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Metagenomic analysis on resistance genes in water and microplastics from a mariculture system

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Abstract

Microplastics existing widely in different matrices have been regarded as a reservoir for emerging contaminants. Mariculture systems have been observed to host microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, more information on proliferation of ARGs and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in mariculture system at the presence of microplastics is needed. This study used metagenomic analysis to investigate the distribution of ARGs and MRGs in water and microplastics of a typical mariculture pond. Total 18 types including 174 subtypes of ARGs were detected with the total relative abundances of 1.22/1.25 copies per 16S rRNA copy for microplastics/water. Chloramphenicol resistance genes were the dominant ARGs with the abundance of 0.35/0.42 copies per 16S rRNA copy for microplastics/water. Intergron intI1 was dominant gene among 6 detected mobile genetic elements (MGEs) with the abundance of 75.46/68.70 copies per 16S rRNA copy for water/microplastics. Total 9 types including 46 subtypes of MRGs were detected with total abundance of 5.02 × 102/6.39 × 102 copies per 16S rRNA copy for water/ microplastics while genes resistant to copper and iron served as the dominant MRGs. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria accounted for 84.2%/89.5% of total microbial community in microplastics/water. ARGs with relatively high abundance were significantly positively related to major genera, MGEs, and MRGs. Microplastics in mariculture system could enrich most of MRGs and some ARGs to serve as potential reservoir for these pollutants. The findings of this study will provide important information on resistance gene pollution at presence of microplastics in the mariculture system for further proposing suitable strategy of environmental management.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41877131), Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province (No. tsqn201812116), Science and Technology Service Network Initiative of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KFJ-STS-QYZX-114), Two-Hundred Talents Plan of Yantai (No. Y739011021), and Wanhua Chemical Group Co. Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, 264003, China

    Jian Lu & Jianhua Wang

  2. Yantai Research Institute, Harbin Engineering University, Yantai, 264006, China

    Jun Wu

  3. Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Jian Lu

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  1. Jian Lu
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  2. Jun Wu
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  3. Jianhua Wang
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Correspondence to Jun Wu.

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Highlights

• Total 174 subtypes of ARGs were detected by metagenomic analysis.

• Chloramphenicol resistance genes were the dominant ARGs in water and microplastics.

• The abundances of MRGs were much higher than those of ARGs.

• Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phylum.

• Microplastics in mariculture system could enrich most of MRGs and some ARGs.

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Lu, J., Wu, J. & Wang, J. Metagenomic analysis on resistance genes in water and microplastics from a mariculture system. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 16, 4 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1438-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1438-y

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