Simultaneously removal of pathogens, antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic environment by synergistic combination of UVA and copper ion

The aquaculture environment plays an important role as a habitat for bacteria and is conducive to the transfer of antimicrobial resistancegenes (ARGs). Although various methods have been developed to disinfect aquaculture-associated environments, further efforts are still necessary to balance efficiency, cost, and safety. The work presented here shows that the combination of UVA and copper ion (Cu2+) are able to synergistically eradicate multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, antibiotic residues, and ARGs in a simultaneous manner. Mechanistic studies indicated that the combination of UVA and Cu2+ triggers radical overload in bacteria. In summary, this work provides a viable toolkit to disinfect associated environments for better aquaculture production and sheds light on the potential synergism between radiation and ions.