Deciphering the antimicrobial resistomes and microbiome landscape of open drain wastewater using metagenomics in a progressive Indian state

This study examined antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wastewater from densely populated and industrial regions of Maharashtra, India, using high-throughput nanopore sequencing of 138 samples from 23 open-drain sites. The analysis revealed substantial regional differences in microbial communities and identified 30 indicator taxa. Across the samples, researchers detected 808 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) spanning 28 drug classes, dominated by multidrug, MLS, beta-lactam, and tetracycline resistance. Critically, WHO-priority pathogens such as E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa carried highly abundant resistance genes, including sul1, mdr(ABC), and acrB. Mumbai showed the highest resistome risk scores, indicating increased ecological and human health risks. The findings highlight wastewater as a major reservoir and dissemination route for AMR and emphasize the need for wastewater-based surveillance within a One Health framework to guide targeted, region-specific interventions.