Online monitoring system for qualitative and quantitative analysis of bioaerosols by combined ATP bioluminescence assay with loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Rapid detection of airborne pathogens is crucial in preventing respiratory infections and allergies. However, technologies aiming to real-time analysis of microorganisms in air remain limited due to the sparse and complex nature of bioaerosols. Here, we introduced an online bioaerosol monitoring system (OBMS) comprised of integrated units including a rotatable stainless-steel sintered filter-based sampler, a lysis unit for extracting adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and a single photon detector-based fluorescence unit. Through optimization of the ATP bioluminescence method and establishment of standard curves between relative luminescence units (RLUs) and ATP as well as microbial concentration, we achieved simultaneous detection of bioaerosols' concentration and activity. Testing OBMS with four bacterial and two fungal aerosols at a sampling flow rate of 10 to 50 L/min revealed an outstanding collection efficiency of 95 % at 30 L/min. A single OBMS measurement takes only 8 min (sampling: 5 min; lysis and detection: 3 min) with detection limits of 3 Pcs/ms photons (2.9 × 103 and 292 CFU/m3 for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans aerosol). In both laboratory and field tests, OBMS detected higher concentrations of bioaerosol compared to the traditional Andersen impactor and liquid biosampler. When combined OBMS with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), the bioaerosol can be qualitative and quantitative analyzed within 40 min without the cumbersome procedures of sample pretreatment and DNA extraction. These results offer a high compressive and humidity resistance membrane filtration sampler and validate the potential of OBMS for online measurement of bioaerosol concentration and composition.

Enriched Environment Contributes to the Recovery from Neurotoxin-Induced Parkinson's Disease Pathology.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder that affects dopaminergic neurons. The lack of understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of PD pathology makes treating it a challenge. Several pieces of evidence support the protective role of enriched environment (EE) and exercise on dopaminergic neurons. The specific aspect(s) of neuroprotection after exposure to EE have not been identified. Therefore, we have investigated the protective role of EE on dopamine dysregulation and subsequent downregulation of DJ1 protein using in vitro and in vivo models of PD. Our study for the first time demonstrated that DJ1 expression has a direct correlation with dopamine downregulation in PD models and exposure to EE has a significant impact on improving the behavioral changes in PD mice. This research provides evidence that exercise in EE has a positive effect on PD without interfering with the current line of therapy.

Fatty Acids and their Proteins in Adipose Tissue Inflammation.

Chronic low-grade adipose tissue inflammation is associated with metabolic disorders. Inflammation results from the intertwined cross-talks of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways in the immune response of adipose tissue. In addition, adipose FABP4 levels and lipid droplet proteins are involved in systemic and tissue inflammation. Dysregulated adipocytes help infiltrate immune cells derived from bone marrow responsible for producing cytokines and chemokines. When adipose tissue expands in excess, adipocyte exhibits increased secretion of adipokines and is implicated in metabolic disturbances due to the release of free fatty acids. This review presents an emerging concept in adipose tissue fat metabolism, fatty acid handling and binding proteins, and lipid droplet proteins and their involvement in inflammatory disorders.

BPA degradation using biogenic manganese oxides produced by an engineered Escherichia coli with a non-blue laccase from Bacillus sp. GZB.

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor that is often found in a variety of environmental matrixes, poses a serious health risk. One of the most effective methods for completely degrading BPA is biological oxidation. This study used a non-blue laccase to develop an engineer Escherichia coli strain for the synthesis of biogenic manganese oxides (BMO). The recombinant strain LACREC3 was utilized for the efficient production of BMO. The LACREC3 strain developed the erratic clumps of BMO after prolonged growth with Mn2+, as shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDS) tests. After 12 days of incubation under liquid culture conditions, a total of 51.97 ± 0.56% Mn-oxides were detected. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiments were further used to characterize the purified BMO. Data revealed that Mn(IV)-oxides predominated in the structure of BMO, which was amorphous and weakly crystalline. The BPA oxidation assay confirmed the high oxidation efficiency of BMO particle. BMO degraded 96.16 ± 0.31% of BPA in total over the course of 60 min. The gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) identified BPA-intermediates showed that BPA might break down into less hazardous substances that were tested by Photobacterium Phosphoreum in an acute toxicity experiment. Thus, employing BMO generated by a non-blue laccase, this study introduces a new biological technique of metal-oxidation and organic-pollutant degradation.

