Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding and Detecting Environmental Antimicrobial Resistance by Combining Culture-Based Techniques and Genomics
06:54

Author Spotlight: Understanding and Detecting Environmental Antimicrobial Resistance by Combining Culture-Based Techniques and Genomics

Published on: July 19, 2024

1.1K

Pathogenic Bacteria Are the Primary Determinants Shaping PM2.5-Borne Resistomes in the Municipal Food Waste Treatment

Liangmao Zhang1,2, Binghan Wang1,2, Yinglong Su1,2

  • 1Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.

Environmental Science & Technology
|November 16, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Food waste recycling plants release airborne antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in PM2.5, particularly multidrug-resistant types. These ARGs, linked to Acinetobacter pathogens, pose a significant public health risk requiring mitigation strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Bioaerosol pollution from food waste (FW) recycling impacts human health.
  • Bioaerosol-borne antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) from FW treatment plants (FWTPs) are understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of PM2.5-borne ARGs in and around FWTPs.
  • To identify sources and dissemination pathways of airborne ARGs from FWTPs.
  • To assess the public health implications of exposure to FWTP-derived airborne ARGs.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 48 metagenomic datasets from FWTPs and surrounding areas.
  • Quantification of ARGs in PM2.5 samples.
  • Source-tracking, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), and culture-based testing.
  • Comparison with PM2.5 from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and urban environments.

Main Results:

  • FWTP PM2.5 harbors comparable total ARGs to WWTP PM2.5 but is enriched with multidrug ARGs.
  • Abundant multidrug ARGs effectively indicate FWTP resistome profiles.
  • ARG levels decrease with distance from FWTPs, reaching urban levels.
  • Acinetobacter johnsonii-dominated pathogens are key contributors to multidrug ARG dissemination.
  • Abiotic factors like sulfate indirectly influence ARG processes.
  • Exposure to FWTP PM2.5-borne resistant pathogens is significantly higher than in urban settings and comparable to hospital settings in some cases.

Conclusions:

  • FWTPs are significant disseminators of airborne multidrug ARGs, posing a public health concern.
  • Multidrug ARGs in FWTP PM2.5 can serve as effective indicators of resistome profiles.
  • Mitigation strategies for airborne ARGs from FWTPs are crucial.
  • The role of abiotic factors in ARG dissemination warrants further investigation.
Keywords:
bioaerosolfood waste treatmentmetagenome-assembled genomesmultidrug ARGsresistant pathogens

More Related Videos

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes08:58

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Published on: March 3, 2023

6.5K
A Whole Cell Bioreporter Approach to Assess Transport and Bioavailability of Organic Contaminants in Water Unsaturated Systems13:16

A Whole Cell Bioreporter Approach to Assess Transport and Bioavailability of Organic Contaminants in Water Unsaturated Systems

Published on: December 24, 2014

10.4K

Related Concept Videos

Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
33
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
28
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
23
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
1.4K
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota01:26

Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
24
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry01:27

Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry

Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...
43