Aquatic ecosystems are crucial in the antimicrobial resistance cycle. While intracellular DNA has been extensively studied to understand human activity's impact on antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) dissemination, extracellular DNA is frequently overlooked. This study examines the effect of anthropogenic water pollution on microbial community diversity, the resistome, and ARG dissemination. We analyzed intracellular and extracellular DNA from wastewater treatment plant effluents and lake surface water by shotgun sequencing. We also conducted experiments to evaluate anthropogenic pollution's effect on transforming extracellular DNA (using Gfp-plasmids carrying ARGs) within a natural microbial community. Chemical analysis showed treated wastewater had higher anthropogenic pollution-related parameters than lake water. The richness of microbial community, antimicrobial resistome, and high-risk ARGs was greater in treated wastewaters than in lake waters both for intracellular and extracellular DNA. Except for the high-risk ARGs, richness was significantly higher in intracellular than in extracellular DNA. Several ARGs were associated with mobile genetic elements and located on plasmids. Furthermore, Gfp-plasmid transformation within a natural microbial community was enhanced by anthropogenic pollution levels. Our findings underscore anthropogenic pollution's pivotal role in shaping microbial communities and their antimicrobial resistome. Additionally, it may facilitate ARG dissemination through extracellular DNA plasmid uptake.

Anthropogenic pollution may enhance natural transformation in water, favouring the spread of antibiotic resistance genes / P. Sivalingam, R. Sabatino, T. Sbaffi, G. Corno, D. Fontaneto, G. Borgomaneiro, M. Rogora, E. Crotti, F. Mapelli, S. Borin, A.L. Pilar, E.M. Eckert, A. Di Cesare. - In: JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. - ISSN 0304-3894. - 475:(2024 Aug 15), pp. 134885.1-134885.11. [10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134885]

Anthropogenic pollution may enhance natural transformation in water, favouring the spread of antibiotic resistance genes

E. Crotti;F. Mapelli;S. Borin;
2024

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are crucial in the antimicrobial resistance cycle. While intracellular DNA has been extensively studied to understand human activity's impact on antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) dissemination, extracellular DNA is frequently overlooked. This study examines the effect of anthropogenic water pollution on microbial community diversity, the resistome, and ARG dissemination. We analyzed intracellular and extracellular DNA from wastewater treatment plant effluents and lake surface water by shotgun sequencing. We also conducted experiments to evaluate anthropogenic pollution's effect on transforming extracellular DNA (using Gfp-plasmids carrying ARGs) within a natural microbial community. Chemical analysis showed treated wastewater had higher anthropogenic pollution-related parameters than lake water. The richness of microbial community, antimicrobial resistome, and high-risk ARGs was greater in treated wastewaters than in lake waters both for intracellular and extracellular DNA. Except for the high-risk ARGs, richness was significantly higher in intracellular than in extracellular DNA. Several ARGs were associated with mobile genetic elements and located on plasmids. Furthermore, Gfp-plasmid transformation within a natural microbial community was enhanced by anthropogenic pollution levels. Our findings underscore anthropogenic pollution's pivotal role in shaping microbial communities and their antimicrobial resistome. Additionally, it may facilitate ARG dissemination through extracellular DNA plasmid uptake.
extracellular DNA; antibiotic resistance; metagenome assembled genomes; transformation; horizontal gene transfer
Settore AGRI-08/A - Microbiologia agraria, alimentare e ambientale
   The Role of free Extracellular DNA in determining The Environmental Antibiotic Resistome
   REDTEAR
   European Commission
   Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
   101025891

   Studio della biodiversità ittica caratterizzante gli ecosistemi sorgivi padani (BIOS)
   BIOS
   UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI SIENA
   CN_00000033 - Bando a cascata SPOKE 3

   Eco-evolutionary approach to identification and isolation of freshwater bacteria harbouring antibiotic resistance genes
   IdeARG
   MINISTERO DELL'ISTRUZIONE E DEL MERITO
   2020T8T5MM_002
15-ago-2024
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/1115155
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