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Environmental problems - Chemical approaches
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Inhibition effect of kaolinite on the development of antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli induced by sublethal ampicillin and its molecular mechanism

Xiaolin Lai A , Pingxiao Wu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8335-6971 A B C D E , Bo Ruan A , Juan Liu A , Zehua Liu A , Nengwu Zhu A B C and Zhi Dang A B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China.

B The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, China.

C Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Environmental Risk Prevention and Emergency Disposal, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China.

D Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Environmental Nanomaterials, Guangzhou 510006, China.

E Corresponding author. Email: pppxwu@scut.edu.cn

Environmental Chemistry 16(5) 347-359 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN19060
Submitted: 18 December 2018  Accepted: 2 April 2019   Published: 8 May 2019

Environmental context. Antibiotic resistance by microorganisms in the natural environment poses a threat to ecosystems and public health. We report findings suggesting kaolinite can effectively inhibit the development of antibiotic resistance genes in microorganisms, and present a new understanding of the molecular mechanisms that promote the development of antibiotic resistance. These results are critical to mitigating environmental and public health risks resulting from the abuse of antibiotics.

Abstract. Antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the natural environment pose a threat to ecosystems and public health; therefore, better strategies are needed to mitigate the emergence of resistance. This study examined the expression of ARGs in Escherichia coli (E. coli) after exposure to sub-MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) antibiotics for 15 days in the presence and absence of kaolinite. The results of the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that the expression levels of the eight target genes of E. coli adhering to kaolinite were relatively decreased, and the MIC results also indicated that the final resistance was lower than that of the strains without kaolinite. A close relationship between E. coli and kaolinite was also revealed, as well as a unique interfacial interaction. In addition, the differential protein expression was further analysed to detect proteins and genes associated with ARGs mutations, and then the underlying mechanisms of cell growth and metabolism were identified under low dose ampicillin stress to elucidate the role of kaolinite in the process. Molecular mechanisms analysis determined that when cells adhering to kaolinite were stressed, transport of ampicillin to the periplasmic space was reduced, and the redox metabolism of bacteria was promoted to combat the harsh environment. Moreover, cells synthesised related peptides or proteins under the action of ribosomal proteins to prevent toxic damage. Therefore, this work not only provides new insights into the cellular response to antibiotic stress, but also provides a topic for more research on methods to delay the emergence of ARGs.

Additional keywords: sublethal stress.


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