Characterization of Plasmids from Biosolids used as Fertilizer

1 1,2 1 1 1
Aaron Law , Olubunmi Solano , Celeste Brown , Thibault Stalder , Eva M. Top
1
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
2
Columbia University, New York, New York

Introduction Work and Results Sequencing Results

16 Plasmids captured in human commensal and pathogenic bacteria All seven plasmids have transfer genes, and multidrug
7 Plasmids determined unique through restriction digests resistance genes for at least 3 different classes of antibiotic
Resistances determined through antibiotic resistance disk diffusion
test found:
Tetracycline (TET), Chloramphenicol (CM), Sulfamethoxazole (SXT),
Trimethoprim (TMP), and Ampicillin (AMC)
Six
plasmids were identified to belong to the IncP- group except for
one was identified to belong to the PromA group

Biosolids
Plasmid ID 27 28 29 31 32 33 35

Resistance TET TET CM SXT TET AMC TET

TMP
IncP-: Broad Host Range
Group IncP- PromA IncP- IncP- IncP- IncP- IncP-
Genotype:Tetracycline, sulphanomide, macrolides,
aminoglycoside
Transmissibility tested through biparental matings with E. coli
Unique plasmids identified through restriction digests
Hypothesis Plasmid persistence observed
100
Antibiotic resistance plasmids in biosolids can transfer and
maintain in human commensal and pathogenic bacteria. 90
% Population with Resistance

80
27
28
70 29
31
60 32
33
50 35
PromA: Broad Host Range
40 Genotype:Tetracycline, sulfanomide, macrolides,
Background Goals 0 3 6 9
Days aminoglycoside
Antibiotic resistance plasmids have Confirm the presence of plasmids
typically been isolated from Identify antibiotic resistances
environmental samples by Significance Acknowledgments
Confirmplasmids are transferrable
purifying their host, or mating into Antibioticresistance plasmids transferred from biosolids can The project described is supported by the National Institute
to pathogenic strains
non-pathogenic strains. transfer to pathogens of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Determine plasmid persistence in
Biosolid samples were provided Captured plasmids are all broad host range plasmids under Agreement No. 2013-67019-21375 and the REU
absence of antibiotics
from a wastewater treatment Someof the antibiotic resistance genes are on mobile elements program Molecular and Organismal Evolution of the
Determine plasmid genome
facility in Boise, Idaho. which can transfer from plasmids into chromosomes National Science Foundation. Research Grant #1460696
sequences