Removal of antibiotic-resistant genes during drinking water treatment: A review

Once contaminate the drinking water source, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) will propagate in drinking water systems and pose a serious risk to human health. Therefore, the drinking water treatment processes (DWTPs) are critical to manage the risks posed by ARGs. This study summarizes the prevalence of ARGs in raw water sources and treated drinking water worldwide. In addition, the removal efficiency of ARGs and related mechanisms by different DWTPs are reviewed. Abiotic and biotic factors that affect ARGs elimination are also discussed. The data on presence of ARGs in drinking water help come to the conclusion that ARGs pollution is prevalent and deserves a high priority. Generally, DWTPs indeed achieve ARGs removal, but some biological treatment processes such as biological activated carbon filtration may promote antibiotic resistance due to the enrichment of ARGs in the biofilm. The finding that disinfection and membrane filtration are superior to other DWTPs adds weight to the advice that DWTPs should adopt multiple disinfection barriers, as well as keep sufficient chlorine residuals to inhibit re-growth of ARGs during subsequent distribution. Mechanistically, DWTPs obtain direct and inderect ARGs reduction through DNA damage and interception of host bacterias of ARGs. Thus, escaping of intracellular ARGs to extracellular environment, induced by DWTPs, should be advoided. This review provides the theoretical support for developping efficient reduction technologies of ARGs. Future study should focus on ARGs controlling in terms of transmissibility or persistence through DWTPs due to their biological related nature and ubiquitous presence of biofilm in the treatment unit.     

稻田土壤氧化亚氮产生潜势、反硝化功能基因丰度和群落结构的垂向分布

土壤中氧化亚氮（N₂O）的释放量占全球N₂O释放总量的60%.其中，稻田土壤是N₂O最主要的释放源.反硝化过程是稻田土壤N₂O生成的主要微生物过程之一.本研究选取广东韶关稻田垂向土壤（0~100 cm）为研究对象，通过乙炔抑制剂法测定了N₂O产生潜势和反硝化潜势，并利用针对特异性功能基因的实时荧光定量和高通量测序技术分别分析反硝化功能基因丰度和反硝化微生物群落结构.结果显示：0~10 cm深度的土壤样品N₂O产生潜势最高，可达（0.020±0.0035）μg·g^-1·h^-1.反硝化功能基因中，nirK基因的丰度峰值（（1.51±0.0015）×10⁸ copies·g^-1）出现在0~10 cm深度，而nosZ和nirS基因的丰度峰值（（4.29±0.0015）×10⁷ copies·g^-1和（8.86±0.0010）×10⁷ copies·g^-1）均出现在10~20 cm深度.稻田垂向土壤中N₂O产生潜势和相关的反硝化功能基因（nosZ、nirK和nirS）丰度均随土壤深度的增加而逐渐降低.其中在所有深度的土壤样品中nirK基因的丰度均高于nirS.基于nirK基因的高通量测序结果发现慢生根瘤菌（Bradyrhizobium）的相对丰度最高（44.06%±6.14%，n=6）.相关性分析表明，稻田土壤中N₂O产生潜势与环境因子（TN、TC和含水率）、反硝化功能基因丰度以及慢生根瘤菌（Bradyrhizobium），罗河杆菌属（Rhodanobacter）和亚硝化螺菌属（Nitrosospira）的相对丰度呈正相关.上述结果表明稻田土壤中环境因子和反硝化功能基因丰度影响了N₂O产生潜势的垂向分布.     

Antibiotic resistance genes in manure-amended paddy soils across eastern China: Occurrence and influencing factors

• Manure fertilization resulted in antibiotic residues and increased metal contents. • The tet and sul genes were significantly enhanced with manure fertilization. • Soil physicochemical properties contributed to 12% of the variations in ARGs. • Soil metals and antibiotics co-select for ARGs. Pig manure, rich in antibiotics and metals, is widely applied in paddy fields as a soil conditioner, triggering the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil. However, comprehensive studies on the effects of manure fertilization on the abundance of ARGs and their influencing factors are still insufficient. Here, pig manure and manure-amended and inorganic-amended soils were collected from 11 rice-cropping regions in eastern China, and the accumulation of antibiotics, metals, and ARGs was assessed simultaneously. The results showed that manure fertilization led to antibiotic residues and increased the metal content (i.e., Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr). Tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes (tetM, tetO, sul1, and sul2) were also significantly enhanced with manure fertilization. According to variance partitioning analysis, the most important factors that individually influenced ARGs were soil physicochemical properties, accounting for 12% of the variation. Significant correlations between soil nutrients and ARGs indicated that manure application enhanced the growth of resistant microorganisms by supplying more nutrients. Metals and antibiotics contributed 9% and 5% to the variations in ARGs, respectively. Their co-occurrence also increased the enrichment of ARGs, as their interactions accounted for 2% of the variation in ARGs. Interestingly, Cu was significantly related to most ARGs in the soil (r = 0.26–0.52, p<0.05). Sulfapyridine was significantly related to sul2, and tetracycline resistance genes were positively related to doxycycline. This study highlighted the risks of antibiotic and ARG accumulation with manure fertilization and shed light on the essential influencing factors of ARGs in paddy soils.     

