Metagenomic perspectives on antibiotic resistance genes in tap water: The environmental characteristic, potential mobility and health threat

Meng，Qiyue1; Zhang，Yibo1; He，Da2; Xia，Yu3; Fu，Jie1; Dang，Chenyuan1

2025

10.1016/j.jes.2023.12.023

Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)   影响因子和分区

1001-0742

1878-7320

As an emerging environmental contaminant, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in tap water have attracted great attention. Although studies have provided ARG profiles in tap water, research on their abundance levels, composition characteristics, and potential threat is still insufficient. Here, 9 household tap water samples were collected from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in China. Additionally, 75 sets of environmental sample data (9 types) were downloaded from the public database. Metagenomics was then performed to explore the differences in the abundance and composition of ARGs. 221 ARG subtypes consisting of 17 types were detected in tap water. Although the ARG abundance in tap water was not significantly different from that found in drinking water plants and reservoirs, their composition varied. In tap water samples, the three most abundant classes of resistance genes were multidrug, fosfomycin and MLS (macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin) ARGs, and their corresponding subtypes ompR, fosX and macB were also the most abundant ARG subtypes. Regarding the potential mobility, vanS had the highest abundance on plasmids and viruses, but the absence of key genes rendered resistance to vancomycin ineffective. Generally, the majority of ARGs present in tap water were those that have not been assessed and are currently not listed as high-threat level ARG families based on the World Health Organization Guideline. Although the current potential threat to human health posed by ARGs in tap water is limited, with persistent transfer and accumulation, especially in pathogens, the potential danger to human health posed by ARGs should not be ignored.

Antibiotic resistance genes Health threat Plasmids Tap water Viruses

英语

其他

2-s2.0-85183944237

Scopus

1.School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan,430074,China
2.Key Laboratory of Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem of Ministry of Water Resources,Institute of Hydroecology,Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences,Wuhan,430074,China
3.School of Environmental Science and Engineering,College of Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Meng，Qiyue,Zhang，Yibo,He，Da,et al. Metagenomic perspectives on antibiotic resistance genes in tap water: The environmental characteristic, potential mobility and health threat[J]. Journal of Environmental Sciences (China),2025,147:582-596.

Meng，Qiyue,Zhang，Yibo,He，Da,Xia，Yu,Fu，Jie,&Dang，Chenyuan.(2025).Metagenomic perspectives on antibiotic resistance genes in tap water: The environmental characteristic, potential mobility and health threat.Journal of Environmental Sciences (China),147,582-596.

Meng，Qiyue,et al."Metagenomic perspectives on antibiotic resistance genes in tap water: The environmental characteristic, potential mobility and health threat".Journal of Environmental Sciences (China) 147(2025):582-596.