Indigenous microbial community governs the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in constructed wetlands

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2023-05, Vol.334, p.117524-117524, Article 117524
• Main Authors: Zhang, Nan, Liang, Chunling, Kan, Peiying, Yangyao, Jiannan, Lu, Dingnan, Yao, Zhiyuan, Gan, Huihui, Zhu, David Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abiotic factors; Biotic properties; Colony Count, Microbial; Constructed wetland; E. coil O157:H7; Escherichia coli O157; Microbiota; Survival pattern; Wastewater; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117524

The survival pattern of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) and its regulatory factors in natural environments have been widely studied. However, there is little information about the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in artificial environments, especially in wastewater treatment facilities. In this study, a contamination experiment was performed to explore the survival pattern of E. coli O157:H7 and its central control factors in two constructed wetlands (CWs) under different hydraulic loading rates (HLRs). The results showed that the survival time of E. coli O157:H7 was longer in the CW under the higher HLR. Substrate ammonium nitrogen and available phosphorus were the main factors that influenced the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs. Despite the minimal effect of microbial α-diversity, some keystone taxa, such as Aeromonas, Selenomonas, and Paramecium, governed the survival of E. coli O157:H7. In addition, the prokaryotic community had a more significant impact on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 than the eukaryotic community. The biotic properties had a more substantial direct power on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 than the abiotic factors in CWs. Collectively, this study comprehensively disclosed the survival pattern of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs, which is an essential addition to the environmental behavior of E. coli O157:H7, providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of biological contamination in wastewater treatment processes. [Display omitted] •It is the first time to study the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs.•The survival time of E. coli O157:H7 is longer in H-CW than in L-CW.•NH4+-N and AP essentially impact the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs.•Specific keystone taxa regulate the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs.•The biotic properties more affect the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs.