High pollution loads engineer oxygen dynamics, ecological niches, and pathogenicity shifts in freshwater environments

Bello Ahmad, Nuraddeen and Sani Jaafaru, Mohammed and Isa, Zaharaddeen and Abdulhamid, Yusuf and Adamu Kakudi, Rahanatu and Yunusa Ugya, Adamu and Meguellati, Kamel (2024) High pollution loads engineer oxygen dynamics, ecological niches, and pathogenicity shifts in freshwater environments. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 14. ISSN 2772-4166

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Abstract

The current study comprehensively reviews the ecological niche and pathogenicity shift in the freshwater microbial community in response to the stress induced by a high pollution load. The study provides a unique understanding of how a change in oxygen level tends to affect the survival of aquatic biota by delving into how an increase in pollutant load affects freshwater stability. The review indicated that high pollution loads alter the balance of freshwater resources such as organic matter, dissolved gases, light penetration, and essential nutrients. This causes oxygen dynamics and a species-dependent change in the community and niche of microorganisms in freshwater environments. This oxygen dynamics also causes the alteration of the genome of freshwater microorganisms, leading to the development of antibiotic resistance genes and thereby increasing the pathogenicity of freshwater microorganisms. The oxygen dynamic created lowers the natural defence strategies of the freshwater environment, thereby increasing the efficacy of the pathogens to infest the respective host. A detailed study of the mechanisms involved in freshwater exotoxins production and interaction with microorganisms will give an important insight into the niche shift in response to the effect of the exotoxin. The effect of the change in the pathogenicity of freshwater microorganisms is of importance to both environmental and medical interests. This is because the change in pathogenicity is not only detrimental to aquatic organisms but also resists improperly treated drinking water. Such water could retrogress wellness and quality of life when used continuously. An extensive study on how specific pollutants cause a shift in the niche and pathogenicity of freshwater microbiota will provide a detailed understanding of the impact of pollution on the stability of freshwater environment.

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