Nanotrap Technology Supports Detection of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Community Wastewater in Bangladesh
Application: Wastewater Surveillance | Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring | Environmental Pathogen Detection
Technology: Nanotrap® Microbiome A Particles | Nanotrap® Enhancement Reagent 1
Publication: Saha A, et al. Genetic diversity and occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes from community wastewater in Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. One Health. 2026;22:101301.
Overview
A peer-reviewed study published in One Health demonstrates the application of Nanotrap® technology to support culture-independent detection and characterization of clinically important antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in community wastewater across Bangladesh.
Researchers from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Emory University, and collaborating institutions investigated the occurrence and genetic diversity of nine antibiotic resistance genes in 70 wastewater samples collected from Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, including communities within Rohingya refugee camps.
The researchers used Nanotrap Microbiome A Particles from Ceres Nanosciences to concentrate microorganisms from wastewater prior to nucleic acid extraction, PCR detection, and genetic sequencing.
At least one antibiotic resistance gene was detected in 90% of samples, while nearly half contained all nine targeted genes. Several genes associated with resistance to critically important antibiotics, including carbapenems and colistin, were frequently detected.
The findings highlight the potential of wastewater surveillance to monitor antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in communities and demonstrate the practical application of Nanotrap-enabled sample preparation for environmental resistance gene monitoring.
Study Highlights
Widespread antibiotic resistance genes: At least one of the nine targeted ARGs was detected in 90% (63/70) of wastewater samples.
Multiple resistance mechanisms: All nine targeted genes were detected together in 47.1% of samples, indicating frequent co-occurrence of resistance determinants.
High detection of clinically important genes: Five ARGs—blaTEM, blaCTX-M, blaOXA, tolC, and acrA—were detected in 90% of samples.
Geographic differences: ARG detection frequencies were generally higher in Cox's Bazar than Dhaka, with several genes detected in every Cox's Bazar sample.
Genetic diversity: Sequencing identified diverse resistance gene sequences and previously unreported amino acid substitutions in KPC carbapenemase sequences.
Nanotrap-enabled sample preparation: Nanotrap Microbiome A Particles were incorporated into a culture-independent workflow for microbial concentration prior to molecular detection and sequencing.
Nanotrap Technology in Action
Researchers collected 70 community wastewater samples between April and May 2023 from urban drainage systems, wastewater pumping stations, and refugee camp drainage networks in Dhaka and Cox's Bazar.
Wastewater presents significant analytical challenges due to its complex composition, variable microbial content, and substances that can interfere with downstream molecular analysis.
To prepare samples for analysis, researchers used Nanotrap Microbiome A Particles (SKU 44202) and Nanotrap Enhancement Reagent 1 (SKU 10111-10) from Ceres Nanosciences.
A 14 mL aliquot of each wastewater sample was processed using Nanotrap particles to concentrate microorganisms. The captured material was subsequently subjected to nucleic acid extraction using the MagMAX Microbiome Ultra Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit, followed by an additional PCR inhibitor removal step.
Extracted nucleic acids were analyzed using individual PCR assays targeting nine clinically important ARGs. Selected PCR products were further characterized using Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.
The study identified all nine targeted resistance genes across the wastewater samples, demonstrating the successful integration of Nanotrap-based microbial concentration into a culture-independent workflow for environmental AMR surveillance.
The researchers did not directly compare Nanotrap technology against alternative microbial concentration methods. Rather, the study demonstrates its application within a workflow supporting molecular detection and genetic characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in complex wastewater samples.
Key Findings
Performance Measure | Study Finding |
Total wastewater samples | 70 |
Sampling locations | Dhaka (35); Cox's Bazar (35) |
Antibiotic resistance genes targeted | 9 |
Samples positive for at least one ARG | 90% (63/70) |
Samples positive for all nine ARGs | 47.1% (33/70) |
blaTEM, blaCTX-M, blaOXA, tolC, acrA detection | 90% each |
blaNDM detection | 85.7% |
blaKPC detection | 84.3% |
blaSHV detection | 77.1% |
mcr-1 detection | 52.9% |
ARG sequences obtained | 77 |
Five resistance genes were detected in 100% of wastewater samples from Cox's Bazar, compared with 80% of samples from Dhaka. Several geographic differences were statistically significant, demonstrating the value of monitoring AMR across different community environments.
The researchers also identified previously unreported amino acid substitutions in KPC carbapenemase sequences. Computational modeling suggested that these mutations could alter interactions with beta-lactam antibiotics, although further experimental validation is needed to establish their functional significance.
Importantly, the study used qualitative PCR to establish the presence of targeted resistance genes rather than quantify their abundance or expression.
Significance
This study highlights the expanding role of wastewater surveillance as a tool for monitoring antimicrobial resistance, one of the most pressing global public health challenges.
Traditional AMR surveillance often relies on clinical testing and bacterial culture, which may not fully capture resistance determinants circulating within communities and environmental systems.
By combining Nanotrap-based microbial concentration with culture-independent molecular detection, researchers demonstrated an approach for identifying multiple clinically important resistance genes directly from community wastewater.
The findings are particularly relevant to low- and middle-income countries, where limited wastewater treatment infrastructure, sanitation challenges, and restricted access to clinical surveillance may complicate efforts to understand and respond to antimicrobial resistance.
Wastewater-based monitoring offers the potential to identify geographic hotspots, characterize resistance gene diversity, and inform public health strategies, antibiotic stewardship, and wastewater management policies.
While further research is needed to establish quantitative surveillance methods and understand how environmental ARG detection relates to clinical resistance trends, this study provides important baseline data for future monitoring programs in Bangladesh.
The use of Nanotrap Microbiome technology in this research demonstrates its versatility in supporting environmental surveillance workflows that extend beyond pathogen detection to include antimicrobial resistance monitoring.
SKU 44XXX
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