Abstract
Water reclamation provides a valuable resource for meeting non-potable water demands. However, little is known about the potential for wastewater reuse to disseminate antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Here, samples were collected seasonally in 2014-2015 from four U.S. utilities' reclaimed and potable water distribution systems before treatment, after treatment, and at five points of use (POU). Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to profile the resistome (i.e., full contingent of ARGs) of a subset (n=38) of samples. Four ARGs (qnrA, blaTEM, vanA, sul1) were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Bacterial community composition (via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing), horizontal gene transfer (via quantification of intI1 integrase and plasmid genes), and selection pressure (via detection of metals and antibiotics) were investigated as potential factors governing the presence of ARGs. Certain ARGs were elevated in all (sul1; p≤0.0011) or some (blaTEM, qnrA; p≤0.0145) reclaimed POU samples compared to corresponding potable samples. Bacterial community composition was weakly correlated with ARGs (Adonis, R2=0.1424-0.1734) and associations were noted between 193 ARGs and plasmid-associated genes. This study establishes that reclaimed water could convey greater abundances of certain ARGs than potable waters and provides observations regarding factors that likely control ARG occurrence in reclaimed water systems.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Environmental Science and Technology |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Oct 23 2017 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
Cite this
Metagenomic characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in full-scale reclaimed water distribution systems and corresponding potable systems. / Garner, Emily; Chen, Chaoqi; Xia, Kang; Bowers, Jolene; Engelthaler, David; Mclain, Jean E T; Edwards, Marc A.; Pruden, Amy.
In: Environmental Science and Technology, 23.10.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Metagenomic characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in full-scale reclaimed water distribution systems and corresponding potable systems
AU - Garner, Emily
AU - Chen, Chaoqi
AU - Xia, Kang
AU - Bowers, Jolene
AU - Engelthaler, David
AU - Mclain, Jean E T
AU - Edwards, Marc A.
AU - Pruden, Amy
PY - 2017/10/23
Y1 - 2017/10/23
N2 - Water reclamation provides a valuable resource for meeting non-potable water demands. However, little is known about the potential for wastewater reuse to disseminate antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Here, samples were collected seasonally in 2014-2015 from four U.S. utilities' reclaimed and potable water distribution systems before treatment, after treatment, and at five points of use (POU). Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to profile the resistome (i.e., full contingent of ARGs) of a subset (n=38) of samples. Four ARGs (qnrA, blaTEM, vanA, sul1) were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Bacterial community composition (via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing), horizontal gene transfer (via quantification of intI1 integrase and plasmid genes), and selection pressure (via detection of metals and antibiotics) were investigated as potential factors governing the presence of ARGs. Certain ARGs were elevated in all (sul1; p≤0.0011) or some (blaTEM, qnrA; p≤0.0145) reclaimed POU samples compared to corresponding potable samples. Bacterial community composition was weakly correlated with ARGs (Adonis, R2=0.1424-0.1734) and associations were noted between 193 ARGs and plasmid-associated genes. This study establishes that reclaimed water could convey greater abundances of certain ARGs than potable waters and provides observations regarding factors that likely control ARG occurrence in reclaimed water systems.
AB - Water reclamation provides a valuable resource for meeting non-potable water demands. However, little is known about the potential for wastewater reuse to disseminate antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Here, samples were collected seasonally in 2014-2015 from four U.S. utilities' reclaimed and potable water distribution systems before treatment, after treatment, and at five points of use (POU). Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to profile the resistome (i.e., full contingent of ARGs) of a subset (n=38) of samples. Four ARGs (qnrA, blaTEM, vanA, sul1) were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Bacterial community composition (via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing), horizontal gene transfer (via quantification of intI1 integrase and plasmid genes), and selection pressure (via detection of metals and antibiotics) were investigated as potential factors governing the presence of ARGs. Certain ARGs were elevated in all (sul1; p≤0.0011) or some (blaTEM, qnrA; p≤0.0145) reclaimed POU samples compared to corresponding potable samples. Bacterial community composition was weakly correlated with ARGs (Adonis, R2=0.1424-0.1734) and associations were noted between 193 ARGs and plasmid-associated genes. This study establishes that reclaimed water could convey greater abundances of certain ARGs than potable waters and provides observations regarding factors that likely control ARG occurrence in reclaimed water systems.
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U2 - 10.1021/acs.est.7b05419
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.7b05419
M3 - Article
C2 - 29741366
AN - SCOPUS:85047090236
JO - Environmental Science & Technology
JF - Environmental Science & Technology
SN - 0013-936X
ER -