Metagenomic investigation of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factor genes in extracellular DNA across wastewater treatment processes. Extracellular DNA investigation across wastewater treatment processes

Extracellular DNA (exDNA) is an emerging contaminant in wastewater which cannot be removed efficiently due to their small molecular size and poor settleability. Hence it can be disseminated into environment by water reuse. However, the movement of exDNA across wastewater treatment is unknown, particularly for critical genes like antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factor genes (VFGs). Besides, current studies were limited to simple detection of these genes, which lacked investigation of their mobility by plasmids/phages across wastewater treatment. Hence, we aim to investigate ARGs/VFGs that are present at different stages of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), with emphasis on those ARGs/VFGs associated with plasmids/phages.