Combined DFT, SCAPS-1D, and wxAMPS frameworks for design optimization of efficient Cs2BiAgI6-based perovskite solar cells with different charge transport layers.

In this study, combined DFT, SCAPS-1D, and wxAMPS frameworks are used to investigate the optimized designs of Cs2BiAgI6 double perovskite-based solar cells. First-principles calculations are employed to investigate the structural stability, optical responses, and electronic contribution of the constituent elements in Cs2BiAgI6 absorber material, where SCAPS-1D and wxAMPS simulators are used to scrutinize different configurations of Cs2BiAgI6 solar cells. Here, PCBM, ZnO, TiO2, C60, IGZO, SnO2, WS2, and CeO2 are used as ETL, and Cu2O, CuSCN, CuSbS2, NiO, P3HT, PEDOT:PSS, spiro-MeOTAD, CuI, CuO, V2O5, CBTS, CFTS are used as HTL, and Au is used as a back contact. About ninety-six combinations of Cs2BiAgI6-based solar cell structures are investigated, in which eight sets of solar cell structures are identified as the most efficient structures. Besides, holistic investigation on the effect of different factors such as the thickness of different layers, series and shunt resistances, temperature, capacitance, Mott-Schottky and generation-recombination rates, and J-V (current-voltage density) and QE (quantum efficiency) characteristics is performed. The results show CBTS as the best HTL for Cs2BiAgI6 with all eight ETLs used in this work, resulting in a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.99%, 21.55%, 21.59%, 17.47%, 20.42%, 21.52%, 14.44%, 21.43% with PCBM, TiO2, ZnO, C60, IGZO, SnO2, CeO2, WS2, respectively. The proposed strategy may pave the way for further design optimization of lead-free double perovskite solar cells.

Maternal Obesity and Gut Microbiota Are Associated with Fetal Brain Development.

Obesity in pregnancy induces metabolic syndrome, low-grade inflammation, altered endocrine factors, placental function, and the maternal gut microbiome. All these factors impact fetal growth and development, including brain development. The lipid metabolic transporters of the maternal-fetal-placental unit are dysregulated in obesity. Consequently, the transport of essential long-chain PUFAs for fetal brain development is disturbed. The mother's gut microbiota is vital in maintaining postnatal energy homeostasis and maternal-fetal immune competence. Obesity during pregnancy changes the gut microbiota, affecting fetal brain development. Obesity in pregnancy can induce placental and intrauterine inflammation and thus influence the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the offspring. Several epidemiological studies observed an association between maternal obesity and adverse neurodevelopment. This review discusses the effects of maternal obesity and gut microbiota on fetal neurodevelopment outcomes. In addition, the possible mechanisms of the impacts of obesity and gut microbiota on fetal brain development are discussed.

A Review of Applications, Prospects, and Challenges of Proton-Conducting Zirconates in Electrochemical Hydrogen Devices.

In the future, when fossil fuels are exhausted, alternative energy sources will be essential for everyday needs. Hydrogen-based energy can play a vital role in this aspect. This energy is green, clean, and renewable. Electrochemical hydrogen devices have been used extensively in nuclear power plants to manage hydrogen-based renewable fuel. Doped zirconate materials are commonly used as an electrolyte in these electrochemical devices. These materials have excellent physical stability and high proton transport numbers, which make them suitable for multiple applications. Doping enhances the physical and electronic properties of zirconate materials and makes them ideal for practical applications. This review highlights the applications of zirconate-based proton-conducting materials in electrochemical cells, particularly in tritium monitors, tritium recovery, hydrogen sensors, and hydrogen pump systems. The central section of this review summarizes recent investigations and provides a comprehensive insight into the various doping schemes, experimental setup, instrumentation, optimum operating conditions, morphology, composition, and performance of zirconate electrolyte materials. In addition, different challenges that are hindering zirconate materials from achieving their full potential in electrochemical hydrogen devices are discussed. Finally, this paper lays out a few pathways for aspirants who wish to undertake research in this field.

Bioactive food components and their inhibitory actions in multiple platelet pathways.

