Antiallergic drugs drive the alteration of microbial community and antibiotic resistome in surface waters: A metagenomic perspective

Yong-Qiang Li; Chong-Miao Zhang; Hao Ma; Kai-Jie Shao; Pei-Hua Yuan; Hong-Yu Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139028

Antiallergic drugs drive the alteration of microbial community and antibiotic resistome in surface waters: A metagenomic perspective

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Jun 21:495:139028. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139028. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yong-Qiang Li¹, Chong-Miao Zhang², Hao Ma¹, Kai-Jie Shao¹, Pei-Hua Yuan¹, Hong-Yu Jiang¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.
² School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China. Electronic address: cmzhang@xauat.edu.cn.

PMID: 40570627
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139028

Abstract

Antiallergic drugs (AADs) are emerging contaminants of global concern due to their environmental persistence and potential ecological impacts. This study investigated the effects of seven AADs (chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, cetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine, sodium cromoglicate and calcium gluconate) at environmentally relevant concentrations on antibiotic resistome and bacterial community structures in water using microcosm experiments and metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that AADs increased the abundance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) by 1.24- to 7.78-fold. Community structure shifts indicated that chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, and cetirizine promoted Actinobacteria (e.g., Aurantimicrobium), while the other four AADs favored Proteobacteria (e.g., Limnohabitans). AADs also significantly altered the relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria identified as key ARB components and potential hosts of ARGs (e.g., evgS, mtrA, RanA). Host analysis showed ARGs were primarily carried by Actinobacteria (e.g., Aurantimicrobium) under chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, and cetirizine exposure, but by Proteobacteria (e.g., Limnohabitans) under the other four AADs. Furthermore, AADs facilitated the horizontal transfer of ARGs (e.g., evgS) within microbial communities, contributing to antibiotic resistance dissemination. This study highlights the ecological risks of AADs in promoting antibiotic resistance spread and provides new insights into their impact on microbial communities and resistome dynamics in aquatic environments.

Keywords: Antiallergic drugs (AADs); Antibiotic resistance genes; Antibiotic-resistant bacteria; Microbial community; Microcosm experiment.