Microbial Biofilms Dynamics and Functionality in an Urban <i>Mycobacterium</i>-Dominated Drinking Water Distribution System.

ABSTRACT: Microbial communities in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) develop primarily as biofilms on pipe surfaces. Despite their impact on water quality, infrastructure maintenance, and biosafety, biofilms are not routinely controlled. In this study, we investigated the bacterial community dynamics and functionality in an urban chlorinated DWDS, dominated by Mycobacterium, through a multiphasic approach which included 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, metagenomics and microscopy. Our results showed that biofilm communities were more functionally diverse compared to those from water and that the biofilm maturity was positively correlated with the prevalence of potential Mycobacterium emerging pathogens and a broader distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within the mic

SUBMITTER: Gangloff V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12947685 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature