Collaborative Research: Mitigating antibiotic resistance in drinking water by understanding the impact of corrosion inhibitors and corrosion products

抗生素耐药性的传播使抗生素失效，从而威胁到公众健康。饮用水分配系统是抗生素耐药性基因的来源，这种遗传物质使细菌对抗生素产生耐药性。供水系统尤其令人担忧，因为它们是抗生素耐药性基因向脆弱人群的直接传送者，包括儿童、老年人、医院患者和免疫系统薄弱的人。众所周知，金属会促进抗生素耐药性的发展。由于管道腐蚀和缓蚀剂的存在，其中一些金属也存在于配电系统中。这项研究的目标是确定哪些水管材料和缓蚀剂的选择会使抗生素耐药性降至最低。这一目标将通过实验来实现，以检查腐蚀在抗生素耐药性发展中的作用。研究团队和自来水公司之间的合作将促进研究，以确定现实世界分配系统中抗性基因、管道表面和饮用水化学之间的相互作用。向全国各地的饮用水公用事业提供指导将进一步造福社会。这一指导将帮助他们决定哪种管道材料和缓蚀剂最能防止饮用水中抗生素耐药性的传播，以保护公众健康。抗生素耐药性的传播是一个主要的公共卫生问题。众所周知，金属是抗生素耐药性的压力源，由于基础设施老化和含金属缓蚀剂的使用，金属在饮用水系统中很普遍。这项工作的中心假设是，缓蚀剂和腐蚀产物在供水系统中产生金属，从而增加城市饮用水中抗药性基因的丰度并改变其类型。研究团队结合了化学和分子微生物学方面的专业知识，以解决三个相辅相成的目标。目的1确定不同营养条件下缓蚀剂对抗生素耐药性的影响。目的2探讨腐蚀产物对抗生素耐药性的影响，采用免费培养和非培养两种方法。目标3是确定实际饮用水管网中腐蚀产物与抗生素耐药基因的数量和分布之间的联系。表面化学特征将与水滴数字聚合酶链式反应相结合，以确定与抗生素耐药性基因图谱的化学关系。这项研究产生的知识将帮助公用事业公司减轻饮用水分配系统中抗生素耐药性的传播。结果将纳入为期两天的关于水和废水中新污染物的年度专业短期课程。此外，PIS将在以前暑期外展工作的基础上，举办一门高中课程，让未被充分代表的学生参与暑期研究，以增加国家STEM劳动力的多样性。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The spread of antibiotic resistance threatens public health by rendering antibiotics ineffective. Drinking water distribution systems are a source of antibiotic resistance genes, the genetic material that makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Water distribution systems are particularly concerning as they are a direct conveyor of antibiotic resistance genes to vulnerable populations including children, the elderly, hospital patients, and people with weakened immune systems. Metals are known to promote the development of antibiotic resistance. Some of these metals are also present in distribution systems due to pipe corrosion and the presence of corrosion inhibitors. The goal of this research is to determine which water pipe materials and corrosion inhibitor choices result in minimal antibiotic resistance. This goal will be achieved through experiments to examine the role of corrosion on antibiotic resistance development. Collaborations between the research team and water utilities will facilitate research to determine the interplay between resistance genes, pipe surfaces, and drinking water chemistry in real-world distribution systems. Further benefits to society will result from guidance provided to drinking water utilities across the country. This guidance will help them decide which pipe materials and corrosion inhibitors best prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance in drinking water to protect public health. The spread of antibiotic resistance is a primary public health concern. Metals are a known stressor for antibiotic resistance and are prevalent in drinking water systems due to aging infrastructure and the use of metal-containing corrosion inhibitors. The central hypothesis of this work is that corrosion inhibitors and corrosion products yield metals in water distribution systems that increase the abundance and alter the types of antibiotic resistant genes in municipal drinking water. The research team combines expertise in chemistry and molecular microbiology to address three complimentary objectives. Objective 1 is to determine the impact of corrosion inhibitors on antibiotic resistance under variable nutrient conditions. Objective 2 is to elucidate the effect of corrosion products on antibiotic resistance using complimentary culture-based and non-culture-based techniques. Objective 3 is to identify linkages between corrosion products and the quantity and profile of antibiotic resistance genes in real-world drinking water distribution system pipes. Surface chemistry characterization will be coupled with Droplet Digital PCR to identify chemical relationships to antibiotic resistance gene profiles. Knowledge generated from this research will help utilities mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance in drinking water distribution systems. Results will be incorporated into an annual two-day professional short course on emerging contaminants in water and wastewater. Additionally, the PIs will build on previous summer outreach efforts and host a high school course to engage underrepresented students in summer research to increase the diversity of the Nation’s STEM workforce.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.