jiulong River (China), Spartina alternifiora has widely invaded Kandelia obovata-dominated habitats, making it necessary to investigate the influence of rootassociated bacteria. The endophytic and rhizosphere bacterial community structures associated with selected plant species were investigated using the barcoded Illumina paired-end sequencing technique. The diversity indices of bacteria associated with the roots of S. alterniflora were higher than those of the transition stands and K. obovata monoculture. Using principal coordinate analysis with UniFrac metrics, the comparison of diversity showed that all samples could be significantly clustered into three major groups, according to the bacterial communities of origin. Four phyla, namely, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes, were abundant in the rhizoplane of the two salt marsh plants, whereas Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria were the more abundant endophytic bacteria. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes in the rhizosphere bacteria of S. alterniflora accounted for 78.0%, 5.6%, 3.3%, and 1.6%, respectively. Members of the phyla Spirochaetes and Chloroflexi were found among the endophytic bacteria of S. alterniflora and K. obovata, respectively. Using linear discriminate analysis, we found some dominant rhizoplane and endophytic bacteria, including Pseudoalteromonadaceae, Vibrionaceae, Methylophilaceae, and Desulfovibrio, which could potentially affect the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. Of interest was that endophytic bacteria were more sensitive to plant invasion than rhizosphere bacteria. Thus, the results provide evidence for the isolation of functional bacteria and the effects of root-associated microbial groups on S. alterniflora invasions. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Isolation,identification, and the degradation characteristics of a BDE-47 degrading strain北大核心CSCD

In an effort to remove BDE-47 residues from the environment, a bacterial strain that is capable of utilizing BDE-47 as the sole carbon source was isolated and screened from soil collected from an e-waste recycling area in Tianjin to analyze the degradation properties. The strain was preliminarily identified as Enterobacter sp. according to a 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. The strain degraded 35.8% of 525 μg/L of BDE-47 in 35 d when the initial concentration of bacteria was 7.1 × 105 cells/ mL. The product of the biodegradation of BDE-47 was BDE-28. The biodegradation of BDE-47 fit well with first-order kinetics, and its degradation kinetics was ln Ct = - 0.104t + 6.22. With the addition of an electron acceptor, such as Fe3+, SO4 2- and NO3 -, the BDE-47 degradation rate was significantly increased to 49.8%, 59.1%, and 67.3%, respectively. The above results revealed that the strain could degrade BDE-47, which is of importance in the application of environmental bioremediation of BDE-47. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Characteristics of culturable endophytic bacteria of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge with tumor roots北大核心CSCD

Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge with tumor roots was discovered, and the endophytic bacteria that were isolated from the tumor roots were purified and identified. This paper aimed to study the characteristics of endophytic bacteria. The CAS detection plate, Salkowski colorimetry, phosphate solubilizing circle, and molybdenum antimony spectrophotometry were used to analyze endophytic bacteria ability, which produced siderophores, secreted indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and dissolved phosphorus. Strains were isolated from the tumor roots through morphological and molecular identification, and they were named XSB1-XSB9, of which 6 strains belonged to Bacillus sp., 2 strains belonged to Brevibacillus sp., and 1 strain belonged to Pseudomonas sp. All 9 strains produced siderophores; strains XSB3, XSB4, XSB8, and XSB9 were extremely high yielding, and strains XSB5 and XSB6 were high yielding. The strains with high yields were XSB3, XSB4, XSB5, XSB6, XSB8, and XSB9 and accounted for 66.7% of the tested strains. Nine strains secreted IAA; the concentration of IAA secreted by the strains that contained tryptophan was between 15-50 mg/L, and the concentration of IAA secreted by the one strain without tryptophan was between 10-35 mg/L. The IAA ability of the XSB2, XSB3, XSB4, XSB5, and XSB9 strains were significantly different (P < 0.05) after adding tryptophan. These results indicate that the synthesis of IAA may be the tryptophan synthesis pathway where tryptophan is used as a precursor. All 9 strains had some ability to dissolve phosphorus. The concentration of phosphate in the solubilizing strains, XSB1, XSB2, XSB4, and XSB5, were significantly higher than that in the other strains (P < 0.01), and the concentration of phosphate solubilizing was between 50-90 mg/L; the ability to dissolve phosphate was increased by 19-29 times. The XSB4 and XSB5 strains, which produced siderophores, secreted IAA and had a strong capacity to dissolve phosphorus, may be candidate strains for promoting growth. This research provides the foundation for the development and utilization of rhizosphere microbes to understand the resistance mechanisms and cultivation level of X. sorbifolia. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Metallic wastewater treatment by sulfate reduction using anaerobic rotating biological contactor reactor under high metal loading conditions

An-RBC reactor is highly suited to treat metallic wastewater. Metal removal is due to sulfide precipitation via sulfate reduction by SRB. Cu(II) removal was the best among the different heavy metals. Maximum metal removal is achieved at low metal loading condition. Metal removal matched well with the solubility product values of respective metal sulfide salts. This study was aimed at investigating the performance of anaerobic rotating biological contactor reactor treating synthetic wastewater containing a mixture of heavy metals under sulfate reducing condition. Statistically valid factorial design of experiments was carried out to understand the dynamics of metal removal using this bioreactor system. Copper removal was maximum (>98%), followed by other heavy metals at their respective low inlet concentrations. Metal loading rates less than 3.7 mg/L?h in case of Cu(II); less than 1.69 mg/L?h for Ni(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Fe(III) and Cd(II) are favorable to the performance of the An-RBC reactor. Removal efficiency of the heavy metals from mixture depended on the metal species and their inlet loading concentrations. Analysis of metal precipitates formed in the sulfidogenic bioreactor by field emission scanning electron microscopy along with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX) confirmed metal sulfide precipitation by SRB. All these results clearly revealed that the attached growth biofilm bioreactor is well suited for heavy metal removal from complex mixture.     

