Dynamic distribution and driving mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes in a human-intensive watershed

Jun Yang; Jinyi Xiang; Yu Xie; Kaifeng Yu; Karina Yew-Hoong Gin; Bo Zhang; Yiliang He

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2022.118841

Dynamic distribution and driving mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes in a human-intensive watershed

Water Res. 2022 Aug 15:222:118841. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118841. Epub 2022 Jul 15.

Authors

Jun Yang¹, Jinyi Xiang², Yu Xie³, Kaifeng Yu³, Karina Yew-Hoong Gin⁴, Bo Zhang³, Yiliang He⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
² Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
³ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
⁴ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 1-Create Way, #15-02 Create Tower, Singapore 138602, Singapore.
⁵ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China. Electronic address: ylhe@sjtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35932710
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118841

Abstract

Accelerated urbanization has promoted urban watersheds as important reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs); yet the biogeographical patterns and driving mechanisms of ARGs at the watershed scale remain unclear. Here, we examined the dynamic distribution of ARGs in a human-intensive watershed (including city, river and lake systems) over different seasons in a temperate region, as well as revealed the key factors shaping ARGs dynamics through structural equation models (SEMs). High diversity and abundance of ARGs were detected in sediments and surface water, with aminoglycoside, beta-lactamase and multidrug resistance genes dominating. PCoA showed distinct ARGs variations between the two phases. Seasonal changes and regional functions had significant impacts on the distribution patterns of ARGs. More diverse ARGs were detected in winter, while higher ARGs abundances were observed in spring and summer. The city system showed the highest level of ARGs contamination and was mainly derived from wastewater and human/animal feces based on SourceTracker analysis and ARGs indicators. Notably, watershed restoration could significantly mitigate the ARGs pollution status and improve biodiversity in the aquatic environment. Network analysis identified several hub ARGs and bacterial genera, which helped to infer potential bacterial hosts carrying ARGs. Furthermore, ARGs indicators provided insights to trace ARGs sources. SEMs indicated that bioavailable heavy metals and nutrients can greatly shape ARGs dynamics in regions with high-intensity human activities, while the microbial community and MGEs dominate the fate of ARGs in less human-impacted regions. More attention should be given to control heavy metals and nutrients to curb the spread of ARGs. Overall, this study highlights the environmental fate of ARGs and provides novel strategies to mitigate ARGs pollution in the human-intensive watershed.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance genes; Bacterial community; Indicator; Structural equation model; Watershed.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics
Genes, Bacterial
Humans
Metals, Heavy*
Rivers / microbiology

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Metals, Heavy