Dataset Information

Metabolically active bacteria detected with click chemistry in low organic matter rainwater.

ABSTRACT: Rain contains encapsulated bacteria that can be transported over vast distances during relatively short periods of time. However, the ecological significance of bacteria in "precontact" rainwater-rainwater prior to contact with non-atmospheric surfaces-remains relatively undefined given the methodological challenges of studying low-abundance microbes in a natural assemblage. Here, we implement single-cell "click" chemistry in a novel application to detect the protein synthesis of bacteria in precontact rainwater samples as a measure of metabolic activity. Using epifluorescence microscopy, we find approximately 103-104 bacteria cells mL-1 with up to 7.2% of the observed cells actively synthesizing protein. Additionally, our measurement of less than 30 μM total organic carbon in the samples show that some rainwater bacteria can metabolize substrates in very low organic matter conditions, comparable to extremophiles in the deep ocean. Overall, our results raise new questions for the field of rainwater microbiology and may help inform efforts to develop quantitative microbial risk assessments for the appropriate use of harvested rainwater.

SUBMITTER: Guillemette R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10194877 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Metabolically active bacteria detected with click chemistry in low organic matter rainwater.

Guillemette Ryan R Harwell Matthew C MC Brown Cheryl A CA

PloS one 20230518 5

Rain contains encapsulated bacteria that can be transported over vast distances during relatively short periods of time. However, the ecological significance of bacteria in "precontact" rainwater-rainwater prior to contact with non-atmospheric surfaces-remains relatively undefined given the methodological challenges of studying low-abundance microbes in a natural assemblage. Here, we implement single-cell "click" chemistry in a novel application to detect the protein synthesis of bacteria in pre ...[more]

PMID: 37200308

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Project description:Roof-harvested rainwater (RHRW) was investigated for the presence of the human pathogenic bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), Yersinia spp. and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). While Yersinia spp. were detected in 92% (n = 25) of the RHRW samples, and L. monocytogenes and M. tuberculosis were detected in 100% (n = 25) of the samples, a significantly higher mean concentration (1.4 × 103 cells/100 mL) was recorded for L. monocytogenes over the sampling period. As the identification of appropriate water quality indicators is crucial to ensure access to safe water sources, correlation of the pathogens to traditional indicator organisms [Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus spp.] and microbial source tracking (MST) markers (Bacteroides HF183, adenovirus and Lachnospiraceae) was conducted. A significant positive correlation was then recorded for E. coli versus L. monocytogenes (r = 0.6738; p = 0.000), and Enterococcus spp. versus the Bacteroides HF183 marker (r = 0.4071; p = 0.043), while a significant negative correlation was observed for M. tuberculosis versus the Bacteroides HF183 marker (r = -0.4558; p = 0.022). Quantitative microbial risk assessment indicated that the mean annual risk of infection posed by L. monocytogenes in the RHRW samples exceeded the annual infection risk benchmark limit (1 × 10-4 infections per person per year) for intentional drinking (∼10-4). In comparison, the mean annual risk of infection posed by E. coli was exceeded for intentional drinking (∼10-1), accidental consumption (∼10-3) and cleaning of the home (∼10-3). However, while the risk posed by M. tuberculosis for the two relevant exposure scenarios [garden hosing (∼10-5) and washing laundry by hand (∼10-5)] was below the benchmark limit, the risk posed by adenovirus for garden hosing (∼10-3) and washing laundry by hand (∼10-3) exceeded the benchmark limit. Thus, while the correlation analysis confirms that traditional indicators and MST markers should be used in combination to accurately monitor the pathogen-associated risk linked to the utilisation of RHRW, the integration of QMRA offers a more site-specific approach to monitor and estimate the human health risks associated with the use of RHRW.

Dataset Information

Metabolically active bacteria detected with click chemistry in low organic matter rainwater.

Publications

Metabolically active bacteria detected with click chemistry in low organic matter rainwater.

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