SREL Reprint #3583

Unveiling the gut microbiota and resistome of wild cotton mice, Peromyscus gossypinus, from heavy metal- and radionuclide-contaminated sites in the southeastern United States

Jesse C. Thomas, IV1, Troy J. Kieran1, John W. Finger, Jr.1, Natalia J. Bayona-Vásquez1,2,
Adelumola Oladeinde1,3, James C. Beasley4,5, John C. Seaman4, J. Vaun McArthur4,
Olin E. Rhodes, Jr.4,6, and Travis C. Glenn1,2

1Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
2Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
3Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit,
United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia, USA
4Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, USA
5Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
6Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

Abstract: The prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can be driven by direct selection from antibiotic use and indirect selection from substances such as heavy metals (HMs). While significant progress has been made to characterize the influence of HMs on the enrichment and dissemination of ARGs in the environment, there is still much we do not know. To fill this knowledge gap, we present a comprehensive analysis of gut bacteria associated with wild cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) trapped from several areas affected by legacies of HM and radionuclide contamination. We explore how these contaminants affect gut microbial community (GMC) composition and diversity and the enrichment of antibiotic, biocide, and metal resistance genes. Although we were able to identify that a myriad of co-occurring antimicrobial and HM resistance genes appear in mice from all areas, including those without a history of contamination, the proportions of co-occurring ARGs and metal resistance genes (MRGs) are higher in sites with radionuclide contamination. These results support those from several previous studies and enhance our understanding of the coselection process, while providing new insights into the ubiquity
of antimicrobial resistance in the resistome of wild animals.

Keywords: community structure, gut microbiota, heavy metals, metal resistance, antibiotic resistance, coselection, resistome

SREL Reprint #3583

Thomas IV, J. C., T. J. Kieran, J. W. Finger Jr., N. J. Bayona-Vasquez, A. Oladeinde, J. C. Beasley, J. C. Seaman, J. V. McArthur, O. E. Rhodes Jr., and T. C. Glenn. 2021. Unveiling the gut microbiota and resistome of wild cotton mice, Peromyscus gossypinus, from heavy metal- and radionuclide-contaminated sites in the southeastern United States. Microbiology Spectrum 9(1): e00097-00021.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).