The fate of antibiotic resistance genes and their influential factors during excess sludge composting in a full-scale plant. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Xin; Wang, Zimu; Xu, Tao; Feng, Zhihan; Liu, Jie; Luo, Ling; He, Yan; Xiao, Yinlong; Peng, Hong; Zhang, Yanzong; Deng, Ouping; Zhou, Wei
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 342(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Excess sludge -- Factory composting -- Antibiotic resistome -- Mobile genetic elements; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Full-scale composting drastically removed ARGs abundance in excess sludge. MGEs directly affected ARGs abundance. Heavy metals and nutrient status indirectly affected ARGs abundance. Variation of host bacteria was strongly related to the attenuation of ARGs. Abstract: The alteration of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during sludge composting has been less studied in a full-scale plant, causing the miss of practical implications for understanding/managing ARGs. Therefore, this study tracked the changes of ARGs and microbial communities in a full-scale plant engaged in excess sludge composting and then explored the key factors regulating ARGs through a series of analyses. After composting, the absolute and relative abundance of ARGs decreased by 91.90% and 66.57%, respectively. Additionally, pathway analysis showed that MGEs, composting physicochemical properties were the most vital factors directly influencing ARGs. Finally, network analysis indicated that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were the main hosts of ARGs. Based on these findings, it can be known that full-scale composting could reduce ARGs risk to an extent.