Enrichment of potential pathogens in marine microbiomes with different degrees of anthropogenic activity

Anthropogenic activities in coastal marine ecosystems can lead to an increase in the abundance of potentially harmful microorganisms in the marine environment. To understand anthropogenic impacts on the marine microbiome, we first used publicly available microbial phylogenetic and functional data to establish a dataset of bacterial genera potentially related to pathogens that cause diseases (BGPRD) in marine organisms. Representatives of low-, medium- and highly impacted marine coastal environments were selected, and the abundance and composition of their microbial communities were determined by quantitative PCR and 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. In total, 72 BGPRD were cataloged, and 11, 36 and 37 BGPRD were found in low-, medium- and highly human-impacted ecosystems, respectively. The absolute abundance of BGPRD and the co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (AGR) increased with the degree of anthropogenic perturbation in these ecosystems. Anthropogenically impacted coastal micro biomes were compositionally and functionally distinct from those of less impacted sites, presenting features that may contribute to adverse outcomes for marine macrobiota in the Anthropocene era. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Anthropogenic activities in coastal marine ecosystems can increase the abundance of potentially harmful microorganisms, leading to an increase in the absolute abundance of bacterial genera related to pathogens and the co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes. The composition and function of anthropogenically impacted coastal microbiomes are distinct from those of less impacted sites.