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Molecular Evidence for Occurrence of Heavy Metal and Antibiotic Resistance Genes Among Predominant Metal Tolerant Pseudomonas sp. and Serratia sp. Prevalent in the Teesta River

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Abstract

Riverine ecosystems polluted by pharmaceutical and metal industries are potential incubators of bacteria with dual resistance to heavy metals and antibiotics. The processes of co-resistance and cross resistance that empower bacteria to negotiate these challenges, strongly endorse dangers of antibiotic resistance generated by metal stress. Therefore, investigation into the molecular evidence of heavy metal and antibiotic resistance genes was the prime focus of this study. The selected Pseudomonas and Serratia species isolates evinced by their minimum inhibitory concentration and multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index showed significant heavy metal tolerance and multi-antibiotic resistance capability, respectively. Consequently, isolates with higher tolerance for the most toxic metal cadmium evinced high MAR index value (0.53 for Pseudomonas sp., and 0.46 for Serratia sp.) in the present investigation. Metal tolerance genes belonging to PIB-type and resistance nodulation division family of proteins were evident in these isolates. The antibiotic resistance genes like mexB, mexF and mexY occurred in Pseudomonas isolates while sdeB genes were present in Serratia isolates. Phylogenetic incongruency and GC composition analysis of PIB-type genes suggested that some of these isolates had acquired resistance through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Therefore, the Teesta River has become a reservoir for resistant gene exchange or movement via selective pressure exerted by metals and antibiotics. The resultant adaptive mechanisms and altered phenotypes are potential tools to track metal tolerant strains with clinically significant antibiotic resistance traits.

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Data Availability

The gene sequences have been submitted in NCBI database and accessions obtained which are available in the database.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the research facilities provided by the Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, under DST-FIST and UGC-SAP programs and Department of Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management, Office of the Chief Conservator of Forest (T&HQ) cum CWLW, Govt of Sikkim, India for issuing research permit.

Funding

The study was supported by the financial support received from Government of India through Department of Science and Technology-Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology, Government of India [SR/FST/LSI-666/2016(C)] and University Grants Commission-Special Assistance Programme [F.4-7/2016/DRS-1 (SAP-II)] to the parent department.

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  1. Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India

    Upashna Chettri, Macmillan Nongkhlaw & Santa R. Joshi

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  1. Upashna Chettri
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SRJ, UC and MN designed the work. UC executed the experiments and collected data. MN, UC and SRJ analyzed the data. UC and MN wrote the draft manuscript.

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Correspondence to Santa R. Joshi.

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The study did not require any ethical clearances to conduct the study. Necessary permission to carry out the study as per the existing regulations was obtained from Department of Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management, Office of the Chief Conservator of Forest (T&HQ) cum CWLW, Govt of Sikkim, India (Letter No. F.No: 78/GOS/FEWMD/BDR/PCCF/Secy 116).

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Chettri, U., Nongkhlaw, M. & Joshi, S.R. Molecular Evidence for Occurrence of Heavy Metal and Antibiotic Resistance Genes Among Predominant Metal Tolerant Pseudomonas sp. and Serratia sp. Prevalent in the Teesta River. Curr Microbiol 80, 226 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-023-03334-9

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