Atmospheric antibiotic resistome driven by air pollutants

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Public health
• Genomics

Background:

• The atmosphere acts as a reservoir and transmission pathway for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
• Understanding the distribution of ARGs in the atmosphere and their link to pollutants is crucial for assessing health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the global distribution of ARGs in the atmosphere.
• To determine the influence of atmospheric pollutants on ARG dissemination and associated health risks.
• To identify primary hosts and resistance mechanisms of atmospheric ARGs.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 392 public air metagenomic datasets from global sources.
• Annotation and quantification of identified ARGs, focusing on resistance to tetracycline, MLS, and multidrugs.
• Risk assessment of ARGs to human health and identification of pathogenic hosts.

Main Results:

• 1863 ARGs were identified, primarily conferring resistance to tetracycline, MLS, and multidrugs.
• Burkholderia and Staphylococcus were identified as principal pathogenic hosts for ARGs.
• Airborne bacteria in particulate-polluted environments carried higher ARG loads compared to chemically polluted air.

Conclusions:

• Atmospheric pollutants significantly influence the dissemination and risk of ARGs.
• This research provides a theoretical foundation for mitigating global ARG risks originating from the atmosphere.