Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Waters

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Quality and Contamination".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 5726

Special Issue Editors

Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
Interests: waterborne pathogens; antibiotic resistance; engineered wetlands; source water protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
Interests: microbial ecology; environmental persistence of human pathogens; water quality; wetland

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The scope of research will include investigations which center on the increase in antibiotic resistance in waterborne microorganisms. Bacteria, including pathogens, which have been isolated from environmental waters, particularly those which serve as drinking water supplies, will be a primary focus. Interdisciplinary studies involving journal theme areas such as water resource management, water quality, and water ecosystems will be a review priority. Environmental factors impacted by a changing climate may augment antimicrobial resistance, necessitating an examination of multiple biotic and abiotic stressors on microorganisms demonstrating resistance. Environmental waters are increasingly impacted by human activity and expanding antimicrobial resistance profiles are a reflection of this ongoing trend. The scope of research involves study at all scales of investigation. Field isolation and monitoring, as well as bench-scale examination of physiological aspects are required to fully understand the impact of the enhanced presence of antibiotic resistance observed in environmentally-isolated microorganisms. Resistant organisms with pathogenic potential will continue to pose a health risk, particularly in waters associated with crop irrigation. A better understanding of the presence and persistence of antibiotic resistance in naturally-occurring micoorganisms will lead to improved source protection strategies. This special issue will serve to highlight trends observed in these resistance profiles from a global perspective, encompassing different climates and impacts throughout natural watersheds.

Dr. Robin Slawson
Dr. Lindsey Clairmont
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • antimicrobial
  • waterborne pathogen
  • environmental stress response
  • source waters
  • climate change

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 28498 KiB  
Article
Microbial Community Structure and Bacterial Lineages Associated with Sulfonamides Resistance in Anthropogenic Impacted Larut River
by Ying-Ling Lye, Lay-Ching Chai, Choon-Weng Lee, Satoru Suzuki and Chui-Wei Bong
Water 2022, 14(7), 1018; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w14071018 - 23 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1892
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities often contribute to antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments. Larut River Malaysia is polluted with both organic and inorganic pollutants from domestic and industrial wastewater that are probably treated inadequately. The river is characterized by high biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, [...] Read more.
Anthropogenic activities often contribute to antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments. Larut River Malaysia is polluted with both organic and inorganic pollutants from domestic and industrial wastewater that are probably treated inadequately. The river is characterized by high biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, ammonia, and heavy metals. In our previous study, sulfonamides (SAs) and sulfonamide resistance genes (sul) were detected in the Larut River. Hence, in this study, we further examined the microbial community structure, diversity of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria (SARB), and their resistance genes. The study also aimed at identifying cultivable bacteria potential carriers of sul genes in the aquatic environment. Proteobacteria (22.4–66.0%), Firmicutes (0.8–41.6%), Bacteroidetes (2.0–29.4%), and Actinobacteria (5.5–27.9%) were the most dominant phyla in both the effluents and river waters. SARB isolated consisted only 4.7% of the total genera identified, with SAR Klebsiella as the most dominant (38.0–61.3%) followed by SAR Escherichia (0–22.2%) and Acinetobacter (3.2–16.0%). The majority of the SAR Klebsiella isolated from the effluents and middle downstream were positive for sul genes. Sul genes-negative SAR Escherichia and Acinetobacter were low (<20%). Canonical-correlation analysis (CCA) showed that SAs residues and inorganic nutrients exerted significant impacts on microbial community and total sul genes. Network analysis identified 11 SARB as potential sul genes bacterial carriers. These findings indicated that anthropogenic activities exerted impacts on the microbial community structure and SAs resistance in the Larut River. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Waters)
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31 pages, 8526 KiB  
Article
Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Urban Karst Groundwater Systems
by Rachel A. Kaiser, Jason S. Polk, Tania Datta, Rohan R. Parekh and Getahun E. Agga
Water 2022, 14(6), 960; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w14060960 - 18 Mar 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3145
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global concern for human, animal, and environmental health. Many studies have identified wastewater treatment plants and surface waters as major reservoirs of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARGs). Yet their prevalence in urban karst groundwater systems remains largely [...] Read more.
Antibiotic resistance is a global concern for human, animal, and environmental health. Many studies have identified wastewater treatment plants and surface waters as major reservoirs of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARGs). Yet their prevalence in urban karst groundwater systems remains largely unexplored. Considering the extent of karst groundwater use globally, and the growing urban areas in these regions, there is an urgent need to understand antibiotic resistance in karst systems to protect source water and human health. This study evaluated the prevalence of ARGs associated with resistance phenotypes at 10 urban karst features in Bowling Green, Kentucky weekly for 46 weeks. To expand the understanding of prevalence in urban karst, a spot sampling of 45 sites in the Tampa Bay Metropolitan area, Florida was also conducted. Specifically, this study considered tetracycline and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) producing, including third generation cephalosporin, resistant E. coli, and tetracycline and macrolide resistant Enterococcus spp. across the 443 Kentucky and 45 Florida samples. A consistent prevalence of clinically relevant and urban associated ARGs were found throughout the urban karst systems, regardless of varying urban development, karst geology, climate, or landuse. These findings indicate urban karst groundwater as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance, potentially threatening human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Waters)
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