Ports are hot spots of pollution; they receive pollution from land-based sources, marine traffic and port infrastructures. Marine ecosystems of nearby areas can be strongly affected by pollution from port-related activities. Here, we investigated the microbiomes present in sea floor sediments along a transect from the harbour of Livorno (Central Italy) to a nearby marine protected area. Results of 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) analyses indicated the presence of different trends of specific bacterial groups (e.g. phyla NB1-j, Acidobacteriota and Desulfobulbales) along the transect, correlating with the measured pollution levels. Human pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were also found. These results demonstrate a pervasive impact of human port activities and highlight the importance of microbiological surveillance of marine sediments, which may constitute a reservoir of ARGs and pathogenic bacteria.

Metagenomic surveys show a widespread diffusion of antibiotic resistance genes in a transect from urbanized to marine protected area / Alonso, Tania; Fagorzi, Camilla; Mengoni, Alessio; Oliva, Matteo; Cavalieri, Duccio; Pretti, Carlo; Cangioli, Lisa; Bacci, Giovanni; Ugolini, Alberto. - In: MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. - ISSN 0025-326X. - ELETTRONICO. - 213:(2025), pp. 117640.0-117640.0. [10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117640]

Metagenomic surveys show a widespread diffusion of antibiotic resistance genes in a transect from urbanized to marine protected area

Alonso, Tania;Fagorzi, Camilla;Mengoni, Alessio;Cavalieri, Duccio;Cangioli, Lisa;Bacci, Giovanni
;
Ugolini, Alberto
2025

Abstract

Ports are hot spots of pollution; they receive pollution from land-based sources, marine traffic and port infrastructures. Marine ecosystems of nearby areas can be strongly affected by pollution from port-related activities. Here, we investigated the microbiomes present in sea floor sediments along a transect from the harbour of Livorno (Central Italy) to a nearby marine protected area. Results of 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) analyses indicated the presence of different trends of specific bacterial groups (e.g. phyla NB1-j, Acidobacteriota and Desulfobulbales) along the transect, correlating with the measured pollution levels. Human pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were also found. These results demonstrate a pervasive impact of human port activities and highlight the importance of microbiological surveillance of marine sediments, which may constitute a reservoir of ARGs and pathogenic bacteria.
2025
213
0
0
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
Goal 14: Life below water
Alonso, Tania; Fagorzi, Camilla; Mengoni, Alessio; Oliva, Matteo; Cavalieri, Duccio; Pretti, Carlo; Cangioli, Lisa; Bacci, Giovanni; Ugolini, Alberto...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1413552
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