Stereoselective metabolism of chloramphenicol by bacteria isolated from wastewater, and the importance of stereochemistry in environmental risk assessments for antibiotics

Wastewater treatment plants have been highlighted as a potential hotspot for the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Although antibiotic resistant bacteria in wastewater present a public health threat, it is also possible that these bacteria play an important role in the bioremediation through the metabolism of antibiotics before they reach the wider environment. Here we address this possibility with a particular emphasis on stereochemistry using a combination of microbiology and analytical chemistry tools including the use of supercritical-fluid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for chiral analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry to investigate metabolites. Due to the complexities around chiral analysis the antibiotic chloramphenicol was used as a proof of concept to demonstrate stereoselective metabolism due to its relatively simple chemical structure and availability over the counter in the U.K. The results presented here demonstrate the chloramphenicol can be stereoselectively transformed by the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase enzyme with the orientation around the first stereocentre being key for this process, meaning that accumulation of two isomers may occur within the environment with potential impacts on ecotoxicity and emergence of bacterial antibiotic resistance within the environment.

Automated summary

Wastewater treatment plants are potential hotspots for the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistant bacteria in wastewater may play a role in bioremediation by metabolizing antibiotics before they reach the wider environment. The study shows that chloramphenicol in wastewater can be selectively transformed by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase enzyme, and the accumulation of different stereoisomers may have potential impacts on ecotoxicity and bacterial antibiotic resistance in the environment.