Urban greenspace types influence the microbial community assembly and antibiotic resistome more in the phyllosphere than in the soil

Chemosphere. 2023 Oct:338:139533. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139533. Epub 2023 Jul 16.

Abstract

Urban greenspace (UGS) is recognized to confer significant societal benefits, but few studies explored the microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from different urban greenspace types. Here, we collected leaf and soil samples from forest, greenbelt, and parkland to analyze microbial community assembly and ARG profile. For phyllosphere fungal community, the α-diversity was higher in forest, compared to those in greenbelt and parkland. Moreover, urban greenspace types altered the community assembly. Stochastic processes had a greater effect on phyllosphere fungal community in greenbelt and parkland, while in forest they were dominated by deterministic processes. In contrast, no significant differences in bacterial community diversity, community assembly were observed between the samples collected from different urban greenspace types. A total of 153 ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected in phyllosphere and soil with resistance to the majority classes of antibiotics commonly applied to humans and animals. Structural equation model further revealed that a direct association between greenspace type and ARGs in the phyllosphere even after considering the effects of all other factors simultaneously. Our findings provide new insights into the microbial communities and antibiotic resistome of urban greenspaces and the potential risk linked with human health.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance genes; Management practices; Microbiota; Potential pathogens; Public health.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Microbiota*
  • Parks, Recreational
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Soil