Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Knowledge Bases”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

1,013 records · Page 33Linked to original sources

Differences in circadian rhythm changes between myopic and non-myopic college students over 2 years.

This study aimed to characterize and compare the differences in circadian rhythm changes during 2 years between college students with myopia and non-myopia based on a longitudinal cohort study. Wake-up time and bedtime were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Chronotype was assessed using the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ). Circadian rhythm timing was determined by dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO), measured through hourly saliva collection from 21:00 to 01:00. A total of 450 college students (146 [32.4%] males) with a mean age of 18.65 ± 1.05 years were included, of whom 353 (78.4%) students had myopia. Compared with non-myopic individuals, myopic students slept later, woke up earlier, and exhibited lower rMEQ scores at baseline. Over the 2-year follow-up, both groups showed significantly earlier bedtimes, later wake-up times, and higher rMEQ scores. Only myopic students demonstrated a 45-minute delay in DLMO after the 2-year follow-up. After adjusting for potential confounders, linear mixed-effects models showed that myopic individuals had later bedtimes and earlier wake-up times. These findings indicate significant circadian rhythm changes in individuals with myopia, suggesting the potential of targeted sleep rhythm interventions on preventing myopia.

Myopia

Messaging Strategies for Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Among People with Depression: A Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is strongly associated with higher tobacco use and lower quit rate; few communication campaigns have been designed with these mental health factors in mind. This scoping review compiles existing research on tobacco prevention and cessation messaging involving people with depression to identify gaps and opportunities for future message development. METHODS: Sources included PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, and ProQuest Central (November - December 2024). The 55 studies included examined tobacco prevention or cessation messages and measured depression, depressive symptoms, or mental health as a primary outcome or analytic covariate. Study characteristics, target population, delivery format, message content, theoretical frameworks, outcomes, and gaps were extracted. RESULTS: RCTs made up half (51%) of the included studies, and most (78%) were conducted in the U.S. Nearly half (46%) required participants to have a mental health condition. Interventions most often used interactive (65.5%) or text-based (47.3%) communication and focused on tobacco cessation (89%) rather than vaping (9%). Common outcomes included feasibility or acceptability (37.7%) and point prevalence abstinence (37.7%). Mental health-specific messages showed mixed effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Despite progress in integrating mental health into tobacco messaging, targeted interventions for people with depression remain limited. Few studies tested long-term outcomes or used biochemical verification; many relied on untargeted generalized messaging.

Journal Article

Advanced mitigation strategies for acrylamide formation in foods: Mechanistic insights, emerging innovations, and future perspectives.

Acrylamide is a heat-induced contaminant formed predominantly in carbohydrate-rich foods during high-temperature processing, posing significant concerns due to its potential carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and genotoxic effects. This review critically examines the mechanisms of acrylamide formation, emphasizing the role of the Maillard reaction and key precursors such as asparagine and reducing sugars, along with the influence of processing conditions including temperature, time, pH, and moisture. Various mitigation strategies are comprehensively discussed, ranging from raw material selection and genetic approaches to enzymatic treatments such as asparaginase and the application of natural and chemical inhibitors. Advances in processing technologies, including optimization of conventional thermal methods and emerging non-thermal techniques such as cold plasma and ultrasound, are evaluated for their effectiveness. The review also highlights the role of food additives, functional ingredients, and fermentation in reducing acrylamide formation. Furthermore, recent developments in analytical techniques, including chromatographic methods, biosensors, and artificial intelligence-based predictive models, are explored for improved detection and control. Risk assessment, toxicological implications, and global regulatory frameworks are also examined. Finally, future perspectives focusing on genetic engineering, personalized nutrition, and digital technologies such as AI and blockchain are discussed to support sustainable and industry-applicable mitigation strategies.

