Prenatal exposure to certain pesticides was linked to decreased motor function in Chinese infants, according to the results of a study by NIEHS grantees at the University of Michigan and their collaborators. The new study, published June 8 in the journal Environment International, is one of the first to assess motor skill development in connection with exposures measured directly in umbilical cord blood, rather than in urinary metabolites...

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## Pesticides and Pollinators: New Research on the Impacts of Farming Activities on Bee Populations

Extrait du blog de l'IEAM (Environmental Assessment and Management) Juillet 2017

Erica K. Brockmeier rend compte d'une présentation faite au SETAC Europe en Mai 2017.

... At the session "New developments in ecotoxicology for the risk assessment of single and multiple stressors in insect pollinators: From the laboratory to the real world" held at the SETAC Brussels meeting, scientists highlighted new findings that can help policy makers choose the best course of action to ensure that pollinators are protected when pesticides are used...

The latest science presented at the SETAC Brussels meeting highlights how researchers, government institutions, regulators, and agrochemical companies are working together to find the best ways to protect pollinators.

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## Une spin-off de l'Eawag mise sur des tests sans expérimentations animales

<figure><img src="image_74.png" /></figure>

Site de l'Eawag 13 juin 2017

Des toxicologues de l'environnement de l'Eawag ont développé des procédés permettant de se passer d'expérimentations animales pour tester de nouveaux produits chimiques : au lieu de recourir aux tests traditionnels sur des poissons adultes, l'équipe se sert de cellules ou d'embryons de poissons. Ces méthodes alternatives présentent de multiples avantages et sont de plus en plus prisées des professionnels. C'est dans ce contexte qu'une spin-off de l'Eawag vient de voir le jour...

... Afin de mieux comprendre les effets d'un produit chimique, il faut étudier son action à un moment antérieur. Nous y parvenons en utilisant des systèmes de test alternatifs. Nous sommes par exemple capables de déceler des changements moléculaires ou biochimiques dans des cellules de poisson, ou encore d'observer dans quelle mesure le rythme cardiaque ou le comportement d'embryons de poissons se modifient. Ainsi, nous pouvons fournir des indications beaucoup plus détaillées que le constat de mort ou de survie.

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## Les micropolluants à l'origine d'un stress écologique

<figure><img src="image_75.png" /></figure>

01/06/2017 site de l'Eawag présentation du projet Ecolmpact

Pour éliminer les micropolluants dans les eaux usées, la Suisse prévoit d'installer de nouveaux traitements dans une centaine stations

d'épuration...

l'Eawag et du Centre Ecotox Eawag-EPFL assurent l'accompagnement scientifique de l'extension des stations d'épuration. «Nous avons la chance unique de pouvoir suivre les effets de la réduction de la charge en micropolluants sur l'écosystème aquatique», explique Christian Stamm qui dirige le projet.

Les scientifiques ont commencé par faire un constat de l'état biologique et chimique du milieu avant l'installation des nouveaux traitements. «Nous voulons ensuite savoir comment les micropolluants contenus dans les eaux usées impactent la composition des communautés biotiques et le fonctionnement des hydrosystèmes fluviaux, indique Stamm. Nos lacunes sont encore importantes à ce niveau.» voir le site du projet

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## Fungi can be used as biomonitors for assessing radioactivity in our environment

This is the main conclusion of the study carried out by the UEx Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory

Date: July 13, 2017 Source: University of Extremadura

Summary: The Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory of the UEx has carried out a study to quantify radioactive presence in fungi. According to the research, this quantification is made using transfer coefficients that compare the radioactive content in the receptor compartment (fungi) of the radioactive contamination, to that existing in the transmitter compartment (soil). From the study, we may conclude that fungi can be used when assessing the presence or absence of radioactive contamination in the soil.

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## Antibioresistance

### Campagne 2017 "Les antibios comme il faut, quand il faut"

<figure><img src="image_76.png" /></figure>

Alim agri 01/09/2017

Le plan Ecoantibio vise à promouvoir les bonnes pratiques et les alternatives aux antibiotiques.

3 bonnes raisons de limiter le recours aux antibiotiques :
**Lutter contre l'antibiorésistance**, un défi majeur et mondial de santé publique : Santé animale, santé humaine et santé des écosystèmes sont étroitement liées. En santé animale, l'engagement de la France pour relever ce défi est le Plan Ecoantibio qui vise à réduire l'usage des antibiotiques...

**Préserver l'efficacité des antibiotiques** : La résistance des bactéries pathogènes aux traitements antibiotiques est responsable d'échecs thérapeutiques, certains antibiotiques étant devenus peu ou pas efficaces. Pour réduire les risques d'antibiorésistance, il convient d'éviter les mésusages d'antibiotiques par une prescription raisonnée et prudente.

**Répondre à la demande des citoyens** pour des aliments limitant l'usage d'intrants ayant un impact sur la santé et l'environnement

Comment limiter le recours aux antibiotiques ?

