Urbanization promotes specific bacteria in freshwater microbiomes including potential pathogens.

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Urban ecology
• Microbial ecology

Background:

• Freshwater microbial communities are dynamic and influenced by local environments.
• Urbanization and population growth negatively impact freshwater ecosystems.
• Understanding microbial shifts due to urbanization is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how urbanization affects freshwater microbial communities.
• To identify bacterial signatures associated with urban freshwater environments.
• To assess the health risks posed by urbanized waterbodies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized full-length 16S rRNA gene PacBio sequencing.
• Analyzed surface water and sediment samples from diverse sites (wastewater treatment plant, urban lakes, rural lakes).
• Conducted a case study in the Berlin-Brandenburg region, Northeast Germany.

Main Results:

• Identified distinct bacterial communities in urban freshwater habitats.
• Detected specific genera, including potentially harmful ones like Alistipes, Escherichia/Shigella, Rickettsia, and Streptococcus, linked to urban parameters.
• Demonstrated that urbanization, warming, and eutrophication promote pathogenic bacterial growth.

Conclusions:

• Urbanization significantly alters natural lake microbial communities.
• Urbanized waterbodies present increased potential for long-term health risks.
• Urgent mitigation measures, including lake restoration and sustainable water management, are recommended.