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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Charles Knapp, Professor David GrahamORCiD
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Subinhibitory levels of antibiotics can promote the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. However, it is unclear whether antibiotic concentrations released into aquatic systems exert adequate pressure to select populations with resistance traits. To examine this issue, 15 mesocosms containing pristine surface water were treated with oxytetracycline (OTC) for 56 days at five levels (0, 5, 20, 50, and 250 μg L-1), and six tetracycline-resistance genes (tet(B), tet(L), tet(M), tet(O), tet(Q), and tet(W)), the sum of those genes (tetR), "total" 16S-rRNA genes, and transposons (Tn916 and Tn1545) were monitored using real-time PCR. Absolute water-column resistance-gene abundances did not change at any OTC exposure. However, an increase was observed in the ratio of tetR to 16S-rRNA genes in the 250 μg L-1 OTC units, and an increase in the selection rate of Tcr genes (relative to 16S-rRNA genes) was seen when OTC levels were at 20 μg L-1. Furthermore, tet(M) and Tn916/1545 gene abundances correlated among all treatments (r2 = 0.701, p = 0.05), and there were similar selection patterns of tetR and Tn916/1545 genes relative to the OTC level, suggesting a possible mechanism for retention of specific resistance genes within the systems. © 2008 American Chemical Society.
Author(s): Knapp CW, Engemann C, Hanson M, Keen P, Hall K, Graham DW
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Environmental Science and Technology
Year: 2008
Volume: 42
Issue: 14
Pages: 5348-5353
ISSN (print): 1382-3124
ISSN (electronic):
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es703199g
DOI: 10.1021/es703199g
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