Extracellular DNA in dissemination of virulence and antibiotic resistance

17 10 2023

On Monday 13th of November at 2 pm in room 102B, Anna Rokowska from the Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology will give a seminar entitled Role of extracellular DNA, generated during communal waste treatment, in dissemination of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic ecosystems.

Abstract:

The rise in antibiotic resistance is intensifying due to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence genes (VGs) across various environments, especially in aquatic settings. Our study draws attention to communal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as critical sources of these genes. Building on past findings, we note a significant amount of extracellular DNA (exDNA) is produced within WWTPs. ExDNA, derived from lysing bacterial cells, can potentially carry ARGs and VGs in particular those associated with mobile genetic elements (MGEs), thus possibly aiding their spread in aquatic ecosystems.

We’ll investigate the fate of WWTP-originated exDNA in artificial aquatic microcosms, including water, sediments, and microbiota of filter feeders. We’ll introduce a novel method that integrates droplet microfluidics with single-bacterial genome profiling to trace and identify horizontal gene transfer events accurately. By employing this synergistic approach, we aim to delineate the role of exDNA in the propagation of ARGs, VGs, and mobile genetic elements within aquatic ecosystems.