title: Effect of trace tetracycline concentrations on the structure of a microbial community and the development of tetracycline resistance genes in sequencing batch reactors.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate effects of different concentrations of tetracycline (TC) on the microbial community and development of tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the structural changes of the microbial community and the variations of eight TC resistance genes tet(A), tet(B), tet(C), tet(E), tet(M), tet(O), tet(S) and tet(X), respectively. The results indicated that, trace TC could substantially change the structure of the microbial community. Bacteria which could not adapt to environment with TC were gradually replaced by those adapting to tetracycline. Shannon's diversity index (H) and Simpson's index (D) reached maximum values when the concentration of TC was 1 μg L(-1). The resistance genes in the activated sludge proliferated under the pressure of trace TC.
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Man-hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fang-fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Pei-zhe
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Van Ginkel
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000187:drug effects; D010802:Phylogeny; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D013752:Tetracycline
keywords: Activated sludge; Microbial community; Resistance genes; SBR; Tetracycline