Exogenous and cell-free nucleic acids in water bodies: A penchant for emergence of pandemic and other particulate nucleic acid associated hazards of public health concern in water nexus

Abstract

Globally, the origin of major exogenous and extra-chromosomal nucleic acids has remained vague, yet there are unremitting reports of emerging nucleic acid particles which are associated with disease cases and other health concerns. The presence of exogenous and extra-chromosomal nucleic acids was determined as potential predilection for emergence of pandemic in water nexus using metagenomics and molecular biology based techniques. Water samples (50) were collected from various water bodies in Oghara environs, filtered (0.45 µm Nitrocellulose filter paper) and treated to confirm the absence of  viable microorganisms. Non-bacterial associated nucleic acids were extracted from decontaminated water specimen, Amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), detected using agarose Electrophoresis, while nucleic acid extracts were transferred and expressed in the recipient Escherichia coli K-12 strain. The PCR detection result revealed various exogenous resistant genes including Bla TEM (8/50; 16%), SHV (10/50; 20%), CTXM (12/50; 24%), AmpC (16/50; 32%), NDM-1 (11/50; 22%), VIM (6/50; 12%), flor (33/50; 66%), str (8/50; 16%), aadA (5/50; 10%), tetA (24/50; 48%), intI (39/50; 78%), sulI (9/50; 18%), sul2 (38/50; 76%), tmp (21/50; 42%), CTXM-9 (18/50; 36%) and CatII(16/50; 32%). The result also shows the presence of resistant extra-chromosomal genes phenotype (13/50; 26%) with resistant determinants in the various sampled water. The detection of such antibiotic resistant genes amongst cell free and/or exogenous nucleic acids is an indication that present in the water environment are potential nucleic acid based agents of public health relevance. Such nucleic acid particles are also potential emerging agents of particulate disease situation. A redirected and focusbased interest on removal of such particulate cell free and/or exogenous and extra-chromosomal
nucleic acids possesses potential for control of future emerging disease cases