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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Bacterial and Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (Second Edition)
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Bacterial and Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (Second Edition)

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 4524

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria King

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Interests: aerobiology; collection and analysis of bioaerosols; computational modeling of bioaerosol transmission; antibiotic resistance; environmental factors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xingmao Ma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Interests: environmental nanotechnology; biogeochemistry; advanced materials; emerging contaminants; photocatalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue, “Bacterial and Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment” (https://www.mdpi.com/si/156967).

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is one of the most serious public health threats of our time. Modern life has introduced novel technologies, including widespread antibiotics, ventilation, and plastics, that pose new challenges to bacteria. The misuse of antibiotics has historically resulted in the rise of antimicrobial resistance, leading to the transmission of untreatable illnesses and, in some cases, death. Aerosolization stress in airborne bacteria seems to be involved in the development of responses to environmental factors including temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rates. Recently, microplastics (MPs) with a diameter of less than 5 mm have displayed a high tendency to enrich antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes (ARBs and ARGs) in attached biofilms. Hotspots for antibiotic-resistant bacteria include wastewater systems, food and animal production sites, and clinical settings such as hospitals. However, the mechanisms by which microbes exposed to these environmental challenges acquire AR remain largely unknown.

The importance of this field justifies a Special Issue of Microorganisms devoted to the latest progress in the detection, assessment, and modeling of antibiotic resistance in the environment. Accordingly, as Guest Editors, we invite you to submit research articles focusing on environmental factors affecting the behavior and transmission of bacteria and potentially triggering antibiotic resistance.

Dr. Maria King
Dr. Xingmao Ma
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs)
  • antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs)
  • environmental stress
  • bioaerosols
  • biofilms
  • membrane channels
  • microplastics (MPs)
  • transmission
  • modeling
  • wastewater
  • hospitals

