Characterization of airborne antibiotic resistance genes from typical bioaerosol emission sources in the urban environment using metagenomic approach. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Ying; Zhou, Renjun; Chen, Baowei; Zhang, Tong; Hu, Ligang; Zou, Shichun
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 213(2018)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 471
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Antibiotic resistance genes -- Total suspended particles -- Outdoor environment -- Metagenomic approach; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.09.066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: The wide spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has attracted increasing concern. However, the occurrence and diversity of ARGs in airborne particles remains to be understood. In this study, total suspended particles (TSP) in the atmosphere were collected from typical sources of ARG pollution, including animal farms and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), as well as the downtown area in Zhuhai, China. Metagenomic profiling demonstrated that ARGs were abundant and diverse in the TSP from animal farms and WWTP, but significant differences in ARG composition pattern between these samples were observed. ARGs associated with the resistance to aminoglycoside, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) and tetracycline were dominant over other ARGs in the TSP of the animal farms, whereas multidrug and bacitracin resistance genes were more abundant than other ARGs in the TSP of the WWTP. In the animal farms, ARG profiles of the TSP were consistent with those of animal feces, indicating that animal feces could be one of the most contributing sources of airborne ARGs in animal farms. In contrast to representative sources of ARG pollution, ARG abundance and diversity in the TSP collected from the downtown area was relatively low, with multidrug resistance genes being predominant. This study suggests that metagenomic profiling of the ARGs in airborne TSP could enhance our comprehensive understanding of ARGs dissemination in the environment and their potential health threats. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Animal feces were the major source of airborne ARGs in animal farms. Airborne ARG profile in WWTP was substantially different from those in sludge. mex F was typically enriched in TSP from sludge and animal feces. Multidrug resistance genes were the predominant airborne ARGs in downtown area.