Accumulation of trace elements (including heavy metals) in soil from usage of superphosphate fertilisers induces resistance of soil bacteria to trace elements of environmental concern (TEoEC) and may co-select for resistance to antibiotics (Ab). This study aimed to investigate selection of co-resistance of soil bacteria to Cd, Zn and Hg, and Ab in soils with varied management histories. Genetic diversity of these bacteria and horizontal transfer of Cd resistance genes (cadA and czcA) were also investigated. Soils with either pastoral and arable management histories and either high levels of Cd and Zn, or indigenous bush with background levels of these TEoEC from the Waikato region, New Zealand were sampled. Plate culturing with a range of TEoEC and Ab concentrations, Pollution Induced Community Tolerance (PICT) assay, antibiotic sensitivity, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) analyses were employed to investigate co-selection of TEoEC and Ab resistance. Higher levels of bacterial resistance to TEoEC and Ab correlated with higher levels of TEoEC in soil. Bacterial community structures were altered in soils with high TEoEC levels. Cd resistance genes were transferred from donor bacterial isolates, to recipients and the transconjugants also had resistance to Zn and/or Hg and a range of Ab.

Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in agricultural soil following the application of superphosphate fertilisers seems to induce resistance of soil bacteria to HMs and appears to co-select for resistance to antibiotics (Ab). This study aimed to investigate the selection of co-resistance of soil bacteria to HMs and Ab in uncontaminated soil incubated for 6 weeks at 25 °C in laboratory microcosms spiked with ranges of concentrations of cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) and mercury (Hg). Co-selection of HM and Ab resistance was assessed using plate culture on media with a range of HM and Ab concentrations, and pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT) assays. Bacterial diversity was profiled via terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) assay and 16S rDNA sequencing of genomic DNA isolated from selected microcosms. Based on sequence data, the microbial communities exposed to HMs were found to differ significantly compared to control microcosms with no added HM across a range of taxonomic levels.

Background/Objectives: Agricultural soils accumulate inorganic contaminants from the application of phosphate fertilisers. An airstrip located at Belmont Regional Park (BRP), near Wellington, New Zealand, has been found to have a gradient of cadmium contamination due to spillage of superphosphate fertiliser. Methods: Soil samples from the BRP airstrip with a gradient of cadmium contamination, were used as a novel source to explore bacterial communities’ resistance to heavy metals (HMs) and any co-selected antibiotic (Ab) resistance. Results: Differences between BRP soil samples with higher levels of HMs compared to those with lower HM concentrations showed significantly more bacterial isolates resistant to both HMs (40.6% versus 63.1% resistant to 0.01 mM CdCl₂, p < 0.05) and Abs (23.4% versus 37.8% resistant to 20 μg/mL tetracycline, p < 0.05) in soils with higher initial levels of HMs (1.14 versus 7.20 mg kg⁻¹ Cd). Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and 16S rDNA next-generation sequencing profiling investigated changes in HM-induced bacterial communities. Significant differences were observed among the bacterial community structures in the selected BRP soil samples. Conjugative transfer of cadmium resistance from 23–38% of cadmium-resistant isolates to a characterised recipient bacterial strain in vitro suggested many of these genes were carried by mobile genetic elements. Transconjugants were also resistant to zinc, mercury, and Abs. Higher levels of HMs in soil correlated with increased resistance to HMs, Abs, and elevated levels of HMs thus disturbed the bacterial community structure in BRP soil significantly. Conclusions: These findings suggest that HM contamination of agricultural soil can select for Ab resistance in soil bacteria with potential risks to human and animal health.