Acrylamide

Targeted Nanoparticle Delivery CRISPR/Cas9: overcoming biological barriers, enhancing stability, and improving therapeutic precision.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) has emerged as a promising gene-editing platform for genetic disorders; however, its in vivo application remains limited by low delivery efficiency and biological barriers. Many CRISPR payloads fail to reach target sites due to extracellular degradation, immune clearance, and intracellular trafficking limitations. This review examines the interplay between biological barriers and nanoparticle engineering strategies for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery. A barrier-oriented engineering approach is proposed as a central framework, encompassing ligand-based surface modification for enhanced targeting and uptake, improved circulation stability via PEGylation and biomimetic coatings, and optimized payload release through endosomal escape strategies. Stimulus-responsive nanoparticle systems further enable spatiotemporal control over payload release. Nuclear targeting strategies, including optimization of nuclear localization signals (NLS) and exploitation of endogenous trafficking pathways, are highlighted as key factors for improving genome-level editing efficiency. Despite these advances, major challenges-including limited intracellular delivery efficiency, insufficient targeting precision, and safety concerns-continue to hinder clinical translation. Future directions highlight artificial intelligence-driven nanoparticle design, personalized delivery systems, and next-generation CRISPR platforms. Overall, an integrated, barrier-oriented engineering strategy is essential for advancing CRISPR/Cas9 delivery toward clinical applications, ultimately advancing global good health and well-being.

CRISPR/Cas9

Impaired adaptation to smoke-derived phenolic compounds in Listeria monocytogenes CC204 from smoked salmon and trout.

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen in ready-to-eat smoked fish products. This study evaluated whether clonal complex affiliation contributes to variability in growth responses to stresses representative of smoked salmon and trout processing. Ten strains were studied, including strains from CC121, CC26 and CC204, the three major clonal complexes reported in the French smoked salmon and trout sectors, together with the EGDe reference strain. Strains were exposed to salt, cold, smoke-derived phenolic compounds and combined stress conditions. Growth responses were compared with whole-genome-based phylogeny, and the impaired phenotype observed under phenolic exposure was further investigated using viable counts, live/dead microscopy and comparative genomics. Growth profiles were partly structured by clonal complex, with strains from the same clonal complex showing similar behaviour across stress conditions. Salt and cold reduced growth globally, while smoke-derived phenolic compounds were the most discriminating conditions. CC204 strains showed markedly lower growth rates under phenolic exposure than CC121, CC26 and EGDe. This phenotype was not associated with loss of cultivability or significant loss of membrane integrity. Comparative genomics did not identify a clear gene-content determinant explaining the CC204 phenotype. These results suggest that CC204 has an impaired adaptive response to smoke-derived compounds, likely involving regulatory or physiological mechanisms.

Listeria monocytogenes

Positive psychology interventions during pregnancy: A systematic review.

Positive psychology interventions (PPI) have been applied and demonstrated evidence in various population groups. The present systematic review focused on the types and influence of PPI on the physical and psychological health of pregnant women. Studies that matched the selection criteria were identified on EBSCOhost, PsychINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and four positive psychology journals. From the 2528 records identified, finally eight studies were included in the review. PPI in this review were delivered utilising various positive psychology components such as hope, gratitude and optimism based on existing theories, for example, the strengths theory, broaden-and-build theory, and hope theory. Most interventions were conducted from 14 gestational weeks onwards and were delivered via virtual platforms or mobile applications. As a result of this systematic review, it was identified that PPIs for maternal well-being were aimed at improving (1) physical health, including labour pain, nausea and vomiting; (2) psychological health, including stress, emotions, anxiety and depression; and (3) subjective health, including life satisfaction, perceived social support and quality of life. Most of the selected studies provided significant evidence towards improvement of well-being outcomes from administering PPI. For future studies, in-depth PPI integrated coping and support approaches should be further evidenced among diverse pregnant populations.

