Metagenome Raw sequence reads of intracellular DNA and extracellular DNA in a wastewater treatment plant. wastewater metagenome

It is well established that exDNA can be transmitted to bacteria by transformation. In areas with high concentrations of diverse bacteria, such as sewage treatment plants, it may cause genetic hybridization and become a hotspot for the development of new drug-resistant or pathogenic bacteria. However, exDNA is susceptible to DNA-degrading enzymes and is present at low concentrations in water, making it difficult to recover and analyze. Moreover, although a considerable amount of data has been published on intracellular DNA (inDNA) in sewage treatment plants, there is a paucity of information on exDNA and the differences in composition between exDNA and inDNA. In this study, we collected inDNA and exDNA from influent, secondary treated water, and discharged water after chlorination at a sewage treatment plant using a colloidal adsorption and foam concentration method that can concentrate and collect exDNA at high concentration from water. We then compared their composition by metagenomic analysis.