Characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in drinking water sources of the Douhe Reservoir, Tangshan, northern China: the correlation with bacterial communities and environmental factors

Abstract

Background Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) threaten ecological sustainability and human health, especially the drinking water sources of the Douhe Reservoir, which have critical significance amid their direct use by people and the ecological hub of flora and fauna. Although antibiotics and ARGs pollution in reservoirs have been reported, it is of no practical significance to only study the changes (increase or decrease) of the abundance and diversity of ARGs, and it is more important to explore the mechanisms of the changes affecting ARGs. Thus, the occurrence and prevalence characterizations of the spatial and seasonal of the ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and bacterial communities were comprehensively studied in present study. Results 263 ARG (nine types of ARGs) and 51 MGE subtypes were detected in 56 samples, and the characteristics of the temporal and spatial distribution of ARGs, MGEs and the composition of bacterial communities were significantly different. Moreover, the correlation among the ARGs, bacterial communities, MGEs and environmental factors were defined, and the co-occurrence patterns associated with ARG subtypes, bacterial genera, and MGE subtypes between water and sediment of the Douhe Reservoir were different. Conclusions In summary, ARGs were ubiquitous presence in water and sediment of the Douhe Reservoir, and the multidrug, aminoglycoside and macrolide–lincosamide–streptogramin B (MLSB) were main types of ARGs. Bacterial genera and the environmental factors [such as temperature (T), nitrate–nitrogen (NO– 3–N), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and total phosphorus (TP)] significantly affected the distribution pattern of ARGs. Overall, this research revealed the spatiotemporal change and transmission mechanisms of ARGs in the typical drinking water sources of reservoirs, which will supply clues to ensure the safety of water sources.

Distribution of antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic residues in drinking water production facilities: Links to bacterial community

“…The kind of significant correlation (p-value <0.05) observed in the current study between bacterial communities and antibiotic residues led to the speculation that various responses of bacterial communities to antibiotic residues in the environment select for antibiotic resistance in opportunistic bacteria [ 70 ]. Consistent with other studies, the correlation between bacterial communities and ARGs observed in the current study indicates that bacteria are the major sources and spreaders of ARGs [ 70 , 71 ]. The physicochemical parameters in NW-E and NW-C DWPF create favourable conditions for the survival of bacteria and may directly or indirectly influence the variation and levels of ARGs [ 72 ].…”

“…Antibiotic residues, physicochemical parameters and ARGs might prompt the selection of the appropriate bacterial community and subsequently change the microbial composition and diversity [ 70 , 71 ]. No significant differences (p-value >0.05) were observed between bacterial communities and environmental factors using RDA analyses.…”

Unseen Weapons: Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles and the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Aquatic Environments

“…The evolution of bacterial communities appears to be the primary driver of changes in ARGs. In addition, one study also mentioned that environmental factors, particularly temperature, nitrates, total dissolved nitrogen, and total phosphorus, showed significant correlations with variations in bacterial communities, ARGs, and MGEs [ 39 ].…”

Evolución histórica de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y la resistencia a los antimicrobianos

“…Por su parte, el entonces primer ministro del Reino Unido, David Cameron, designó al economista Jim O´Neill para investigar las consecuencias económicas de la RAM ( 12 ). En su informe, expresó la preocupación por las consecuencias de la RAM; entre ellas, la estimación de una tasa de mortalidad creciente para el año 2050 y las consecuencias en la agricultura, la ganadería y la economía en general, que ocasionarían un colapso mundial.…”

“…Por otro lado, se ha observado que la farmacorresistencia microbiana o también llamada resistencia a los antimicrobianos (RAM) ( 9 ) es un problema de salud pública que se presenta cuando los microorganismos (bacterias, hongos, parásitos o incluso los virus) evaden el efecto de los antimicrobianos a través de diferentes mecanismos. Sin embargo, la resistencia que presentan las bacterias ( 10 , 11 ) es de mayor relevancia debido a la magnitud del riesgo y a la velocidad en su desarrollo, ocasionada sobre todo por el uso y el consumo indiscriminado de antibióticos, aunado al manejo inadecuado de sus desechos ( 12 , 13 ). Como consecuencia, se ven comprometidos algunos de los Objetivos del Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) ( 14 ) como salud y bienestar (ODS 3), fin a la pobreza (ODS 1), hambre cero (ODS 2), agua limpia y saneamiento (ODS 6), trabajo decente y crecimiento (ODS 8) y consumo y producción sostenible (ODS 12), así como alianzas para lograr los objetivos (ODS 17).…”