The Harm Principle and Genetically Modified Food

It is suggested that the Harm Principle can be viewedas the moral basis on which genetically modified (GM) food iscurrently regulated. It is then argued (a) that the concept ofharm cannot be specified in such a manner as to render the HarmPrinciple a plausible political principle, so this principlecannot be used to justify existing regulation; and (b) that evenif the Harm Principle were a plausible political principle, itcould not be used alone in the regulation of GM food, since itdoes not express a concern for the expected benefits of suchfood.     

Predicting the mating system from phenotypic correlations between life-history and sperm quality traits in the Alpine whitefish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coregonus zugensis</Emphasis>

The mating behavior and reproductive strategies of Alpine whitefish like Coregonus zugensis (Nüsslin) are poorly understood, probably because they spawn in deep water where direct observations are difficult. In this study, we interpret life-history and sperm quality traits of fish that we caught from their spawning place. We found that males invest heavily into gonadal tissue (up to 5.6% of their body weight), which is, in comparison to other fish, consistent with external fertilization, distinct pairing and moderate to high communal spawning, or no pairing and low to moderate communal spawning. Sperm competition theory and recent experimental studies on other salmonids predict that males optimize ejaculate characteristics in relation to the costs of sperm and the level of competition they have to expect: dominant males are predicted to invest less into ejaculate quality and to have slower spermatozoa than subdominant males. We found that spermatozoa of older males are slower than those of younger males. Moreover, older males have larger breeding tubercles, a secondary sexual trait that has, in some previous studies, been found to be linked to good condition and to good genetic quality. Our results suggest that C. zugensis has age-linked reproductive strategies, that multimale spawning is common, i.e., that sperm competition plays a significant role, and that older males are on average dominant over younger males at the spawning place.     

极近距离煤层综放开采工作面覆岩“两带”发育规律研究

为深入研究极近距离煤层综放开采工作面覆岩“两带”的动态发育规律,采用理论推导、数值模拟和现场实测相结合的方法,分析袁店一矿824工作面覆岩“两带”的裂隙演化特征。结果表明：从岩层层向拉伸率角度,研究上覆岩层垮落带和导水裂隙带的垮落程度,考虑角度影响推导出岩层弯曲下沉边缘段变形前后的长度计算公式,根据覆岩的碎胀特征计算各岩层的最大下沉量,预测垮落带和裂隙带的范围分别为30.2～41.2 m和70.7～78.2 m;采用3DEC数值模拟分析该矿824工作面开挖后上覆岩层垮落的基本形态和裂隙分布规律,结合其应力、位移云图和监测线位移曲线的分布特征,得出垮落带和裂隙带的高度分别为32.50 m和77.25 m;采用分布式光纤应变监测系统,监测工作面前方80 m处上部顶板的受力情况,得出受采动影响的光纤应变呈起伏变化,且应变分布与地层岩性存在对应关系,得出垮落带高度约30.4 m,裂隙带高度约74.8 m,验证采用层向拉伸率和覆岩碎胀性2个方面来预测工作面覆岩“两带”高度的合理性,可为类似方面的研究与施工提供相应的技术依据。     

