Yu Kaifeng, Li Peng, Qiang Zhimin, Chen Ping, He Yiliang
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, 117411, Singapore; Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), National University of Singapore, 1 CREATE Way, 138602, Singapore.
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
J Hazard Mater. 2025 Aug 15;494:138503. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138503. Epub 2025 May 5.
Particulate matter continuum is recognized for its significant role as a colonization niche for microorganisms, along with antibiotic resistome, mobilome, and virulence factor genes (VFGs). However, potential particle size effects on the dynamics of these bioactive pollutants in WWTPs is largely unknown. Hence, we used filtration membranes to fractionate particulate matter in wastewater into five size-fractions (< 0.2, 0.2 - 0.8, 0.8 - 3.0, 3.0 - 10.0, > 10.0 μm). The results showed that the diversity and abundances of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and VFGs varied across these fractions. Notably, the particle range of 0.8 - 3.0 μm exhibited the highest relative abundances of ARGs (0.71) and MGEs (0.41), indicating that this size-fraction was their hotspots. Moreover, the relative abundances of phyla, such as Acidobacteria (0 - 11.73 %), Chloroflexi (0 - 11.03 %) and Patescibacteria (0.033 - 35.95 %) varied across the size-fractions. The differentiation of ARGs might be attributed to the diversity and structures of bacterial communities colonizing in different size-fractions. Furthermore, it was revealed that the size-fractions (< 3.0 μm) cannot be effectively removed by the treatment units. The removal efficiencies of size-fractionated ARGs are treatment process-specific. It highlights the need to adopt specific technologies to remove size-fractionated ARGs.
颗粒物连续体因其作为微生物的定殖生态位以及抗生素抗性组、可移动基因组和毒力因子基因（VFGs）的重要作用而受到认可。然而，潜在的粒径对污水处理厂中这些生物活性污染物动态的影响在很大程度上尚不清楚。因此，我们使用过滤膜将废水中的颗粒物分成五个粒径级分（<0.2、0.2 - 0.8、0.8 - 3.0、3.0 - 10.0、>10.0μm）。结果表明，抗生素抗性基因（ARGs）和VFGs的多样性和丰度在这些级分中有所不同。值得注意的是，0.8 - 3.0μm的颗粒范围显示出ARGs（0.71）和移动遗传元件（MGEs，0.41）的相对丰度最高，表明该粒径级分是它们的热点。此外，酸杆菌门（0 - 11.73%）、绿弯菌门（0 - 11.03%）和帕氏菌门（0.033 - 35.95%）等门的相对丰度在不同粒径级分中有所变化。ARGs的差异可能归因于在不同粒径级分中定殖的细菌群落的多样性和结构。此外，研究发现粒径级分（<3.0μm）不能被处理单元有效去除。粒径分级的ARGs的去除效率因处理工艺而异。这突出了采用特定技术去除粒径分级的ARGs的必要性。
