Anthropogenic Pollution impacts the microbial community, its associated antimicrobial resistome, and natural transformation of extracellular DNA in aquatic ecosystems

Anthropogenic pollution plays a central role in driving the composition and abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Extracellular DNA (eDNA) can significantly contribute to the horizontal transfer of ARGs, and its evaluation is needed for a more comprehensive understanding of the cycle of antimicrobial resistance in the environment. In this work, we explored the influence of anthropogenic water pollution on microbial community and antimicrobial resistome diversity, and on ARG spread. We analysed intracellular DNA and eDNA from wastewater treatment plant effluents and lake surface water in a field study. Additionally, we performed dedicated experiments to assess how anthropogenic pollution impacts the transformation of eDNA (by using Gfp-plasmids carrying ARGs) within a natural microbial community by mixing in different proportions lake and wastewater.