Humans

Recent advances in electrode materials for electrochemical detection of zearalenone.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin commonly found in cereals, animal feed, and processed foods, making it an important concern for food safety and public health. Conventional chromatographic and immunological methods can detect ZEN; however, they often require expensive instruments, lengthy sample preparation, and skilled personnel, which restrict their use for rapid and on-site testing. Electrochemical sensors have attracted enormous interest of the scientific community because of their high sensitivity, rapid response, low cost, miniaturization potential, and compatibility with portable systems. The analytical performance of the electrochemical sensors is strongly influenced by electrode materials, morphology, conductivity, porosity, surface functionality, and the efficiency of bioreceptor immobilization. Despite several reviews on mycotoxin detection, a systematic assessment connecting electrode-material design, modification strategies, sensing mechanisms, and electroanalytical performance specifically for ZEN sensing remain limited. This review critically evaluates recent advances in metal oxides, carbon-based materials, metal-organic- and covalent organic frameworks, MXenes, polymers, and hybrid composites for electrochemical ZEN detection. Particular attention has been given to their roles in electron transfer, analyte enrichment, selectivity, and real-sample analysis. The review also compares the major limitations of current sensing systems, including complex fabrication, matrix interference, insufficient long-term stability, poor inter-electrode reproducibility, and limited scalability. Finally, future directions for developing robust, cost-effective, portable, and commercially viable ZEN sensors are discussed.

Journal Article

Socket motility assessment of anophthalmic sockets: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Systematically review and categorize the methods used to assess socket and prosthetic motility in anophthalmic patients following enucleation or evisceration. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from inception through September 2024. Studies reporting qualitative or quantitative assessments of motility in anophthalmic sockets or ocular prostheses were included. Motility assessment methods were categorized as qualitative (descriptive or graded clinical evaluation) or quantitative (numerical measurements in millimeters, degrees, or objective tracking systems). RESULTS: Thirty-five studies encompassing 1,819 patients met inclusion criteria. Nineteen studies used qualitative assessment methods, including subjective observation, graded scales based on cardinal gaze positions, or comparison with the contralateral eye. Sixteen studies employed quantitative techniques, such as the Kestenbaum limbus test, Lister perimeter measurements, conjunctival or limbal markings, photographic image analysis, infrared eye-tracking systems, and magnetic search-coil technology. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in measurement techniques, reporting standards, timing of assessment, and distinction between socket and prosthetic motility. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial variability exists in the methods used to assess motility in anophthalmic sockets, limiting comparability across studies. Establishing standardized, feasible, and reproducible assessment approaches may improve outcome reporting and facilitate meaningful comparisons in future oculoplastic research.

Humans

Targeted sequencing reveals a distinct genetic alteration landscape in oral multiple primary squamous cell carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Oral multiple primary cancers (MPCs) are associated with poor clinical outcomes, yet their genomic characteristics remain insufficiently understood. DESIGN: Fifty-four formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples from 30 patients with oral MPCs were analyzed using high-depth targeted sequencing of a customized 14-gene panel derived from prior whole-exome sequencing data. Detected alterations were analyzed after removal of synonymous mutations. RESULTS: Non-silent genomic alterations were identified in 59.3% (32/54) of samples, involving 19 patients. A total of 70 variant loci across 13 genes were detected. AKAP13 was the most frequently mutated gene at both the sample (22.2%, 12/54), with recurrent mutations observed across multiple patients. In contrast, TP53 mutations occurred at a substantially lower frequency (11.1%, 6/54). Marked inter- and intra-patient mutational heterogeneity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: FFPE-based targeted sequencing enabled an initial characterization of genomic alterations in oral MPCs. Recurrent alterations in AKAP13, GLI2, JMJD1C, and DNAH8, together with the relatively low frequency of TP53 alterations, identify candidate genomic features for further investigation and provide a basis for future studies of the molecular basis of oral MPCs.

Humans

Quantitative assessment of the fingerprint evidential value using machine learning.

Fingerprints as physical evidence have long supported criminal investigation and adjudication. In practice, however, fingerprint identification relies mainly on examiners' experience. Furthermore, expert opinions tend to be categorical, even though the opinions with the same conclusion could differ substantially in evidential strength. To quantitatively assess fingerprint evidential value, this study proposes a machine learning-based framework as an interpretable decision-support tool. A lightweight residual one-dimensional convolutional neural network was constructed, incorporating channel recalibration and a similarity-driven attention mechanism to learn adaptive contribution weights for different matched minutiae (minutiae for short). Controlled experiments revealed that the predicted evidential value increased with the number of minutiae and was significantly influenced by the quality of minutiae. With 10 minutiae, the mean predicted scores were 4.49, 7.00, and 9.09 for blurred, moderately blurred, and clear minutiae, respectively. Multiple regression analysis indicated that replacing a pair of blurred minutiae with a pair of clear minutiae increased the score by 0.492, whereas replacing it with a pair of moderately blurred minutiae increased the score by only 0.216. By mapping predicted scores to graded levels of evidential strength, the framework contributes to a paradigm shift from categorical expert opinions to graded ones, helping courts evaluate fingerprint evidence more scientifically.