In addition to hemostasis and thrombosis, blood platelets are involved in various processes such as inflammation, infection, immunobiology, cancer metastasis, wound repair and angiogenesis. Platelets' hemostatic and non-hemostatic functions are mediated by the expression of various membrane receptors and the release of proteins, ions and other mediators. Therefore, specific activities of platelets responsible for the non-hemostatic disease are to be inhibited while leaving the platelet's hemostatic function unaffected. Platelets' anti-aggregatory property has been used as a primary criterion for antiplatelet drugs/bioactives; however, their non-hemostatic activities are not well known. This review describes the hemostatic and non-hemostatic function of human blood platelets and the modulatory effects of bioactive food components. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this review, we have discussed the antiplatelet effects of several food components. These bioactive compounds inhibit both hemostatic and non-hemostatic pathways involving blood platelet. Platelets have emerged as critical biological factors of normal and pathologic vascular healing and other diseases such as cancers and inflammatory and immune disorders. The challenge for therapeutic intervention in these disorders will be to find drugs and bioactive compounds that preferentially block specific sites implicated in emerging roles of platelets' complicated contribution to inflammation, tumour growth, or other disorders while leaving at least some of their hemostatic function intact.

Low circulatory Fe and Se levels with a higher IL-6/IL-10 ratio provide nutritional immunity in tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) patients show dysregulated immunity, iron metabolism, and anemia. In this study, circulatory cytokines, trace metals, and iron-related proteins (hepcidin, ferroportin, transferrin, Dmt1, Nramp1, ferritin, ceruloplasmin, hemojuvelin, aconitase, and transferrin receptor) were monitored in case (active tuberculosis patients: ATB) and control (non-tuberculosis: NTB and healthy) study populations (n = 72, male: 100%, mean age, 42.94 years; range, 17-83 years). Using serum elemental and cytokine levels, a partial least square discriminate analysis model (PLS-DA) was built, which clustered ATB patients away from NTB and healthy controls. Based on the PLS-DA variable importance in projection (VIP) score and analysis of variance (ANOVA), 13 variables were selected as important biosignatures [IL-18, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-5, IL-12 (p70), IL-1ß, copper, zinc, selenium, iron, and aluminum]. Interestingly, low iron and selenium levels and high copper and aluminum levels were observed in ATB subjects. Low circulatory levels of transferrin, ferroportin, and hemojuvelin with higher ferritin and ceruloplasmin levels observed in ATB subjects demonstrate an altered iron metabolism, which partially resolved upon 6 months of anti-TB therapy. The identified biosignature in TB patients demonstrated perturbed iron homeostasis with anemia of inflammation, which could be useful targets for the development of host-directed adjunct therapeutics.

Evaluation of the equivalence of different intakes of Fruitflow in affecting platelet aggregation and thrombin generation capacity in a randomized, double-blinded pilot study in male subjects.

BACKGROUND: The water-soluble tomato extract, Fruitflow® is a dietary antiplatelet which can be used to lower platelet aggregability in primary preventative settings. We carried out a pilot study to investigate the range of intakes linked to efficacy and to make an initial assessment of variability in response to Fruitflow®. METHODS: Platelet response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) agonist and thrombin generation capacity were monitored at baseline and 24 h after consuming 0, 30, 75, 150 or 300 mg of Fruitflow® in a randomized, double-blinded crossover study in male subjects 30-65 years of age (N = 12). Results were evaluated for equivalence to the standard 150 mg dose. RESULTS: Results showed that the changes from baseline aggregation and thrombin generation observed after the 75 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg supplements were equivalent. Aggregation was reduced from baseline by - 12.9 ± 17.7%, - 12.0 ± 13.9% and - 17.7 ± 15.7% respectively, while thrombin generation capacity fell by - 8.6 ± 4.1%, - 9.2 ± 3.1% and - 11.3 ± 2.3% respectively. Effects observed for 0 mg and 30 mg supplements were non-equivalent to 150 mg and not different from baseline (aggregation changed by 3.0 ± 5.0% and - 0.7 ± 10.2% respectively, while thrombin generation changed by 0.8 ± 3.0% and 0.8 ± 3.1% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the efficacious range for Fruitflow® lies between 75 mg and 300 mg, depending on the individual. It may be pertinent to personalize the daily intake of Fruitflow® depending on individual platelet response. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN53447583 , 24/02/2021.

Modified Technique of Doubly Folded Peritoneal Flap Interposition in Transabdominal Vesicovaginal Fistula Repair: Our Experience of 36 Cases.

