GENOMIC INSIGHTS INTO CHLORINATION EFFECTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BACTERIAL ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE DURING WASTEWATER TREATMENT – A REVIEW

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are becoming more and more acknowledged as key hubs in the environmental spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing worldwide health concern. The information currently available on the function of WWTPs in the persistence, modification, and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is reviewed in this study. These systems may inadvertently foster horizontal gene transfer (HGT), which is fueled by microbial density, chemical residues, and environmental stressors, even though they are intended to reduce microbial hazards. Despite being crucial for controlling pathogens, disinfection techniques like chlorination and ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sublethal stress or selective pressure, which may strengthen resistance characteristics. New developments in molecular methods, such as metabolic pathway reconstruction and 16S rRNA sequencing, have expanded our knowledge of microbial adaptability in WWTPs. There are still a lot of unanswered questions, though, especially about the incidence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the function of mobile genetic elements, and the long-term ecological effects of resistant bacteria discharged into treated wastewater. This study emphasizes the necessity of more precise treatment procedures and focused surveillance tactics by combining research from the fields of molecular ecology, environmental engineering, and microbiology. In a time of increasing connection between the environment and public health, a better grasp of these intricate dynamics is necessary to reduce the dangers of AMR and guide sustainable wastewater management policy.