activated sludge metagenome Raw sequence reads

Antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) can be found in the free-floating extracellular DNA (eDNA) fraction of microbial systems, being able to generate bacterial cells resistant to one or more antibiotics by natural transformation. Because of its low concentration, obtaining high yield eDNA extract is challenging. We developed a method using chromatography to isolate eDNA without causing cell lysis from complex wastewater matrices. Resistome results in the eDNA fraction showed lower number reads when compared to the iDNA and a predominance of aminoglycosides and beta-lactamams. Metagenome results showed that eDNA can not be discarded as a pool of ARGs and MGEs for horizontal gene transfer. Data obtained using this extraction method will foster xenogenic and microbial risk assessments across water systems, supporting water authorities in the delineation of measures to adopt to safeguard environmental and public health.