Humans

Direct and spillover hospitalisation patterns during climate hazards across regions of different health-system resilience levels in China: a nationwide retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Health-system resilience serves as a key contributor in mitigating adverse health impacts during climate hazards. However, quantitative insights into resilience-associated health-care utilisation patterns and targeted adaptation policies remain scarce. We aimed to capture the spatiotemporal health impacts in disaster-exposed counties and their neighbouring counties in China during storms, floods, tropical cyclones, and blizzards or winter storms; understand the association between health-system resilience metrics and hazard-attributable hospitalisations; and develop evidence-based adaptation policies towards climate extremes. METHODS: In this retrospective, observational analysis of county-level aggregated hospitalisation data, we used a propensity score matching-difference-in-differences framework to assess the spatiotemporal changes of nine types of disease-specific hospitalisations in both disaster-exposed and neighbouring regions during storms, floods, tropical cyclones, and blizzards in China. We quantified the relative importance and health gains of health-system metrics during such hazards through random forest approach with interpretable partial dependence plots to derive evidence-based adaptation recommendations. FINDINGS: We included hospitalisation data from Jan 1, 2016 to Dec 31, 2023. In this period, 3241 county-hazard event combinations and 41 747 482 hospitalisations were recorded across 955 Chinese counties. The disaster-exposed regions experienced an initial decline in hospitalisation rates, followed by admission surges after disasters. For example, infectious disease admissions decreased by 11·92% (95% CI -10·53 to -13·31) during the flood-active period but increased by 7·68% (6·46-8·91) after 1-2 weeks of floods. Neighbouring zones were also affected through spillover effects, with infectious disease admissions increasing by 3·18% (1·76-4·61) after 1-2 weeks of the floods. Cardiovascular disease, injuries, infectious, respiratory, and mental disorders were more sensitive across all regions. Particularly for disaster-exposed counties, cardiovascular hospitalisations increased by 14·31% (7·34-21·29) during the tropical cyclone-active period. Notably, compared with low-resilience counties, high-resilience counties were associated with 19·48-30·03% smaller hazard-related relative changes in hospitalisation rates during the hazard-active period and 27·07-31·08% smaller hazard-related relative changes in hospitalisation rates in post-hazard periods. For instance, during the storm-active period, the increase in respiratory hospitalisations was 7·21% (0·67-13·75) in high-resilience counties versus 12·13% (5·20-19·05) in low-resilience counties. Health workforce (relative importance 14·58% during the hazard-active period and 13·80% during the post-hazard period) and service delivery (14·10% during the hazard-active period and 14·17% during the post-hazard period) were identified as key contributors of health-system resilience. Empirical synergistic effects were observed when combining interventions during the post-hazard period, with the combined effect of service delivery (individual contribution 8%) and workforce (individual contribution 4%) exceeding the sum of their individual contributions (16% reduction in cumulative excess admissions) by 33%. INTERPRETATION: Climate hazards are associated with substantial changes in hospitalisation rates in both disaster-exposed and neighbouring regions. Health-system resilience is essential in addressing disaster-health challenges. Targeted adaptation interventions should be context-appropriate and threshold-aware, thereby maximising the public health benefits relative to resilience-oriented investments in health systems. FUNDING: Gates Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Journal Article

Assessing AI literacy and attitudes among medical students: implications for integration into healthcare practice.

