Inhibited conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in antibiotic resistant bacteria by surface plasma

Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging environmental pollutants with strong pathogenicity. In this study, surface plasma was developed to inactivate the donor ARB with Escherichia coli (AR E. coli) as a model, eliminate ARGs, and inhibit conjugative transfer of ARGs in water, highlighting the influences of concomitant inorganic ions. Surface plasma oxidation significantly inactivated AR E. coli, eliminated ARGs, and inhibited conjugative transfer of ARGs, and the presence of NO₃^-, Cu²⁺, and Fe²⁺ all promoted these processes, and SO₄^2- did not have distinct effect. Approximately 4.5log AR E. coli was inactivated within 10 min treatment, and it increased to 7.4log AR E. coli after adding Fe²⁺. Integrons intI1 decreased by 3.10log (without Fe²⁺) and 4.43log (adding Fe²⁺); the addition of Fe²⁺ in the surface plasma induced 99.8% decline in the conjugative transfer frequency. The inhibition effects on the conjugative transfer of ARGs were mainly attributed to the reduced reactive oxygen species levels, decreased DNA damage-induced response, decreased intercellular contact, and down-regulated expression of plasmid transfer genes. This study disclosed underlying mechanisms for inhibiting ARGs transfer, and supplied a prospective technique for ARGs control.