Bio: Xinwei Wang is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Environment, Nanjing University. His research focuses on the ecological risk assessment of emerging contaminants in soil ecosystems and their toxicological effects on soil invertebrates. Specifically, he is interested in using multi-omics and bioinformatics approaches to elucidate how environmental pollutants alter gut microbiota composition and metabolic profiles in soil organisms, and how these changes contribute to physiological toxicity. He has published three SCI papers as the first author.

Abstract: This study investigates the effects of reclaimed water at varying concentrations on the physiological and biochemical responses, as well as gut microbiota and metabolites of earthworms (Eisenia fetida). The results demonstrated that reclaimed water induced oxidative stress and damage to the gut microstructure and digestive function in earthworms. 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics analyses further revealed that exposure to reclaimed water resulted in significant dysbiosis of the earthworm gut microbiota, characterized by an increased abundance of pathogenic microorganisms and degradation-associated bacteria, and significant alterations in metabolites associated with pyrimidine and purine metabolic pathways were observed, reclaimed water also led to reproductive toxicity in earthworms. By integrating physiological indicators and analyzing of crosstalk patterns among the effects, we concluded that exposure to reclaimed water instigates systemic toxicity in earthworms. These findings demonstrate that exposure to reclaimed water can induce toxic effects in soil-dwelling organisms and potentially impair the reproductive success of subsequent generations, underscoring the need for attention to the ecological risks associated with reclaimed water application in terrestrial environments.