Low concentration quaternary ammonium compounds promoted antibiotic resistance gene transfer via plasmid conjugation

Journal article (2023)

Authors

Congcong Liu Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Zhejiang University
Goh Shin Giek National University of Singapore
You Luhua National University of Singapore
Qiyi Yuan National University of Singapore
Sanjeeb Mohapatra National University of Singapore
Karina Yew-Hoong Gin National University of Singapore
Baoliang Chen Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Zhejiang University
Affiliation
External organisation
Antimicrobial resistance Quaternary ammonium compounds Plasmid conjugation Cell outer membrane permeability Quorum sensing AI-2 signals
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Published Date

2023

Language

English

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Abstract

During the pandemic of COVID-19, the amounts of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) used to inactivate the virus in public facilities, hospitals and households increased, which raised concerns about the evolution and transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Although QACs may play an important role in the propagation of antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs), the potential contribution and mechanism remains unclear. Here, the results showed that benzyl dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) significantly promoted plasmid RP4-mediated ARGs transfer within and across genera at environmental relevant concentrations (0.0004–0.4 mg/L). Low concentrations of QACs did not contribute to the permeability of the cell plasma membrane, but significantly increased the permeability of the cell outer membrane due to the decrease in content of lipopolysaccharides. QACs altered the composition and content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and were positively correlated with the conjugation frequency. Furthermore, transcriptional expression levels of genes encode for mating pairing formation (trbB), DNA replication and translocation (trfA), and global regulators (korA, korB, trbA) are regulated by QACs. And we demonstrate for the first time that QACs decreased the concentration of extracellular AI-2 signals, which was verified to be involved in regulating conjugative transfer genes (trbB, trfA). Collectively, our findings underscore the risk of increased disinfectant concentrations of QACs on the ARGs transfer and provide new mechanisms of plasmid conjugation.