Améliorer la prévention des maladies, notamment par la biosécurité dans les élevages

Maintenir les animaux en bonne santé en améliorant leurs conditions de vie

Favoriser l'accès à des produits de santé efficaces et économiques, autres que les antibiotiques

La mobilisation des éleveurs associée aux conseils et à la prescription vétérinaire joue un rôle majeur pour relever ce défi. dépliant de la campagne (PDF, 216.95 Ko)

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Antibioresistance / Veille
scientifique

Novel Antibiotic Resistance Determinants
from Agricultural Soil Exposed to Antibiotics
Widely Used in Human Medicine and Animal
Farming

Authors: Lau, CHF; van Engelen, K; Gordon, S; Renaud, J; Topp, E

Source: APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, 83 (16): 10.1128/AEM.00989-17 AUG 2017

**Abstract:** ... Using functional metagenomics, we interrogated the "resistome" of bacterial communities found in a collection of Canadian agricultural soil, some of which had been receiving antibiotics widely used in human medicine (macrolides) or food animal production (sulfamethazine, chlortetracycline, and tylosin) for up to 16 years. Of the 34 new antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) recovered, the majority were predicted to encode (multi) drug efflux systems, while a few share little to no homology with established resistance determinants. We characterized several novel gene products, including putative enzymes that can confer high-level resistance against aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and broad range of beta-lactams, with respect to their resistance mechanisms and clinical significance. By coupling high-resolution proteomics analysis with functional metagenomics, we discovered an unusual peptide, PPPAZI 4, encoded within an alternative open

reading frame not predicted by bioinformatics tools. Expression of the proline-rich PPPAZI 4 can promote resistance against different macrolides but not other ribosome-targeting antibiotics, implicating a new macrolide-specific resistance mechanism that could be fundamentally linked to the evolutionary design of this peptide. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is a clinical phenomenon with an evolutionary link to the microbial pangenome. Genes and protogenes encoding specialized and potential resistance mechanisms are abundant in natural environments, but understanding of their identity and genomic context remains limited. Our discovery of several previously unknown antibiotic resistance genes from uncultured soil microorganisms indicates that soil is a significant reservoir of resistance determinants, which, once acquired and "repurposed" by pathogenic bacteria, can have serious impacts on therapeutic outcomes. This study provides valuable insights into the diversity and identity of resistance within the soil microbiome. The finding of a novel peptide-mediated resistance mechanism involving an unpredicted gene product also highlights the usefulness of integrating proteomics analysis into metagenomics-driven gene discovery...

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Environmental pollution with antimicrobial
agents from bulk drug manufacturing
industries in Hyderabad, South India, is
associated with dissemination of extended-
spectrum beta-lactamase and carbapenemase-
producing pathogens

Authors: Lubbert, C; Baars, C; Dayakar, A; Lippmann, N; Rodloff, AC; Kinzig, M; Sorgel, F

Source: INFECTION, 45 (4):479-491; 10.1007/s15010-017-1007-2
AUG 2017

**Abstract:** ... We investigated the environmental presence of active pharmaceutical ingredients and their association with MDR Gram-negative bacteria in Hyderabad, South India, a major production area for the global bulk drug market.

Methods: From Nov 19 to 28, 2016, water samples were collected from the direct environment of bulk drug manufacturing facilities, the vicinity of two sewage treatment plants, the Musi River, and habitats in Hyderabad and nearby villages. Samples were analyzed for 25 anti-infective pharmaceuticals with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and for MDR Gram-negative bacteria using chromogenic culture media. In addition, specimens were screened with PCR for bla(VIM), bla(KPC), bla(NDM), bla(IMP-1), and bla(OXA-48) resistance genes.

... Conclusions: Insufficient wastewater management by bulk drug manufacturing facilities leads to unprecedented contamination of water resources with antimicrobial pharmaceuticals, which seems to be associated with the selection and dissemination of carbapenemase-producing pathogens. The development and global spread of antimicrobial resistance present a major challenge for pharmaceutical producers and regulatory agencies.

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## Contribution of bacteriophage and plasmid DNA to the mobilization of antibiotic resistance genes in a river receiving treated wastewater discharges

**Authors:** Lekunberri, I; Villagrasa, M; Balcazar, JL; Borrego, CM

**Source:** SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 601 206-209; 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.174 DEC 2017

**Abstract:** In this study, we quantified eleven antibiotic compounds and nine antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in water samples collected upstream and downstream of the discharge point from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) into the Ter River. Antibiotics were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, whereas the concentration of ARGs in bacterial, phage and plasmid DNA fractions was determined by real-time PCR to explore their contribution to environmental antibiotic resistance. WWTP discharges resulted in higher concentrations of antibiotic residues as well as ARGs in water samples collected downstream the impact point. Specifically, genes conferring resistance to macrolides (ermB), fluoroquinolones (qnrS) and tetracyclines (tetW) showed significant differences (p &#60; 0.05) between upstream and downstream sites in the three DNA fractions (i.e. bacteria, plasmids and phages). Interestingly, genes conferring resistance to beta-lactams (bla(TEM), bla(NDM) and bla(KPC)) and glycopeptides (vanA) only showed significant differences (p &#60; 0.05) between upstream and downstream sites in phage and plasmid DNA but not in the bacterial DNA fraction. Our results show for the first time the extent to which phages and plasmids contribute to the mobilization of ARGs in an aquatic environment exposed to chronic antibiotic pollution via WWTP discharges. Accordingly, these mobile genetic elements should be included in further studies to get a global view of the spread of antibiotic resistance.

