Composition, Distribution and Mobility Potential of the Antibiotic Resistome in Sediments from the East China Sea Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis
Marine sediments are recognized as crucial reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the antibiotic resistome in sediments of the East China Sea, an area heavily impacted by human activities, has not been thoroughly studied. Here, we conducted a systematic investigation into the ant...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Xiaozhong Chen Long Gao Yanxue Kou Xiaoxuan Wang Xintong Li Hui He Min Wang |
| author_facet | Xiaozhong Chen Long Gao Yanxue Kou Xiaoxuan Wang Xintong Li Hui He Min Wang |
| author_sort | Xiaozhong Chen |
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| description | Marine sediments are recognized as crucial reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the antibiotic resistome in sediments of the East China Sea, an area heavily impacted by human activities, has not been thoroughly studied. Here, we conducted a systematic investigation into the antibiotic resistome in these sediments using metagenomic analysis. Overall, we detected eighty ARG subtypes and nineteen ARG types. Beta-lactams were the dominant ARG type, and Gammaproteobacteria was the main ARG host in this study. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were not major drivers of ARG profiles. Although the ARG host communities significantly differed between the spring and autumn (<i>p</i> < 0.05), the antibiotic resistome remained stable across the two seasons. The assembly of ARGs and their hosts was governed by stochastic processes, and a high ratio of stochastic processes implied its crucial role in the assembly and stabilization of the antibiotic resistome. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed an important role of Deltaproteobacteria in the stabilization of ARG profiles across seasons. Environmental parameters (e.g., temperature and density) played certain roles in the stabilization of the antibiotic resistome between spring and autumn. Moreover, nine human pathogen bacteria (HPB) were detected in this study. We also found that the health risks caused by ARGs were relatively higher in the spring. Our results will provide a strong foundation for the development of targeted management strategies to mitigate the further dissemination and spread of ARGs in marine sediments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-55ff7ad6a95f4c3aa3ba7b378aba15dd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-55ff7ad6a95f4c3aa3ba7b378aba15dd2025-08-20T02:42:22ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-03-0113369710.3390/microorganisms13030697Composition, Distribution and Mobility Potential of the Antibiotic Resistome in Sediments from the East China Sea Revealed by Metagenomic AnalysisXiaozhong Chen0Long Gao1Yanxue Kou2Xiaoxuan Wang3Xintong Li4Hui He5Min Wang6College of Marine Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education) and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, ChinaCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education) and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, ChinaCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education) and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, ChinaCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education) and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, ChinaCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education) and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, ChinaCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education) and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, ChinaCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education) and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, ChinaMarine sediments are recognized as crucial reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the antibiotic resistome in sediments of the East China Sea, an area heavily impacted by human activities, has not been thoroughly studied. Here, we conducted a systematic investigation into the antibiotic resistome in these sediments using metagenomic analysis. Overall, we detected eighty ARG subtypes and nineteen ARG types. Beta-lactams were the dominant ARG type, and Gammaproteobacteria was the main ARG host in this study. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were not major drivers of ARG profiles. Although the ARG host communities significantly differed between the spring and autumn (<i>p</i> < 0.05), the antibiotic resistome remained stable across the two seasons. The assembly of ARGs and their hosts was governed by stochastic processes, and a high ratio of stochastic processes implied its crucial role in the assembly and stabilization of the antibiotic resistome. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed an important role of Deltaproteobacteria in the stabilization of ARG profiles across seasons. Environmental parameters (e.g., temperature and density) played certain roles in the stabilization of the antibiotic resistome between spring and autumn. Moreover, nine human pathogen bacteria (HPB) were detected in this study. We also found that the health risks caused by ARGs were relatively higher in the spring. Our results will provide a strong foundation for the development of targeted management strategies to mitigate the further dissemination and spread of ARGs in marine sediments.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/697antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs)antibiotic resistomemobile genetic elements (MGEs)human pathogen bacteria (HPB)East China Seametagenomic |
| spellingShingle | Xiaozhong Chen Long Gao Yanxue Kou Xiaoxuan Wang Xintong Li Hui He Min Wang Composition, Distribution and Mobility Potential of the Antibiotic Resistome in Sediments from the East China Sea Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis Microorganisms antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) antibiotic resistome mobile genetic elements (MGEs) human pathogen bacteria (HPB) East China Sea metagenomic |
| title | Composition, Distribution and Mobility Potential of the Antibiotic Resistome in Sediments from the East China Sea Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis |
| title_full | Composition, Distribution and Mobility Potential of the Antibiotic Resistome in Sediments from the East China Sea Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Composition, Distribution and Mobility Potential of the Antibiotic Resistome in Sediments from the East China Sea Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Composition, Distribution and Mobility Potential of the Antibiotic Resistome in Sediments from the East China Sea Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis |
| title_short | Composition, Distribution and Mobility Potential of the Antibiotic Resistome in Sediments from the East China Sea Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis |
| title_sort | composition distribution and mobility potential of the antibiotic resistome in sediments from the east china sea revealed by metagenomic analysis |
| topic | antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) antibiotic resistome mobile genetic elements (MGEs) human pathogen bacteria (HPB) East China Sea metagenomic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/697 |
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