SP 5: Effects of irrigation water quality and soil type on the soil and plant associated microbiome, abundance, diversity and transferability of antibiotic resistance genes in Gram-negative bacteria
Background
Irrigation with untreated wastewater in the past resulted in an accumulation of chemical pollutants like pharmaceutical residues and disinfectants in soils. These pollutants might be released into soil water when untreated wastewater is replaced with treated wastewater for irrigation.
Hypotheses
We hypothesize that this shift will transiently
- trigger the release of legacy pollutants from soil back into soil water
- lead to environmental concentrations of antibiotics and disinfectants that are large enough to promote the selection of antibiotic resistance, with
- release and concentrations of antibiotics depending on soil type.
Methods
Time series of soil microcosms and plant column experiments treated with different water qualities for assessment of changes in the diversity and composition of soil microbial communities.
Total community DNA based analysis to quantify abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements in Gram-negative bacteria.
Exogenous plasmid capturing experiments to characterize transferable antibiotic resistance genes from soil, rhizosphere and phyllosphere.
Effects of irrigation water with an increasing share of treated wastewater on soil and plant microbiome and resistome.
Team
 |
 |
|
Sara Gallego (post doc) |
Kornelia Smalla (PI) |
| sara.gallego | kornelia.smalla |