A pollution gradient contributes to the taxonomic, functional, and resistome diversity of microbial communities in marine sediments

• DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0714-6
• Publication Date: 2019-07-15T17:03:06Z
• Authors: Jiarui Chen; Shelby E. McIlroy; Anand Archana; David M. Baker; Gianni Panagiotou
• Keywords: Resistome

Coastal marine environments are one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. However, anthropogenic impacts exert significant pressure coastal biodiversity, contributing to functional shifts in microbial communities and human health risk factors. relatively little is known about impact eutrophication—human-derived nutrient pollution—on biosphere. Here, we tested hypothesis that benthic diversity function varies along a pollution gradient, with focus pathogens antibiotic resistance genes. Comprehensive metagenomic analysis including taxonomic investigation, detection, ARG annotation revealed zinc, lead, total volatile solids, ammonia nitrogen were correlated function. We propose several microbes, Planctomycetes sulfate-reducing microbes as candidates reflect concentration. Annotation genes showed highest abundance efflux pumps was found at polluted site, corroborating relationship between This result suggests sediments sites harbor higher capacity reduce intracellular levels antibiotics, heavy metals, or other environmental contaminants. Our findings suggest correlation sediment microbiome provide insight into role high-turnover well potential pathogenic organisms real-time indicators water quality, implications for demonstrate inner contributed by microcommunities.