Effects of corresponding and non-corresponding contaminants on the fate of sulfonamide and quinolone resistance genes in the Laizhou Bay, China. (March 2018) - Li, Qianwei
Abstract: The environmental behaviors and migration patterns of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have attracted considerable research interest. However, there has been little research concerning the effects of corresponding and non-corresponding contaminants on the fate of ARGs in coastal environments. In the present study, the distribution of intI1, sul1, sul2, qnr S and aac(6′)-Ib were analyzed in water and sediment samples of Laizhou Bay in the context of corresponding and non-corresponding contaminants. The abundance of intI1, sul1 and sul2 genes exhibited a clear decreasing trend extending from the inner estuary to the coastal area. Strong and positive correlations existed between sul1 / sul2 and sulfonamide antibiotic residues in sediments, and between the abundances of intI1 and sul1 / sul2 . Statistical analyses indicated that non-corresponding contaminants were partially correlated with ARG abundances. These results suggest that non-corresponding contaminants may have direct or indirect influences on the abundances of ARGs and intI1 in the Laizhou Bay. Highlights: The concentrations of ARGs exhibited a decreasing trend from estuary to coast. Estuary environments played a natural attenuator role on the distribution of ARGs. Non-corresponding contaminants may have influence on the abundances of ARGs.