Submicron aerosols share potential pathogens and antibiotic resistomes with wastewater or sludge

Abstract

Generation of size-segregated aerosols is an important eco-environmental problem in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), but the characteristics of potential pathogens and antibiotic resistomes in submicron aerosols (PM1.0) were almost unknown. Here, 16S rRNA gene amplification and shotgun metagenome sequencing were respectively used to study the profiles of potential pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in PM1.0 from a full-scale WWTP. Acinetobacter and sul1 were respectively the predominant potential pathogens and ARG subtypes in PM1.0 from aeration process. A total of 9 potential pathogens and 147 ARG subtypes, were shared among WWTP-PM1.0, wastewater/sludge, and ambient air. Significant differences of potential pathogens or ARGs were found between WWTP-PM1.0 and wastewater/sludge, however, wastewater/sludge had more crucial source contribution than the ambient air. Moreover, 13 potential pathogens and 40 ARG subtypes were easily aerosolized in PM1.0 from at least one of the treatment units. ARGs were mainly harbored by Proteobacteria, and multidrug resistance genes were the most ARG type carried by potential pathogens. Taken together, this study indicates the prevalence of potential pathogens, ARGs, and ARG-carrying potential pathogens in WWTP-PM1.0, which highlights the potential risk of PM1.0 in spreading potential pathogens and antibiotic resistomes into the air environments.