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## Variations in microbial community and ciprofloxacin removal in rhizospheric soils between two cultivars of Brassica parachinensis L.

**Authors:** Torkar, KG; Drazetic, M

**Source:** INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH, 27 (4):293-305; 10.1080/09603123.2017.1342227 2017

**Abstract:** Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is one of most used quinolone antibiotics detected frequently in agricultural soils and vegetables. In the present study, variations in microbial community and CIP removal in rhizospheric soils between two cultivars of *Brassica parachinensis* L. that accumulate higher and lower CIP (Sijiu and Cutai, respectively) were investigated under CIP stress (0 mg/kg in CK, 2.94 mg/kg in Tl, and 67.11 mg/kg in T2). The removal rates of CIP in rhizospheric soils of cultivar Sijiu were higher than those of cultivar Cutai, with a significant difference in T2 (48.7% > 39.4%, P > 0.05). The pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS gene indicated that the microbial diversity and community structure in

rhizospheric soils of the two cultivars varied significantly. *Spirochauu* and *Trichosporon* might be associated with CIP degradation, and higher relative abundances of *Trichosporon* in rhizospheric soils of cultivar Sijiu might be responsible for higher CIP removal. Fourteen bacterial genera and ten fungal genera were screened as potential biomarkers for CIP removal process. The community level physiological profiling in rhizospheric soils of the two cultivars under CIP stress differed significantly, and more C substrates that favored CIP removal were observed in rhizospheric soils of cultivar Sijiu. Our results demonstrate that variations in microbial community and the utilization of C substrates played important roles in clifferring the CIP removal in rhizospheric soils between the two cultivars.

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## The microbial contamination and the presence of beta-lactamase producing Gram-negative bacteria in the water and on the surfaces of public recreation water facilities

**Authors:** Torkar, KG; Drazetic, M

**Source:** INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH, 27 (4):293-305; 10.1080/09603123.2017.1342227 2017

**Abstract:** The microbiological quality of bathing water and the surfaces of the surrounding pool platforms of two pools was estimated. ESBL- and MBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria isolated from water and surface samples were also studied. The water samples were satisfactory in 31 (86.1%) out of 36 cases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as Escherichia coli were identified in only 2 (5.5%) cases. There were no correlations between the HPC and number of enterobacteria in the pool water and those found in the surface samples. Isolated strains were resistant to ticarcillin with clavulanic acid in 52.3% of cases; all of them were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. The sequences for bla(CTX-M) were found in 21.6% of strains, mostly from the groups bla(CTX-M9) and bla(CTX-M25), whilst the genes for chosen carbapenemases were noted in 15 (17.0%) of strains. It is necessary to implement new approaches to monitoring resistant bacteria. not only clinical ones but also those found in other public environments.

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## Molecular characterisation of carbapenemases in urban pigeon droppings in France and Algeria

**Authors:** Morakchi, H; Loucif, L; Gacemi-Kirane, D; Rolain, JM

**Source:** JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE, 9 103-110; 10.1016/j.jgar.2017.02.010 JUN 2017

**Abstract:** The main objective of this study was to detect the presence of carbapenemase-encoding genes in stool samples of urban pigeons. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 73 pigeons in two Mediterranean cities, namely Marseille (France) and Annaba (Algeria). Faecal samples were screened by real-
time PCR and standard PCR for the presence of
carbapenemase-encoding genes.

Results: Carbapenem resistance genes were detected in 16 (21.9%) of the samples, with 8 positive for bla(OXA-23), 12 positive for bla(OXA-51-like) and 13 positive for bla(OXA-58). No samples were positive for bla(NDM-1), bla(OXA-24), bla(OXA-48), bla(VIM) or bla(KPC). All positive samples were screened for the presence of Acinetobacter spp. by partial rpoB gene sequence amplification, and the results showed the presence of five Acinetobacter spp., with percentage similarities to related species in GenBank ranging between 96% and 100%. The dominant species was Acinetobacter guillouiae, followed by Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter haemolyticus, Acinetobacter pittii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis. One DNA sequence showed a very low degree of homology (92%) with Acinetobacter gerneri, suggesting a new Acinetobacter spp.

Conclusions: Here we report the first detection of
carbapenemase-encoding genes from urban pigeon stools.
These results question the potential of birds as a reservoir for
the spread of these resistance determinants both in animals
and humans.

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