Natural sphalerite nanoparticles can accelerate horizontal transfer of plasmid-mediated antibiotic-resistance genes

Guiying Li; Xiaofang Chen; Hongliang Yin; Wanjun Wang; Po Keung Wong; Taicheng An

Environment International (Mar 2020)

Natural sphalerite nanoparticles can accelerate horizontal transfer of plasmid-mediated antibiotic-resistance genes

Guiying Li,
Xiaofang Chen,
Hongliang Yin,
Wanjun Wang,
Po Keung Wong,
Taicheng An

Affiliations

Guiying Li: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
Xiaofang Chen: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
Hongliang Yin: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
Wanjun Wang: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
Po Keung Wong: School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Taicheng An: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 136

Abstract

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Minerals and microorganisms are integral parts of natural environments, and they inevitably interact. Antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) significantly threaten modern healthcare. However, the effects of natural minerals on ARG propagation in aquatic systems are not fully understood. The present work studied the effects of natural sphalerite (NS) nanoparticles on the horizontal transfer of ARGs from Escherichia coli DH5α (CTX) (donor) to E. coli C600 (Sm) (recipient), and from E. coli DH5α (MCR) (donor) to E. coli C600 (Sm), and their underlying mechanisms. NS particles (0.5–50 mg L−1) induced an NS-concentration-dependent increase in conjugative transfer frequency. The underlying mechanisms associated with the facilitated ARG transfer included the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, the SOS response, changes in bacterial cell morphology, and alteration of mRNA levels of bacterial cell membrane protein-related genes and genes associated with conjugative ARG transfer. The information herein offers new mechanistic understanding of risks of bacterial resistance resulting from NS. Keywords: Natural sphalerite, Antibiotic-resistance genes, Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Conjugative transfer, Stress response, Cell membrane permeability

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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