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Candidate biomarkers of antibiotic resistance for the monitoring of wastewater and the downstream environment

Journal Article (2023)
Authors

A. Margarida Teixeira (Universidade Católica Portuguesa)

Ivone Vaz-Moreira (Universidade Católica Portuguesa)

D. Calderon Franco (TU Delft - BT/Environmental Biotechnology)

David G Weissbrodt (TU Delft - BT/Environmental Biotechnology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

Sabina Purkrtova (University of Chemistry and Technology Prague)

Stanislav Gajdos (University of Chemistry and Technology Prague)

Giulia Dottorini (Aalborg University)

Per H. Nielsen (Aalborg University)

Leron Khalifa (The Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization)

Eddie Cytryn (The Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization)

Jan Bartacek (University of Chemistry and Technology Prague)

Célia M. Manaia (Universidade Católica Portuguesa)

Research Group
BT/Environmental Biotechnology
Copyright
© 2023 A. Margarida Teixeira, Ivone Vaz-Moreira, D. Calderon Franco, D.G. Weissbrodt, Sabina Purkrtova, Stanislav Gajdos, Giulia Dottorini, Per H. Nielsen, Leron Khalifa, Eddie Cytryn, Jan Bartacek, Célia M. Manaia
To reference this document use:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120761
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 A. Margarida Teixeira, Ivone Vaz-Moreira, D. Calderon Franco, D.G. Weissbrodt, Sabina Purkrtova, Stanislav Gajdos, Giulia Dottorini, Per H. Nielsen, Leron Khalifa, Eddie Cytryn, Jan Bartacek, Célia M. Manaia
Research Group
BT/Environmental Biotechnology
Volume number
247
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120761
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Abstract

Urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) are essential for reducing the pollutants load and protecting water bodies. However, wastewater catchment areas and UWTPs emit continuously antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with recognized impacts on the downstream environments. Recently, the European Commission recommended to monitor antibiotic resistance in UWTPs serving more than 100 000 population equivalents. Antibiotic resistance monitoring in environmental samples can be challenging. The expected complexity of these systems can jeopardize the interpretation capacity regarding, for instance, wastewater treatment efficiency, impacts of environmental contamination, or risks due to human exposure. Simplified monitoring frameworks will be essential for the successful implementation of analytical procedures, data analysis, and data sharing. This study aimed to test a set of biomarkers representative of ARG contamination, selected based on their frequent human association and, simultaneously, rare presence in pristine environments. In addition to the 16S rRNA gene, ten potential biomarkers (intI1, sul1, ermB, ermF, aph(3′’)-Ib, qacEΔ1, uidA, mefC, tetX, and crAssphage) were monitored in DNA extracts (n = 116) from raw wastewater, activated sludge, treated wastewater, and surface water (upstream and downstream of UWTPs) samples collected in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Each biomarker was sensitive enough to measure decreases (on average by up to 2.5 log-units gene copy/mL) from raw wastewater to surface water, with variations in the same order of magnitude as for the 16S rRNA gene. The use of the 10 biomarkers allowed the typing of water samples whose origin or quality could be predicted in a blind test. The results show that, based on appropriate biomarkers, qPCR can be used for a cost-effective and technically accessible approach to monitoring wastewater and the downstream environment.