Different fates of extracellular and intracellular antibiotic resistance genes in flocs, granular and biofilm nitrification systems under the stress of acetaminophen

Abstract

The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including intracellular ARGs (i-ARGs) and extracellular ARGs (e-ARGs), has become a global problem that cannot be ignored. This study clarified the fates of e-ARGs and i-ARGs in floc sludge reactor (FS), granular sludge reactor (GS) and biofilm reactor (BF) under the stress of acetaminophen (APAP). The results showed that the risk of ARGs transmission, especially for e-ARGs, in FS and BF could increase with the increasing times of APAP treatment, except for that in GS. The fates of i-ARGs in three different systems were similar, which were mainly clustered as the efflux pumps mechanism. The secretion and disintegration of extracellular polymeric substances mainly affected the fates of e-ARGs. In the three systems, the complexity of network relationships between ARGs and microbial communities was FS, GS and BF. Partial least-squares path model analysis indicated that bacterial community directly contributed to the variations of e-ARGs and i-ARGs under APAP treatment in the three systems, playing a leading role. And i-ARGs and protein secondary structure showed direct effects on e-ARGs. This study indicated that e-ARGs in complex systems were more susceptible to be influenced, which should be paid more attention to prevent further propagation of ARGs.

Keywords: Acetaminophen; Co-occurrence modules; Extracellular antibiotic resistance genes; Intracellular antibiotic resistance genes; Microbial aggregates.