间歇梯度曝气下首段延时厌氧强化好氧颗粒污泥脱氮除磷

本研究采用SBR反应器,以实际低C/N比生活污水为进水基质,采用间歇梯度曝气（各曝气段溶解氧浓度递减）充分利用内碳源,探讨不同首段厌氧时间下好氧颗粒污泥脱氮除磷效果.结果表明,间歇梯度曝气的初始厌氧段从50 min增加至90 min,使颗粒污泥内碳源的储量增加,这一延时厌氧的改进条件导致颗粒污泥脱氮除磷效果提升,当延时至70和90 min时,COD、TN和TP的去除效率分别可达84.74%、70.05%和89.7%以及86.65%、78.81%和85.5%.但随后首段厌氧时间增至110 min后,由于部分细胞解体,污泥流失较严重,使内碳源储量约降低13.6%,进而污染物去除效率下降.在首段厌氧时间从50 min延长至90 min的过程中,LB-EPS中PS含量变化较小,随后延时至110 min后PS含量增加至约7.18 mg·g^-1,PN含量增加至约5.56mg·g^-1.TB-EPS中PN和PS含量均较稳定,进而表明内碳源储量对LB-EPS的影响较TB-EPS大,同时污泥沉降性能下降与LB-EPS中PS含量增加密切相关.颗粒污泥中DPAOs占比随首段厌氧时间的适当增加而升高,其中首段厌氧时间为70 min时DPAOs占比达到51.5%.     

石化废水处理厂中耐药菌和耐药基因的分布特征与去除效能解析

抗生素耐药性污染已成为全球新兴环境问题之一.本研究选取某座石化废水处理厂,对耐药菌（ARB）和3种形态耐药基因（ARGs）：细胞内耐药基因（iARGs）、细胞外附着态耐药基因（aeARGs）和游离态耐药基因（feARGs）的分布特征与去除效能开展研究.结果表明,废水处理厂中检出四环素、磺胺和氨苄西林这3类ARB,其绝对浓度为8.45×10²~2.38×10⁵ CFU·mL^-1.厌氧处理可使这3类ARB绝对浓度下降0.04 lg~0.21 lg;曝气和沉淀处理对ARB的影响因其类型而异;出水ARB绝对浓度高出进水水平0.12 lg~0.63 lg.活性污泥中aeARGs和iARGs绝对丰度分别为1.96×10⁷~3.02×10¹⁰ copies·g^-1和5.22×10⁷~4.15×10¹⁰ copies·g^-1;而废水中feARGs绝对丰度为5.90×10⁸~1.01×10¹² copies·L^-1.厌氧处理可去除0.13 lg~0.65 lg aeARGs和0.04 lg~0.28 lg iARGs;曝气和沉淀处理对aeARGs和iARGs的去除效果受ARGs类型和形态影响;出水中feARGs绝对丰度较进水升高0.06 lg~0.81 lg.冗余分析表明,ARB浓度与COD、Cl^-和总氮浓度显著正相关（P<0.05）;aeARGs丰度与COD和总氮浓度显著正相关（P<0.05）;iARGs和feARGs丰度均与重金属浓度显著正相关（P<0.05）.本研究证实了石化废水处理厂具有ARB和不同形态ARGs的富集风险,并为特种工业废水耐药性污染研究与防治提供理论基础.     

好氧颗粒污泥法降解苯胺的特性

在控温摇床上采用好氧振荡的方法,在含有苯胺和硝基苯混合废水处理厂的好氧污泥中,驯化降解苯胺的混合微生物.在驯化过程中发现混合微生物逐渐形成了颗粒污泥,采用此颗粒污泥(混合微生物)进行苯胺降解的实验.结果表明,该混合微生物在以苯胺为唯一碳源和氮源的情况下,具有较强的降解苯胺的能力,且最适宜的温度为28℃,最佳的pH值为7.0,当苯胺的起始浓度为600mg/L时,此条件下在18h内被完全降解,混合微生物降解苯胺的速度达到33.6mg/(L·h).     

Treatment of soybean wastewater by a wild strain Rhodobacter sphaeroides and to produce protein under natural conditions

The conventional treatment method of soybean wastewater is expensive and generates waste sludge that requires further handling. Purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) wastewater treatment is a clean technology and can generate single cell protein while degrading pollutants. A wild strain of PNSB, Rhodobacter sphaeroides Z08, was isolated from local soil and was used to treat soybean wastewater. To develop a cost-effective process, the work was performed under natural conditions without artificial light, aeration, nutrients addition, or pH and temperature adjustment. The results showed that the wild strain Rhodobacter sphaeroides Z08 could grow well under natural conditions. The growth curve showed two quick-growth periods and a turning point. The Z08 treatment of soybean wastewater was zero order reaction and COD reduction was 96% after 10 d. The major byproducts of the process were C2-C5 organic acids, predominantly butyric acid. No alcohol was found in the effluent. The initial COD/bacterial-mass ratio (F/M) had a significant effect on soybean wastewater treatment efficiency. When the initial F/M was lower than 10 mg-COD/mg-bacteria, a sufficient amount of time to achieve 90% of COD reduction was only three days. The Z08 biomass yield was 0.28g·g⁻¹, and the bacterial protein content was 52%.