PURPOSE: Correction of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) using interpositional flaps is an established procedure. In open repair, omental flap gives good results. However, its availability in all the cases is questionable. We utilized our technique of doubly folded peritoneal flap and assessed the outcome of the repair. METHODS: Retrospective observational study included 36 cases of open VVF repair, performed during 2010-2019. Preoperative clinical examination, cystoscopy, and imaging were performed routinely. Open transvesical repair as described by O'Conor was performed and doubly folded peritoneal flap was utilized. Intra- and postoperative parameters were recorded. The outcome was assessed after 21 days of catheter removal. A minimum of 6 months of follow-up was done. RESULTS: Mean age was 44 ± 18 years, and 97.2% of VVF were iatrogenic, mainly after hysterectomy (75.0%) and caesarean section (22.2%). Fistula size ranged from 0.6 to 5.5 cm. Five cases had multiple fistulas and 3 cases were recurrent. Mean flap length and width were 8.0 ± 2.4 and 5.1 ± 1.1 cm, respectively. Mean operative time and estimated blood loss were 94 ± 15 min and 155 ± 45 mL, respectively. Fourteen of 36 patients developed complications of Clavien-Dindo grade I/II. Thirty-five out of 36 cases (97.2%) were cured and remained dry for 6 months after surgery. Three cases reported de-novo urgency and were treated medically. Satisfaction level was good in 91.2% of cases. CONCLUSION: Transvesical repair using doubly folded peritoneal flap provides an excellent and durable outcome. It is a suitable alternative to the omental interpositional flap.

Colonization of Mice With Amoxicillin-Associated Klebsiella variicola Drives Inflammation via Th1 Induction and Treg Inhibition.

ß-Lactam antibiotics can increase the resistance and virulence of individual intestinal microorganisms, which may affect host physiology and health. Klebsiella, a crucial gut inhabitant, has been confirmed to be resistant to most ß-lactam antibiotics and contributes to the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, the influence of amoxicillin (AMO) on Klebsiella and its role in colitis was investigated in an antibiotic cocktail (ABx) murine model. The results suggested that a 7-day AMO treatment significantly enriched the abundance of Klebsiella and enhanced serum resistance, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation ability of Klebsiella variicola (K. variicola) compared to the wild-type strain in the control group mice. Colonization of mice with the AMO-associated K. variicola could induce Th1 cells and inhibit Treg differentiation to promote inflammation in ABx murine model. In addition, inoculation of AMO-associated K. variicola in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis murine model mice also confirmed that K. variicola colonization exacerbated inflammation as assessed by increased TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17a, and disease activity (DAI) levels; decreased colon length and bodyweight; and a disrupted Th1/Treg balance. The results of our study demonstrate that AMO enhances Klebsiella virulence in mice by disrupting the T cell equilibrium to exacerbate colitis, thereby providing a reference for proper antibiotic prescription.

Vancomycin exposure caused opportunistic pathogens bloom in intestinal microbiome by simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME).

Antibiotics are emerging organic pollutants posing high health risks to humans by causing human intestinal microbial disorders with increasing abundances of opportunistic pathogens, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been confirmed to restore the dysbiosis of gut flora in many kinds of intestinal disease. However, to date, few studies have focused on the bloomed opportunistic pathogens associated human disease-related pathways as well as antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) after vancomycin exposure, and there is limited information on using FMT for restoration of intestinal microbiome affected by antibiotics. Therefore, this study investigated effects of vancomycin on the opportunistic pathogens, human disease-related pathways as well as ARGs in human gut, and the restoration of intestinal microbiome by FMT. Results indicated that vancomycin treatment substantially increased human disease-related pathways and decreased abundances of ARGs. Besides, the bloomed opportunistic pathogens including Achromobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas, caused by vancomycin exposure, were positively correlated with human disease-related pathways. The microbiota abundance and genes of human disease-related pathways and antibiotic resistance showed a remarkable return towards baseline after FMT, but not for natural recovery. These findings suggest that impacts of vancomycin on human gut are profound and FMT will be a promising strategy in clinical application that can restore the dysbiosis of gut microbiota, which may be valuable for directing future work.

The prolonged disruption of a single-course amoxicillin on mice gut microbiota and resistome, and recovery by inulin, Bifidobacterium longum and fecal microbiota transplantation.