零价铁对污泥高温厌氧消化过程中四环素抗性基因及第一类整合子的消减影响

为研究污泥高温厌氧消化过程中零价铁(Fe0)对抗生素抗性基因的消减影响,采用荧光定量PCR方法定量检测了7种四环素抗性基因(TC-ARGs,包括tetA、tetC、tetG、tetM、tetO、tetW和tetX)及第一类整合子int I1基因在厌氧消化过程中的丰度变化,同时检测分析了挥发性脂肪酸(VFAs)的质量浓度变化,并探讨了目标基因与VFAs之间的相关关系.结果表明,适量Fe0(如0.10 g·g~(-1),以Fe0/VSS计)不仅可以强化污泥厌氧消化进程,显著提高总VFAs和乙酸的产生量,而且能够增强TCARGs和int I1基因的消减效果.尽管如此,过量Fe0(如1.17 g·g~(-1),以Fe0/VSS计)对污泥高温厌氧消化过程中TC-ARGs和int I1基因消减的增强效果并不显著,推测可能是由于基因水平转移的发生所导致的.通过相关性分析可知,TC-ARGs(除tetO基因外)和int I1基因与乙酸之间存在显著负相关性,表明乙酸可能对TC-ARGs和int I1基因的消减具有促进作用.     

石油污染土壤的生物修复技术及微生物生态效应

利用投菌法和生物刺激法对陕北子长石油污染土壤进行微生物修复研究.通过利用红外分光光度法测定不同处理方法对石油烃的去除效果确定了修复陕北石油污染土壤的最佳方案.修复过程中利用最大可能计数法(MPN)、PCR-琼脂糖电泳法、PCR-DGGE法分别测定了石油烃降解菌数目、催化基因、土壤微生物多样性对土壤微生物生态效应进行研究.结果发现石油污染土壤不同生物处理修复效果为:生物刺激(加入N、P营养物质)生物强化(投加降解菌)其他.土壤中石油烃降解率与可降解石油烃的催化基因含量之间存在正相关关系,修复过程中土壤中的石油烃和烷烃降解菌数量显著多于多环芳烃降解菌数量,投加外源降解菌SZ-1可以显著提高土壤细菌群落的多样性.研究结果有助于深入理解生物修复石油土壤过程中的微生物生态效应变化.     

抗生素抗性基因(ARGs)——一种新型环境污染物

抗生素的环境污染与生态毒性近年来引起了日益广泛的关注.水产养殖和畜牧业抗生素长期滥用的直接后果,很可能诱导动物体内抗生素抗性基因,经排泄后将对养殖区域及其周边环境造成潜在基因污染.抗性基因还极有可能在环境中传播、扩散.对公共健康和食品、饮用水安全构成威胁.为此,提出了将抗生素抗性基因作为一类新型环境污染物,对该类污染物在环境中的来源、潜在的传播途径以及国内外相关研究进展进行综述,指出了当前形势下我国开展环境中抗生素抗性基因污染研究的必要性,建议尽快从国家层面上系统进行抗生素抗性基因的环境污染机理与控制对策研究.     

寒冷地区IFAS+磁混凝污水厂菌群结构和抗生素抗性基因分析

为探究寒冷地区IFAS+磁混凝污水厂中菌群及其携带的抗生素抗性基因（ARGs）变化,采用16S rRNA基因测序和宏基因组测序方法对新疆某城市污水厂进行研究.结果表明,绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）和硝化螺旋菌门（Nitrospirae）在活性污泥中的相对丰度平均值分别为3.50%和0.03%,在生物膜中的相对丰度分别达到10.02%和2.12%,NH₄⁺-N和TN去除率平均值分别由改造前的91.89%和66.76%提升至改造后的97.71%和91.90%,表明IFAS增强了寒冷地区污水厂的生物脱氮能力;生物处理段内与铁氧化还原有关的Ferruginibacter和红育菌属（Rhodoferax）的相对丰度平均值分别达到5.24%和3.72%,出水中红育菌属（Rhodoferax）的相对丰度达到9.48%,表明磁粉对菌群产生了影响;该厂对ARGs有明显的去除效果,ARGs的相对丰度由进水中的191.08×10^-3‰降至出水中的32.58×10^-3‰,活性污泥中ARGs相对丰度为63.25×10^-3‰~72.38×10^-3‰,明显高于生物膜中的41.31×10^-3‰,但sul2、floR和rpoB 2等ARGs优势亚型在生物膜中的相对丰度分别为5.77×10^-3‰、2.52×10^-3‰和2.03×10^-3‰,高于活性污泥中的3.15×10^-3‰~3.57×10^-3‰、1.73×10^-3‰~2.24×10^-3‰和1.28×10^-3‰~1.76×10^-3‰;网络分析结果表明,Caldilineaceae_norank与sul2呈显著正相关,毛球菌属（Trichococcus）与floR呈显著正相关.