Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz
(Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to public health, and the European Union has introduced AMR monitoring regulations for wastewater (WW). Here, we implemented a multi-method approach to assess prevalence and circulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the Berlin metropolitan area. In October 2025, we collected samples from the Schönerlinde WW treatment plant. We profiled the resistome using two methods: i) metatranscriptomic molecular assessment and ii) culture-enriched metagenomics. Metatranscriptomic profiles revealed ARGs conferring resistance to various antibiotics in the influent samples. While these genes were co-abundant with environmental bacteria, they were also detected in plasmids common to clinically relevant bacteria. Although ARGs profiles showed a marked reduction following treatment, bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas could be enriched in selective media in samples taken before and after WW treatment, indicating their persistence in a viable state after treatment. The abundance of E. coli matched the overall occurrence of ARGs, while different Pseudomonas species correlated with clinically relevant genes. We demonstrate the potential of metagenomic approaches in AMR surveillance and the value of culture-enriched metagenomics in assessing the dissemination of clinically relevant ARGs through wastewater. This information is crucial for developing strategies to limit the spread of AMR in urban and suburban areas.
Keywords
AMR, Metatranscriptomics, Culture-enriched metagenomics, Wastewater
| Registration ID |
OHS26-85
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| Professional Status of the Speaker |
Postdoc
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| Junior Scientist Status |
No, I am not a Junior Scientist.
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Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz
(Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany)
Alexander Bartel
(Unit for Surveillance and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA))
Marie Bartels
(Unit for Surveillance and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA))
Julia Bitzegeio
(Unit for Surveillance and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA))
Uta Boeckelmann
(Laboratory of Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Berliner Wasserbetriebe)
Sofia Kirke Forslund-Startceva
(Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC))
Sonja Garske
(Unit for Surveillance and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA))
José Horacio Grau
(Amedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH)
Sebastian Hoppe
(Unit for Surveillance and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA))
Markus Landthaler
(Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC))
Nico Linzner
(Laboratory of Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Berliner Wasserbetriebe)
Ulrike Löber
(Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC))
Martin Meixner
(Amedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH)
Claudia Ruscher
(Unit for Surveillance and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA))
Daniel Sagebiel
(Unit for Surveillance and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA))
Vera Schumacher
(Laboratory of Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Berliner Wasserbetriebe)
Emanuel Wyler
(Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC))
Frederik Zietzschmann
(Laboratory of Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Berliner Wasserbetriebe)
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