Identification of Antibiotic Resistance Gene Hosts in Treatment Wetlands Using a Single-Cell Based High-Throughput Approach

Determining the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in non-clinical settings is vital for better management global AMR crisis. Untreated and even treated wastewaters are important sources that release into environment. Methodologically, it difficult to generate a comprehensive situ profile antibiotic gene hosts. Here, we used epicPCR (emulsion, paired isolation, concatenation PCR) as cultivation-independent method reveal host profiles indicator genes intI1, sul1, sul2, dfrA1 two constructed wetlands treating municipal wastewater. Overall, analysis revealed hosts consistent with literature data from cultivation-based approaches. Most carriers (AR) likely class 1 integrons belonged Gammaproteobateria, particularly Burkholderiaceae Rhodocyclaceae families, followed by members Campylobacterota, Desulfobacterota, Firmicutes. The also identified several novel widely distributed wetlands, including genera Legionella Ralstonia. Therefore, application has produced an expanded insight profile, while highlighting role environment reservoir AMR.