Detection of 140 clinically relevant antibiotic-resistance genes in the plasmid metagenome of wastewater treatment plant bacteria showing reduced susceptibility to selected antibiotics

Abstract

To detect plasmid-borne antibiotic-resistance genes in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) bacteria, 192 resistance-gene-specific PCR primer pairs were designed and synthesized. Subsequent PCR analyses on total plasmid DNA preparations obtained from bacteria of activated sludge or the WWTP's final effluents led to the identification of, respectively, 140 and 123 different resistance-gene-specific amplicons. The genes detected included aminoglycoside, blactam, chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolone, macrolide, rifampicin, tetracycline, trimethoprim and sulfonamide resistance genes as well as multidrug efflux and small multidrug resistance genes. Some of these genes were only recently described from clinical isolates, demonstrating genetic exchange between clinical and WWTP bacteria. Sequencing of selected resistance-genespecific amplicons confirmed their identity or revealed that the amplicon nucleotide sequence is very similar to a gene closely related to the reference gene used for primer design. These results demonstrate that WWTP bacteria are a reservoir for various resistance genes. Moreover, detection of about 64 % of the 192 reference resistance genes in bacteria obtained from the WWTP's final effluents indicates that these resistance determinants might be further disseminated in habitats downstream of the sewage plant.

Antibiotic Resistance Genes Dynamics at the Different Stages of the Biological Process in a Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant

“…In comparison to other studies, Fahrenfeld et al [16] detected ermF genes in the reclaimed water derived from a WWTP. Based on metagenomic analysis, Szczepanowski et al [17] reported the prevalence of ermF gene in both activated sludge and the treated effluent of a WWTP. Regarding sulfonamides resistance genes, there was a dominant cluster consisting of 23 over 24 clones analyzed (carrying the sul1 gene).…”

Emerging Security Challenges to Africa: The Case of Haphazard Disposal of Pharmaceuticals in Ghana

“…AMR develops as a result of infection causing microorganisms developing resistance to existing medication, creating the need for stronger medication to be developed and often resulting in the unchecked spread of difficult to treat conditions [45]. Although this research has not uncovered any findings on the subject confirming resistance as a result of exposure of microorganisms to medications in the environment, there is a realistic possibility for instance that exposure to antibiotics will develop resistant capabilities in microorganisms so exposed [16,46,47]. This possibility is enhanced by the fact that the doses that might be released through various disposal methods are smaller and thus unlikely to result in the destruction of such organisms as is the case with therapeutic doses.…”

Occurrence and Degradation of Quinolones by Advanced Oxidation Processes

“…49,50 Um número significativo de bacté-rias (tais como coliformes fecais, E. coli e enterococos) com genes de resistência a antimicrobianos tem sido encontrado em estações de tratamento de esgoto. 51,52 O crescimento da resistência bacteriana a medicamentos torna necessário o uso de fármacos cada vez mais potentes e onerosos no tratamento de doenças.…”