2 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Free-living (FL) and particulate-associated (PA) communities are distinct bacterioplankton lifestyles with different mobility and dissemination routes. Understanding spatio-temporal dynamics of PA and FL fractions will allow improvement to wastewater treatment processes including pathogen and AMR bacteria removal. In this study, PA, FL and sediment community composition and antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG; tetW, ermB, sul1, intI1) dynamics were investigated in a full-scale municipal wastewater free-water surface polishing constructed wetland. Taxonomic composition of PA and FL microbial communities shifted towards less diverse communities (Shannon, Chao1) at the CW effluent but retained a distinct fraction-specific composition. Wastewater treatment plant derived PA communities introduced the bulk of AMR load (70 %) into the CW. However, the FL fraction was responsible for exporting over 60 % of the effluent AMR load given its high mobility and the effective immobilization (1–3 log removal) of PA communities. Strong correlations (r 2>0.8, p < 0.05) were observed between the FL fraction, tetW and emrB dynamics, and amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of potentially pathogenic taxa, including Bacteroides, Enterobacteriaceae, Aeromonadaceae, and Lachnospiraceae. This study reveals niche differentiation of microbial communities and associated AMR in CWs and shows that free-living bacteria are a primary escape route of pathogenic and ARG load from CWs under low-flow hydraulic conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number121408
JournalWater Research
Volume254
Early online date1 Mar 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2024

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request. Raw genetic sequencing data are available at NCBI repository https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/980,007 Accession: PRJNA 980,007.

Funding

Franciszek Bydalek was supported by a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) studentship at the GW4 centre for Doctoral Training in Freshwater Biosciences and Sustainability (GW4 FRESH CDT, Grant number NE/RO11524/1).

FundersFunder number
Natural Environment Research CouncilNE/RO11524/1

Keywords

  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • Constructed wetlands
  • Microbial communities
  • Particle-associated
  • Pathogens
  • Planktonic free-living

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Water Science and Technology
  • Ecological Modelling
  • Pollution
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Civil and Structural Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Microbial Community and Antimicrobial Resistance Niche Differentiation in a Multistage, Surface Flow Constructed Wetland'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this