Synergistic singlet oxygen and UV irradiation for efficient intracellular ARGs removal via...

The eliminate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is pivotal in mitigating the proliferation of antibiotic resistance. In this study, a PMS/CM-UV system was engineered, combining a Co₃O₄-modified carbon nanotubes catalytic membrane with LED-UV lamps, to effectively eliminate intracellular ARGs (iARGs). Leveraging the synergistic effect of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and UV irradiation, this process requires only a brief hydraulic retention time of a few minutes and standard UV disinfection irradiation intensity. The cellular physiological function and transcriptomic analysis indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and UV irradiation compromised the cell membrane integrity of E. coli MG1655-SD, as indicated by the down-regulation of the feoB gene, leading to an increased concentration of ¹O₂ within the intracellular environment. The synergistic effect of ¹O₂ and UV irradiation resulted in the down-regulation of btuE, thereby curtailing the SOS and oxidative stress responses. Additionally, UV irradiation down-regulated ftsK, uvrB, and uvrA genes, involved in DNA replication, damage site recognition, and self-repair. These processes collectively contribute to the oxidative damage of iARGs by ¹O₂ before their release into the extracellular environment. This work provided a strategy to develop advanced oxidation disinfection technology aimed at ARGs removal.