Persistence and environmental geochemistry transformation of antibiotic-resistance bacteria/genes in water at the interface of natural minerals with light irradiation

The antibiotic resistance (AR) is a threatening risk for human health at a global scale. The propagation, dissemination and evolution of AR have been well-studied these years. With development of AR, the antibiotic-resistance bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) have been detected in almost all environmental systems and matrices. Herein, we attempted to summarize how ARB/ARGs become persist when they enter water environments and further be involved in geochemical processes especially at the interface of natural mineral with light irradiation. During the processes, bacteria have different form of transformation and come into stressed or non-stressed states. Their existed forms will be varied including being inactivated, transient tolerance and persistence phenotypes, which make AR problem become stubborn and complicated. Besides, separation of ARB and ARGs further intensified complexity of AR problem after naked ARGs diffusing into water, which acted as reservoir of ARGs and set stage for their transfer between bacteria. Furthermore, acquisition of ARGs mediated plasmid could even bring some advantages or disadvantage to bacteria, making problem more complex and uncontrollable. To enable AR under control, it is critical to understand the mechanism how ARB/ARGs participate in environmental geochemical transformation and in what condition that AR persistence happen. Understanding ponderance of AR persistence is not only key to properly assess its risk, but also to seriously prevent the continued development of AR.

Automated summary

After entering water environments, antibiotic resistance bacteria and genes undergo various transformations, possibly leading to stressed or non-stressed states, resulting in tolerance or persistence phenotypes that make the antibiotic resistance problem more challenging and complex.