The usages of antibiotics in treating the pathogenic infections could alter the gut microbiome and associated resistome, causing long term adverse impact on human health. In this study, mice were treated with human-simulated regimen 25.0 mg kg-1 of amoxicillin for seven days, and their gut microbiota and resistome were characterized using the 16S rRNA amplicons sequencing and the high-throughput qPCR, respectively. Meanwhile, the flora restorations after individual applications of inulin, Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum), and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) were analyzed for up to 35 days. The results revealed the prolonged negative impact of single course AMX exposure on mice gut microbiota and resistome. To be specific, pathobionts of Klebsiella and Escherichia-Shigella were significantly enriched, while prebiotics of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were dramatically depleted. Furthermore, ß-lactam resistance genes and efflux resistance genes were obviously enriched after amoxicillin exposure. Compared to B. longum, FMT and inulin were demonstrated to preferably restore the gut microbiota via reconstituting microbial community and stimulating specific prebiotic respectively. Such variation of microbiome caused their distinct alleviations on resistome alteration. Inulin earned the greatest elimination on AMX induced ARG abundance and diversity enrichment. FMT and B. longum caused remove of particular ARGs such as ndm-1, blaPER. Network analysis revealed that most of the ARGs were prone to be harbored by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. In general, gut resistome shift was partly associated with the changing bacterial community structures and transposase and integron. Taken together, these results demonstrated the profound disruption of gut microbiota and resistome after single-course amoxicillin treatment and different restoration by inulin, B. longum and FMT.

Amoxicillin Increased Functional Pathway Genes and Beta-Lactam Resistance Genes by Pathogens Bloomed in Intestinal Microbiota Using a Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem.

Antibiotics are frequently used to treat bacterial infections; however, they affect not only the target pathogen but also commensal gut bacteria. They may cause the dysbiosis of human intestinal microbiota and consequent metabolic alterations, as well as the spreading of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In vitro experiments by simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME) can clarify the direct effects of antibiotics on different regions of the human intestinal microbiota, allowing complex human microbiota to be stably maintained in the absence of host cells. However, there are very few articles added the antibiotics into this in vitro model to observe the effects of antibiotics on the human intestinal microbiota. To date, no studies have focused on the correlations between the bloomed pathogens caused by amoxicillin (AMX) exposure and increased functional pathway genes as well as ARGs. This study investigated the influence of 600 mg day-1 AMX on human intestinal microbiota using SHIME. The impact of AMX on the composition and function of the human intestinal microbiota was revealed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and high-throughput quantitative PCR. The results suggested that: (i) AMX treatment has tremendous influence on the overall taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of Klebsiella [linear discriminant analysis (LDA) score = 5.26] and Bacteroides uniformis (LDA score = 4.75), as well as taxonomic diversity (Simpson, P = 0.067, T-test; Shannon, P = 0.061, T-test), and decreasing the members of Parabacteroides (LDA score = 4.18), Bifidobacterium (LDA score = 4.06), and Phascolarctobacterium (LDA score = 3.95); (ii) AMX exposure significantly enhanced the functional pathway genes and beta-lactam resistance genes, and the bloomed pathogens were strongly correlated with the metabolic and immune system diseases gene numbers (R = 0.98, P < 0.001) or bl2_len and bl2be_shv2 abundance (R = 0.94, P < 0.001); (iii) the changes caused by AMX were "SHIME-compartment" different with more significant alteration in ascending colon, and the effects were permanent, which could not be restored after 2-week AMX discontinuance. Overall results demonstrated negative side-effects of AMX, which should be considered for AMX prescription.

A non-blue laccase of Bacillus sp. GZB displays manganese-oxidase activity: A study of laccase characterization, Mn(II) oxidation and prediction of Mn(II) oxidation mechanism.

Laccase, a unique class of multicopper oxidase, presents promising potential as a biocatalyst in many industrial and biotechnological applications. Recently, it has been significantly applied in many metal-polluted sites due to its Manganese (Mn)-oxidation ability. Here, we demonstrate the Mn(II)-oxidase activity of laccase obtained from Bacillus sp. GZB. The CotA gene of GZB was transformed in E. coli BL21 and overexpressed. The purified laccase (LACREC3-laccase) displayed the absence of a peak at 610 nm that is usually found in blue-laccase. Further, the LACREC3-laccase exhibited high activity and stability at different pH and temperatures with substrates 2, 2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) and syringaldazine, respectively. It also functioned in the presence of various metals and enzyme inhibitors. Most notably, LACREC3-laccase formed insoluble brown Mn(III)/Mn(IV)-oxide particles from Mn(II) mineral, exhibiting its Mn(II)-oxidase activity. In addition to native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and buffer test, we developed an 'agarose gel plate' assay to evaluate Mn(II) oxidation activity of laccase. Furthermore, using the leucoberbelin blue assay, a total of 44.45 ± 0.45% Mn(IV)-oxides were quantified, in which 5.87 ± 0.61% autoxidized after 24 h. The Mn(II) oxidation mechanisms were further predicted by trapping Mn(III) using pyrophosphate during Mn(II) to Mn(IV) conversion by LACREC3-laccase. Overall, the laccase of GZB has excellent activity and stability plus an ability to oxidize Mn(II). This study is the first report on a non-blue laccase, exhibiting Mn(II)-oxidase activity. Thus, it offers a novel finding of the Mn(II) oxidation processes that can be a valuable way of Mn(II)-mineralization in various metal-polluted environments.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strain S7, Isolated from a Patient with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Over the past decades, drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains have presented a significant challenge, with inadequate diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) cases. Here, we report the draft whole-genome sequence of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strain S7, which was isolated from a patient from Tripura, India, who was diagnosed with pulmonary TB.

