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The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes and heavy metal resistance genes along the sewage pipe under Cu and Zn stress.

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Title: The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes and heavy metal resistance genes along the sewage pipe under Cu and Zn stress.
Authors: Wu, Xin1 (AUTHOR), Liu, Kunyu1 (AUTHOR), Chen, Aoxi1 (AUTHOR), Lu, Yi1 (AUTHOR), Qi, Tianle1 (AUTHOR), Lv, Zhi1 (AUTHOR), E, Quanjie1 (AUTHOR), Wei, Haodong1 (AUTHOR), Liu, Cuiyun1,2 (AUTHOR) yunduobai@126.com
Source: Journal of Environmental Sciences (Elsevier). Jun2026, Vol. 164, p371-381. 11p.
Subject Terms: *Microbial communities, Horizontal gene transfer, Drug resistance in bacteria, Biofilms, Sewer pipes
Abstract: • Cu and Zn exposure changed the microbial communities in sewage pipe. • Cu and Zn promoted horizontal gene transfer by co-resistance and cross-resistance. • At the front more tryptophan and humic acid was secreted to improve scour resistance. • At higher Cu and Zn concentration, abundance of most genes at the front was higher. • At higher Cu and Zn concentration, major potential hosts at the front were abundant. The long-term existence of heavy metals in sewage pipe was one of the selective pressures of resistance genes. This work explored the dissemination mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) under Cu and Zn stress and their dissemination differences at different locations along the pipe. It was found that at lower Cu and Zn concentrations, microorganisms secreted more extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) for self-protection, with a 77.83 % increase on the 14th day. As the concentrations increased, the relative abundance of most HMRGs increased. TnpA and intl1 showed positive correlations with major ARGs and HMRGs. Moreover, the potential hosts of efflux pump genes (copB, tetA and czcA) were resistant to Cu and Zn. It could be inferred that the co-resistance and cross-resistance induced by heavy metals promote the horizontal gene transfer. When Cu and Zn concentrations were higher, the combined stress exceeded the impact of water flow, becoming primary external environmental pressure. The differences of EPS, protein and polysaccharide contents became smaller among the front, middle and posterior of pipe. While at the front, the microorganisms were more abundant, and the relative abundance of most resistance genes were higher. Correspondingly, the relative abundance of major potential hosts (e.g., unclassified_f_Bacteroidetes_vadinHA17, Smithella, Caldisericum) at the front sediment was significantly higher than that of the posterior (p ≤ 0.05). The study revealed the dissemination law of genes in sewage pipe under Cu and Zn stress, and laid theoretical foundations for further research on blocking the dissemination of genes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Abstract:• Cu and Zn exposure changed the microbial communities in sewage pipe. • Cu and Zn promoted horizontal gene transfer by co-resistance and cross-resistance. • At the front more tryptophan and humic acid was secreted to improve scour resistance. • At higher Cu and Zn concentration, abundance of most genes at the front was higher. • At higher Cu and Zn concentration, major potential hosts at the front were abundant. The long-term existence of heavy metals in sewage pipe was one of the selective pressures of resistance genes. This work explored the dissemination mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) under Cu and Zn stress and their dissemination differences at different locations along the pipe. It was found that at lower Cu and Zn concentrations, microorganisms secreted more extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) for self-protection, with a 77.83 % increase on the 14th day. As the concentrations increased, the relative abundance of most HMRGs increased. TnpA and intl1 showed positive correlations with major ARGs and HMRGs. Moreover, the potential hosts of efflux pump genes (copB, tetA and czcA) were resistant to Cu and Zn. It could be inferred that the co-resistance and cross-resistance induced by heavy metals promote the horizontal gene transfer. When Cu and Zn concentrations were higher, the combined stress exceeded the impact of water flow, becoming primary external environmental pressure. The differences of EPS, protein and polysaccharide contents became smaller among the front, middle and posterior of pipe. While at the front, the microorganisms were more abundant, and the relative abundance of most resistance genes were higher. Correspondingly, the relative abundance of major potential hosts (e.g., unclassified_f_Bacteroidetes_vadinHA17, Smithella, Caldisericum) at the front sediment was significantly higher than that of the posterior (p ≤ 0.05). The study revealed the dissemination law of genes in sewage pipe under Cu and Zn stress, and laid theoretical foundations for further research on blocking the dissemination of genes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:10010742
DOI:10.1016/j.jes.2025.08.031