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Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
Sedimentary antimicrobial-resistome coupling patterns across rural-urban waterway interfaces
Min Zhou1, Shen Yu1, Bing Hong2
1Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Xiamen Key Laboratory of Smart Management on the Urban Environment, Xiamen 361021, China; State Key Laboratory for Ecological Security of Regions and Cities, Xiamen 361021, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|July 31, 2026
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and antimicrobials in aquatic sediments drive environmental antimicrobial resistance (EAR). Integrons and mobile genetic elements play key roles in ARG spread, necessitating watershed management for risk reduction.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) are micropollutants in aquatic environments.
- Their interactions drive environmental antimicrobial resistance (EAR), posing risks to human health.
- Understanding in situ proliferation and selective maintenance is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the coupling between antimicrobials and ARGs in surface sediments.
- To identify drivers of ARG proliferation and dissemination in a rural-urban waterway network.
- To inform watershed-scale mitigation strategies for reducing EAR risks.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of 31 antimicrobial compounds and 323 ARGs in 41 surface sediment samples.
- Analysis of ARG categorical expression potential and antimicrobial-ARG coupling.
- Co-occurrence network analysis and identification of physicochemical and mobile genetic element drivers.
Main Results:
- Significant positive antimicrobial-ARG coupling observed in Fenghua and Yong rivers, but not Yao River.
- Persistent antimicrobials and multidrug resistance showed positive associations with corresponding ARGs.
- Non-corresponding couplings dominated, suggesting mobile genetic element-enabled selection; integrons were key drivers.
Conclusions:
- Mobile genetic elements, particularly integrons, facilitate cross-category ARG dissemination.
- Watershed-scale mitigation combining source reduction and environmental management is recommended.
- Findings highlight the complex dynamics of EAR in aquatic ecosystems.
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