Metatranscriptome analysis of river biofilm communities to ionic and nano-zinc oxide exposures

Metranscriptomic insight into the response of river biofilm communities (South Saskatchewan River) to ionic (high and low) zinc exposures and uncoated or coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (uncoated (hydrophilic), silane coat (hydrophobic), or stearic acid coat (lipophilic)). Significant changes in regulation of biofilm genes related to antibiotic resistance and the degradation of xenobiotics were observed. The overall alteration in microbial gene expression suggests disruption of important ecosystem processes upon release of Zn nanoparticles to the environment.