Municipal Solid Waste Treatment System Increases Ambient Airborne Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Genes.

Landfill and incineration are the primary disposal practices for municipal solid waste (MSW) and have been considered as the critical reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the possible transmission of ARGs from the municipal solid waste treatment system (MSWT system) to ambient air is still unclear. In this study, we collected inside and ambient air samples (PM10 and PM2.5) and potential source samples (leachate and solid waste) in the MSWT system. The results showed that the MSWT system contributed to the increased ambient airborne bacteria and associated ARGs. Forty-one antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) harboring blaTEM-1 were isolated, and the full-length nucleotide sequences of the blaTEM-1 gene (harbored by identical bacillus) from air (downwind samples) were 100% identical with those in the leachate and solid waste, indicating that the MSWT system was the important source of disperse bacteria and associated ARGs in the ambient air. The daily intake (DI) burden level of ARGs via PM inhalation was comparable with that via ingestion of drinking water but lower than the DI level via ingestion of raw vegetables. The antibiotic-resistant opportunistic pathogen Bacillus cereus was isolated from air, with a relatively high DI level of Bacillus via inhalation (104-106 copies/day) in the MSWT system. This study highlights the key pathway of airborne ARGs to human exposure.

Gut resistomes, microbiota and antibiotic residues in Chinese patients undergoing antibiotic administration and healthy individuals.

Human gut microbiota is an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Although dysbacteriosis after the antibiotic course has been previously observed in the patient guts, a comprehensive comparison of gut resistomes, microbiota and antibiotic residues in healthy individuals and patients undergoing antibiotic administration is little. Using high-throughput qPCR, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and UPLC-MS/MS, we systematically examined the antibiotic resistome, gut microbiota, and antibiotic residues in fecal samples from both Chinese healthy individuals and patients receiving antibiotic therapy. Compared with healthy individuals, patients' guts harbored lower diverse gut resistome and microbiota, but higher concentrations of antibiotics and ARGs. Antibiotic concentration in human guts was positively correlated with ARG total abundance, but was negatively related to the diversity of both ARGs and bacterial communities, which demonstrated that antibiotic administration could shape the antibiotic resistomes and bacterial communities in the patient guts. Gene cfxA was evaluated as a potential biomarker to distinguish the patients receiving antibiotic therapy from the healthy individuals in China since its wide detection and significant enrichment in the guts of the patients. The detection of some veterinary antibiotics in human guts illustrated the potential transmission of antibiotic from the external environment to human via the food chain. The obtained results could help to better understand the influence of antibiotic therapy in shaping antibiotic reistomes and bacterial communities in Chinese individuals.

Occurrence and distribution of clinical and veterinary antibiotics in the faeces of a Chinese population.

Antibiotics ingested in the human gut may create selective pressure to change the composition of the gut microbiota, which could adversely effect the immune system of the host. However, the occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in the human gut remains unclear. A total population of 180 individuals, across three Chinses regions with different economic development levels, including children, adults, and elders, were sampled in 2017. A total of 19 representative antibiotics, including both clinical and veterinary antibiotics, were investigated in human faeces. While clinical use and prescriptions were the main exposure pathways for children, environmental media were the exposure pathway to adults. In addition, significant differences (P < 0.05) in antibiotic residues in human faeces were observed amongst various economic development levels, where human faeces from underdeveloped areas were mostly associated with higher levels of antibiotics. This study first to investigate the occurrence and distribution of typical antibiotics in the faeces of a Chinese population and thereby provide a reference for the intensive study of the effects and mechanisms of antibiotics on human gut microbiota.