OxiTop microcosm model as a possible tool to study the effects of antibiotic exposure on the microbial community

Dongze Jiang; Yi Yang; Mátyás Cserháti; Balázs Kriszt; Edit Kaszab

doi:10.59258/hk.24058

Dongze Jiang
Yi Yang Department of Environmental Safety, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Mátyás Cserháti Department of Environmental Safety, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7429-0635
Balázs Kriszt Department of Environmental Safety, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9236-2820
Edit Kaszab Department of Environmental Safety, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5917-0464

Keywords: Antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, microbial community, OxiTop microcosm model, sewage, next generation sequencing, 16S rRNA

Abstract

The bacterial community of surface waters is a key element of self-cleansing, but under antibiotic pressure, it should be closely monitored to evaluate the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic resistance is one of the three most serious threats to human health. Antibiotic resistance can develop due to the selective pressure of antibiotics on the natural microbial ecosystem discharged through the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study aimed to find a link between sewage load and the biological activity of the bacterial community with and without antibiotic pressure. To reach this goal, an OxiTop microcosm experiment was set using surface water samples originating from a Hungarian site with and without sewage load. Samples were supplemented with different combinations of antibiotics relevant in human and veterinary therapy (colistin, florfenicol, imipenem, ceftazidime). During the incubation period, biological oxygen demand (BOD) was regularly measured and was paired with traditional cultivation and next-generation sequencing. Based on our results, the bacterial diversity decreased under antibiotic pressure, but the viable cell counts were not necessarily affected. The microbial community of surface water with sewage load had a higher level of adaptability to the antibiotics. The key taxa under antibiotic pressure that are possible hosts of multiple antibiotic resistance genes were Cellvibrio, Aquabacterium, and Flavobacterium.

Author Biographies

Dongze Jiang

DONGZE JIANG completed his bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering at Óbuda University, Hungary, in 2018, and his master’s degree in the same field at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2020. His continuous and specialized academic training has provided him with solid expertise and extensive skill in environmental engineering, along with strong laboratory and experimental skills. In 2020, he began his PhD studies, focusing on research in microbial contamination and antibiotic resistance.

Yi Yang, Department of Environmental Safety, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

YI YANG graduated in environmental engineering at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary, then she continued her studies at Wageningen University’s Master of Environmental Sciences. In 2023, she won a special award at the 36th Hungarian Scientific Student Conference in the Agricultural Science section, Environmental Management division.

Mátyás Cserháti , Department of Environmental Safety, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

MÁTYÁS CSERHÁTI obtained his PhD in 2013 and is currently an Associate Professor at the Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, MATE. His research interests include the biodegradation of mycotoxins by bacteria and the study of microbial populations affecting soil fertility, utilizing metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches. He also contributes to BSc and MSc education and serves as secretary for international students in the Environmental Sciences Doctoral School since 2014.

Balázs Kriszt, Department of Environmental Safety, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

BALÁZS KRISZT associate professor is the Director of the Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety at MATE. His expertise lies in environmental microbiology, biodegradation, microbial ecotoxicology, and molecular ecology. He leads research initiatives focusing on environmental safety and microbial interactions in aquatic systems.

Edit Kaszab, Department of Environmental Safety, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

EDIT KASZAB earned her PhD in 2011 and serves as Head of the Department of Environmental Safety and Associate Professor at the Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE). Her research focuses on environmental microbiology, including the detection of opportunistic pathogens, antibiotic resistance, and microbial community analysis in various ecosystems. She is actively involved in environmental safety assessments and remediation processes.

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