Assessment of UV-vis driven CFT-GO based photocatalysis on the conjugative gene transfer mechanism in a pilot plant system

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 4, 1219 - 1231, 15.10.2023

Can Burak Özkal

https://doi.org/10.28948/ngumuh.1285885

Abstract

This study addresses the need for sustainable methodologies in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, particularly in wastewater treatment, to ensure efficient disinfection and control of AMR. The use of photocatalysis (PC) has gained attention as a scalable and suitable approach for research and development. This study evaluates the effect of UV-vis driven sub-lethal photocatalytic oxidation on conjugative gene transfer between two E. coli strains using a pilot plant reactor system. Photocatalysts composed of graphene-oxide-Ti-CuFe2O4 nanocomposites were synthesized through a green approach and used to enhance bacteria inactivation rates, resulting in hindered frequency and absolute abundance of trans-conjugants in the recipient strains. Experiments plan was built with the intent to determine the contribution of photocatalyst type, mode of operation on the conjugation mechanism and also distinguish between the scenarios where individual or simultaneous exposure to PC oxidation of donor and recipient strains occur. Simultaneous photocatalytic treatment of both donor and recipient strains resulted in the removal of ~3 LOG of both bacteria and eligible conditions were obtained for controlling trans-conjugants formation compared to no treatment conditions. The photocatalyst surface, reactive oxygen species, and bacterial cells' interaction played a determining role in controlling ARG transfer. The impact of photocatalytic oxidation mechanisms on the vitality of recipient cells was evident during the continuous mode of operation, where conjugative transfer of ARGs was mitigated, and the number of trans-conjugants decreased to below 102 CFU mL-1. This study demonstrates the potential of PC for efficient disinfection and control of AMR in wastewater treatment.

Keywords

Antibiotic resistance, Antibiotic resistance gene, Conjugative gene transfer, Photocatalysis, Bacteria inactivation

Supporting Institution

TNKU Scientific Research Projects Funding Office

Project Number

NKUBAP.06.GA.21.343

Thanks

As the author of the study, I would like to acknowledge Prof. Dr. Ayten Yazgan Karataş from İstanbul Technical University, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and Prof. Dr. İdil Arslan Alaton from İstanbul Technical University, Department of Environmental Engineering for their support.

UV-VIS kaynaklı CFT-GO tabanlı pilot ölçek fotokataliz prosesinin konjugatif gen transfer mekanizmasına etkisinin belirlenmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, antimikrobiyal direncin kontrolünde (AMR) sürdürülebilir yaklaşımlar arasında olan, atıksuyun etkin dezenfeksiyonu üzerine kurulmuştur. Fotokataliz prosesi, ölçeklenebilir, araştırma ve geliştirmeye açık bir ileri oksidasyon prosesidir. Deneysel çalışmalarda kullanılan grafen-oksit-Ti-CuFe2O4 nanokompozit fotokatalizörleri, yeşil bir yaklaşımla sentezlenmiştir. Parabolik kolektör destekli fotoreaktörde, sub-letal fotokatalitik oksidasyonun alıcı ve verici E. coli suşları arasındaki konjugatif gen transferi mekanizmasına etkileri deneysel olarak araştırılmıştır. Farklı fotokatalizörlerin bakteri inaktivasyon hızı üzerine etkisi yanında, alıcı suşlarda eşleşmiş çiftlerin oluşumu (transkonjugan) frekansını ve nihai miktarını azaltan bir etki gösterdiği ortaa konulmuştur. Deney planı, fotokatalizör tipinin ve proses işletme modunun konjugasyon ile gen tranfer mekanizmasına katkısını belirlemek, verici ve alıcı suşların PC oksidasyona tekil veya eşzamanlı maruz kalma senaryoları arasındaki farkı ortaya koabilmek amacıyla oluşturulmuştur. Alıcı ve verici suşların eşzamanlı olarak fotokatalitik oksidasyona maruz kalması, her iki suş için de yaklaşık ~3 LOG giderim sağlamış ve transkonjugan oluşumunu kontrol edebilecek koşular oluşturmuştur. Fotokatalizör yüzeyi, reaktif oksijen türleri ve bakteriyel hücrelerin etkileşimi, ARG transferinin kontrolünde belirleyici bir rol oynamıştır. Alıcı hücrelerin canlılığı üzerindeki fotokatalitik oksidasyon mekanizmalarının etkisi, konjugatif ARG transferinin azaltıldığı sürekli işletme sırasında açıkça görülmüş ve transkonjuganların sayısı 102 CFU mL-1'nin altına düşmüştür. Bu çalışma, PC'nin atıksu arıtımında etkili dezenfeksiyon ve AMR kontrolü için potansiyelini göstermektedir.

Keywords

Antibiyotik direnci, Antibiyotik direnç geni, Konjugatif gen transferi, Fotokataliz, Bakteri inaktivasyonu

Project Number

NKUBAP.06.GA.21.343

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