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3968 KiB  
Article
Vertical Distribution and Drivers of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Agricultural Soil Irrigated with Livestock Wastewater
by Ming Shang, Yongchao Gao, Liwen Zheng, Lei Ji, Jianhua Du, Xue Kong, Hui Wang, Feng Shi, Hailun Wang, Jianhui Liu, Xiaodong Yang and Zeyu Wang
Microorganisms 2025, 13(3), 610; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13030610 - 6 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 825
Abstract
Livestock wastewater reuse could be a potential source for the distribution of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural soil. In this study, soil samples were collected from different depths (0–60 cm) of farmland that has been subjected [...] Read more.
Livestock wastewater reuse could be a potential source for the distribution of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural soil. In this study, soil samples were collected from different depths (0–60 cm) of farmland that has been subjected to long-term application of livestock wastewater. The vertical distribution of antibiotics, bacterial communities, and ARGs were assessed to identify the driving factors that could potentially influence the distribution of ARB and ARGs. The results demonstrated distinguished distributions of antibiotics along the soil depths, with tetracyclines (TCs) mainly found in the top 10 cm of the soil (0.11–0.31 μg/kg), while quinolones (QNs), sulfonamides (SAs), and macrolides (MLs) were detected in all 60 cm of soil depth (0.01–0.22 μg/kg). The selection pressure of antibiotics to microorganisms led to the proliferation of ARB, especially tetracycline-resistant bacteria and erythromycin-resistant bacteria. In terms of the distribution/abundance of ARGs, novA and tetA (58) were relatively higher in 0–10 cm surface soil, while vanRM and vanRF were mainly detected in the deeper soil. Different ARGs may have the same host bacteria, which lead to the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria, such as Ilumatobacter sp., Aggregatilinea sp., Rhabdothermincola sp., and Ornithinimicrobium sp. Soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and moisture content (MC) could affect the distribution and proliferation of ARB and were found negatively correlated with most of the ARGs except macB. Therefore, it is potentially possible to eliminate/inhibit the spread of ARGs by adjusting these soil parameters. These findings provide insights into the distribution and dissemination of antibiotics, ARB, and ARGs in agricultural practices of livestock wastewater irrigation and provide effective mitigation strategies to ensure the safe use of livestock wastewater in agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial and Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (Second Edition))
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21 pages, 6217 KiB  
Article
Uncovering the Multifaceted Role of PA2649 (nuoN) in Type III Secretion System and Other Virulence Production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
by Lin Chen, Yujie Si, Xue Han, Yue Xiao, Yidan Pan, Kangmin Duan and Songzhe Fu
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020392 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 904
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multi-drug-resistant opportunistic pathogen that adapts to challenging environments by deploying virulence factors, including the type III secretion system (T3SS). Emerging evidence points to a role for NADH dehydrogenase complexes in regulating virulence; however, their precise contributions remain unclear. Here, [...] Read more.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multi-drug-resistant opportunistic pathogen that adapts to challenging environments by deploying virulence factors, including the type III secretion system (T3SS). Emerging evidence points to a role for NADH dehydrogenase complexes in regulating virulence; however, their precise contributions remain unclear. Here, we identify PA2649, a component of the NADH dehydrogenase complex I (nuo operon), as a key regulator of T3SS-related activities. PA2649 deletion resulted in a twofold increase in exoS expression and enhanced cytotoxicity in both A549 cell and Chinese cabbage models. Full revertant of the nuo operon was necessary to restore exoS expression to wild-type levels, suggesting a critical connection between NADH dehydrogenase activity and T3SS regulation. The PA2649 mutation also disrupted the Rsm-Exs regulatory axis, downregulating gacS, rsmY, rsmZ, and hfq while upregulating exsC. Overexpression of rsmY, rsmZ, gacA, hfq, and exsD partially rescued T3SS function, confirming that PA2649 influences T3SS via the Rsm-Exs pathway. Furthermore, PA2649 deletion altered motility, biofilm formation, pyocyanin production, protease activity, and antibiotic susceptibility. These phenotypes could not be complemented with T3SS regulatory genes alone, indicating that PA2649 modulates these traits through mechanisms independent of the Rsm-Exs axis, potentially involving NADH dehydrogenase-associated pathways. This study underscores the multifaceted role of PA2649 in regulating P. aeruginosa pathogenicity and resistance, providing novel insights into its complex regulatory networks and highlighting new avenues for therapeutic targeting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial and Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (Second Edition))
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Review

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20 pages, 5878 KiB  
Review
Integrons in the Age of Antibiotic Resistance: Evolution, Mechanisms, and Environmental Implications: A Review
by Niyaz Ali, Izhar Ali, Ahmad Ud Din, Kashif Akhtar, Bing He and Ronghui Wen
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2579; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122579 - 13 Dec 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2290
Abstract
Integrons, which are genetic components commonly found in bacteria, possess the remarkable capacity to capture gene cassettes, incorporate them into their structure, and thereby contribute to an increase in genomic complexity and phenotypic diversity. This adaptive mechanism allows integrons to play a significant [...] Read more.
Integrons, which are genetic components commonly found in bacteria, possess the remarkable capacity to capture gene cassettes, incorporate them into their structure, and thereby contribute to an increase in genomic complexity and phenotypic diversity. This adaptive mechanism allows integrons to play a significant role in acquiring, expressing, and spreading antibiotic resistance genes in the modern age. To assess the current challenges posed by integrons, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of their characteristics. This review aims to elucidate the structure and evolutionary history of integrons, highlighting how the use of antibiotics has led to the preferential selection of integrons in various environments. Additionally, it explores their current involvement in antibiotic resistance and their dissemination across diverse settings, while considering potential transmission factors and routes. This review delves into the arrangement of gene cassettes within integrons, their ability to rearrange, the mechanisms governing their expression, and the process of excision. Furthermore, this study examines the presence of clinically relevant integrons in a wide range of environmental sources, shedding light on how anthropogenic influences contribute to their propagation into the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial and Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (Second Edition))
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