PURPOSE: This study aims to assess AI literacy and attitudes among medical students and explore their implications for integrating AI into healthcare practice. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A quantitative research design was employed to comprehensively evaluate AI literacy and attitudes among 374 Lusaka Apex Medical University medical students. Data were collected from April 3, 2024, to April 30, 2024, using a closed-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire covered various aspects of AI literacy, perceived benefits of AI in healthcare, strategies for staying informed about AI, relevant AI applications for future practice, concerns related to AI algorithm training and AI-based chatbots in healthcare. FINDINGS: The study revealed varying levels of AI literacy among medical students with a basic understanding of AI principles. Perceptions regarding AI's role in healthcare varied, with recognition of key benefits such as improved diagnosis accuracy and enhanced treatment planning. Students relied predominantly on online resources to stay informed about AI. Concerns included bias reinforcement, data privacy and over-reliance on technology. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study contributes original insights into medical students' AI literacy and attitudes, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions and ethical considerations in AI integration within medical education and practice.

Students, Medical

Plant cis-regulatory grammar: Decoding the multidimensional code of transcriptional regulation for programmable crop engineering.

Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) orchestrate the spatiotemporal precision of gene expression that underlies plant development, adaptation, and domestication. Decoding the cis-regulatory grammar of plant genomes remains a central challenge in modern biology, with profound implications for programmable crop engineering. Here, recent conceptual and technological advances are synthesized to reshape our understanding of plant CREs. This review first argues that CRE function is not only an intrinsic property of DNA sequence alone but also emerges from a multidimensional context, including chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, three-dimensional genome topology, and cell type-specific regulatory landscapes. Furthermore, the convergence of single-cell epigenomics, high-throughput functional assays, and CRISPR-based dissection has begun to unravel this contextual grammar, revealing the computational principles governing transcriptional regulation. Critically, we propose that artificial intelligence (AI) platforms are catalyzing an ongoing transition from descriptive discovery to predictive engineering, wherein these platforms outperform natural evolution in designing synthetic CREs. Finally, a roadmap is outlined toward a plant regulatory grammar foundation model, which will enable truly predictive engineering of gene expression when fine-tuned for specific tasks. Collectively, the integration of single-cell resolution maps, precise genome editing, AI-driven design, and regulatory-compliant delivery systems promises to transform our ability to reprogram plant gene regulation for next-generation agriculture, bridging the gap between foundational regulatory biology and tangible crop improvement.

artificial intelligence

Ultra-high-field 7T MRI reveals neural abnormalities of attention networks in relation to cognitive impairment in hypertension.

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cognitive impairment (CI), yet the corresponding neural network abnormalities remain underexplored. In this study, we examined the associations among global and domain-specific cognitive dysfunction, neuroimaging measures, and blood pressure in a subgroup of hypertensive patients with CI (N = 41) from a randomized controlled trial who underwent ultra-high-field 7 T MRI. Structural atrophy related to CI was localized to regions overlapping the attention networks. Both whole-brain and within-network dysfunction of the attention networks were associated with worse global cognitive performance. Notably, hyperconnectivity within key attention network hubs, including the right anterior insula and posterior intraparietal sulcus, was associated with declined processing speed in hypertensive patients, mediating the association between pulse pressure and processing speed. These findings provide new insights into the neural pathophysiology of hypertension-related CI and suggest potential network-based targets for intervention.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Beyond species trees: pervasive gene flow limits phylogenomic resolution in the diversification of Juniperus from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Understanding how lineages diversify despite persistent ancestral polymorphism and recurrent gene flow remains a central challenge in evolutionary biology. Juniperus distributed across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau provide an ideal system for addressing this question because repeated geological uplift and climatic oscillations have likely promoted cycles of lineage divergence, range shifts, and secondary contact. Here, we combined approximately 1.08 million genome-wide SNPs from 164 individuals representing thirteen Juniperus lineages with phylogenomic datasets comprising 3,381 nuclear single-copy genes and nearly complete plastomes. We detected extensive phylogenomic discordance and cytonuclear incongruence across genomic datasets. Topology weighting, coalescent simulations, quartet-based tests, and analyses of gene flow and reticulation collectively support the interpretation that these patterns were shaped by the combined effects of prolonged incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow during lineage diversification. Ecological niche analyses further provide a spatial and climatic context in which environmentally similar lineages may have had greater opportunities for secondary contact during historical range shifts. Collectively, our results reveal that the evolutionary history of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Juniperus is characterized by reticulate diversification rather than strictly bifurcating evolution, and demonstrate how genome-wide discordance can provide biological insights into the evolutionary processes underlying lineage diversification.

