China(Guangxi)-ASEAN Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Exploitation and Utilization of Aquatic Germplasm Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, 530021, China.
Beibu Gulf Marine Ecological Environment Field Observation and Research Station of Guangxi, Marine Environmental Monitoring Centre of Guangxi, Beihai, 536000, China.
Environ Res. 2024 Sep 15;257:119298. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119298. Epub 2024 May 31.
Antibiotic resistance poses a considerable global public health concern, leading to heightened rates of illness and mortality. However, the impact of seasonal variations and environmental factors on the health risks associated with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their assembly mechanisms is not fully understood. Based on metagenomic sequencing, this study investigated the antibiotic resistome, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and microbiomes in a subtropical coastal ecosystem of the Beibu Gulf, China, over autumn and winter, and explored the factors influencing seasonal changes in ARG and MGE abundance and diversity. Results indicated that ARG abundance and diversity were higher in winter than in autumn, with beta-lactam and multidrug resistance genes being the most diverse and abundant, respectively. Similarly, MGE abundance and diversity increased in winter and were strongly correlated with ARGs. In contrast, more pronounced associations between microbial communities, especially archaea, and the antibiotic resistome were observed in autumn than in winter. The co-occurrence network identified multiple interactions between MGEs and various multidrug efflux pumps in winter, suggesting a potential for ARG dissemination. Multivariate correlation analyses and path modeling indicated that environmental factors driving microbial community changes predominantly influenced antibiotic resistome assembly in autumn, while the relative importance of MGEs increased significantly in winter. These findings suggest an elevated health risk associated with antimicrobial resistance in the Beibu Gulf during winter, attributed to the dissemination of ARGs by horizontal gene transfer. The observed seasonal variations highlight the dynamic nature of antibiotic resistance dissemination in coastal ecosystems, emphasizing the need for comprehensive surveillance and management measures to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in vulnerable environments.
抗生素耐药性对全球公共健康构成了重大威胁，导致发病率和死亡率上升。然而，季节性变化和环境因素对抗生素耐药基因（ARGs）及其组装机制相关健康风险的影响尚未完全了解。本研究基于宏基因组测序，调查了中国北部湾亚热带沿海生态系统中抗生素抗性组、可移动遗传元件（MGEs）和微生物组在秋季和冬季的情况，并探讨了影响 ARG 和 MGE 丰度和多样性季节性变化的因素。结果表明，冬季 ARG 丰度和多样性高于秋季，其中β-内酰胺类和多药耐药基因的多样性和丰度最高。同样，MGE 丰度和多样性在冬季增加，且与 ARGs 呈强相关。相比之下，在秋季观察到微生物群落（尤其是古菌）与抗生素抗性组之间的相关性更为明显，而在冬季则不太明显。共现网络在冬季识别出 MGEs 与各种多药外排泵之间的多种相互作用，表明 ARG 传播的潜力。多元相关分析和路径建模表明，驱动微生物群落变化的环境因素主要影响秋季抗生素抗性组的组装，而冬季 MGEs 的相对重要性显著增加。这些发现表明，冬季北部湾的抗生素耐药性相关健康风险增加，这归因于水平基因转移导致 ARGs 的传播。所观察到的季节性变化突出了沿海生态系统中抗生素耐药性传播的动态性质，强调需要采取全面的监测和管理措施来应对脆弱环境中日益严重的抗生素耐药性威胁。
