Deterministic processes structure bacterial genetic communities across an urban landscape.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Microbiology
• Genomics

Background:

• Land-use change is a known driver of zoonotic disease emergence.
• Evidence linking environmental change to microbial communities in vertebrates is limited.
• Urbanization creates novel interfaces between wildlife, livestock, and humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of urban environmental change on bacterial genetic diversity in wild birds.
• To characterize genes associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in avian-borne E. coli.
• To explore the relationship between land-use change and microbial gene communities.

Main Methods:

• Sampling of wild birds at 99 wildlife-livestock-human interfaces in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Whole genome sequencing of avian-borne Escherichia coli (n=241).
• Modeling of bacterial gene diversity against ecological and anthropogenic factors.

Main Results:

• Bacterial gene communities in avian-borne E. coli are structured by co-existing avian, livestock, and human communities.
• Habitat type significantly influences the diversity of bacterial genes.
• Non-random processes shape bacterial genetic communities in urban wildlife.

Conclusions:

• Urban environmental change, including land-use change, significantly shapes microbial genetic diversity in wildlife.
• Findings suggest the potential to forecast the impact of urban development on microbial communities.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for predicting zoonotic disease emergence.