Gene Flow

Embedding cardiovascular risk assessment into routine BTK inhibitor management in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular (CV) toxicities remain a major challenge during Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Selecting the optimal BTKi based solely on a history of overt CV disease may underestimate underlying cardiovascular vulnerability. AREAS COVERED: We performed a targeted, non-systematic review of PubMed and MEDLINE to examine the association between baseline CV comorbidities and BTKi-related CV toxicities in CLL. Current evidence indicates that preferential use of BTKis with more favorable CV safety profiles, coupled with appropriate cardio-oncology surveillance, reduces the risk of CV adverse events in patients with pre-existing CV disease. In patients without established CV disease, the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2) and SCORE2-Older Persons (SCORE2-OP) may help identify clinically meaningful latent CV risk, enabling early optimization of modifiable risk factors in line with the proactive cardiovascular management strategy endorsed by the 2026 European Hematology Association (EHA) CLL guidelines. EXPERT OPINION: A structured, risk-adapted approach integrating standardized CV risk assessment, early management of modifiable risk factors, individualized BTKi selection, and multidisciplinary cardio-oncology collaboration may improve the safety and tolerability of BTKi therapy in CLL. Pending prospective validation, SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP should complement, rather than replace, dedicated cardio-oncology evaluation.

Humans

Efferocytosis regulatory factors in atherosclerosis: A preclinical systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Impaired efferocytosis is a key driver of plaque instability during atherosclerosis progression. Efficient clearance of apoptotic cells through efferocytosis relies on the coordinated action of multiple regulatory factors. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, OVID MEDLINE, and Scopus were searched for studies published up to February 7, 2026. Eligible preclinical studies were systematically reviewed to identify endogenous factors that regulate efferocytosis in atherosclerosis. Clinical evidence was also incorporated to enable a preliminary translational assessment of these regulatory factors. RESULTS: Thirty-five endogenous regulatory factors were identified from 36 included studies, and their functional roles across distinct stages of efferocytosis were characterized. Notably, metabolic regulators such as PKM2, PFKFB3, GLS1, and Drp1 were involved in distinct efferocytosis stages. This suggests that metabolic reprogramming may provide the metabolic support require for efficient efferocytosis and inflammation resolution. Ten factors were supported by preliminary clinical evidence consistent with preclinical data. PKM2 was the only candidate biomarker with prospective observational data. However, its independent predictive value still requires validation in multicenter prospective studies. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides a systematic synthesis of 35 endogenous efferocytosis regulators and elucidates their regulatory network in atherosclerosis based on a functional stage framework. Metabolic reprogramming is identified as a central hub linking efferocytosis efficiency to inflammation resolution. This review offers a new theoretical basis for efferocytosis-targeted intervention strategies.

Animals

Dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes co-occurrence with pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria throughout wastewater treatment processes.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are recognized hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogenic bacteria. Despite advancements in treatment technologies, the persistence of ARGs and pathogenic bacteria remains a concern. In this study, we analyzed the dynamic changes in ARGs and bacterial communities throughout the treatment processes within an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (AAO) WWTP over one week by using HT-qPCR coupled with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The connectedness index, based on network analysis, showed that the dynamics of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were more strongly associated with potentially pathogenic bacteria than with non-pathogenic bacteria, suggesting that ARG immigration and dissemination in the WWTP were likely driven by potentially pathogenic taxa. The AAO treatment significantly reduced ARGs in final effluent (EF) (∼64 %) and residual sludge (RS) (∼81 %); however, potential hosts of ARGs such as Comamonas testosteroni and Clostridioides difficile persisted with minimal changes in relative abundance and remained detectable in EF and RS. Notably, the abundance of ARGs was lower in RS than in EF, and source tracking analysis identified influent as the primary source of ARGs and potentially pathogenic taxa in EF, underscoring the greater health risks associated with effluent discharge.

Wastewater