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Co-occurrence pattern of ARGs and N-functional genes in the aerobic composting system with initial elevated
Imtiaz Ahmed1, Yongpeng Zhang1, Pengyu Sun1
1Environmental Science and Engineering School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
Journal of Environmental Management
|May 25, 2023
Summary
Initially heating animal manure during composting significantly reduced antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Enhanced temperature control during composting offers a more effective strategy for ARG removal.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Waste management
- Antimicrobial resistance
Background:
- Animal manure is a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
- Aerobic composting is a sustainable method for animal waste treatment.
- The impact of initial elevated temperatures on the antibiotic resistome during composting remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of initial external heating (EHC) on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) during aerobic composting compared to conventional composting (CC).
- To assess the reduction of potential human pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic elimination.
- To explore the relationship between ARGs and nitrogen-functional genes (NFGs) under different composting conditions.
Main Methods:
- Composting trials comparing initial external heating (EHC) for 5 days with conventional composting (CC).
- Quantification of ARGs and MGEs abundance using qPCR.
- Analysis of bacterial community composition and identification of ARGs carriers.
- Assessment of antibiotic elimination rates and pathogenic bacteria reduction.
Main Results:
- Both EHC and CC significantly reduced ARGs and MGEs abundance, with greater reduction in EHC (2.43 log ARGs, 1.95 log MGEs).
- Potential human pathogenic bacteria were significantly reduced in both treatments.
- EHC showed a higher overall antibiotic elimination (80.74%) compared to CC (68.98%).
- ARGs and NFGs were co-located on the same microbial species, with temperature being a key factor for ARG variation in EHC.
Conclusions:
- Initial external heating is a more effective strategy for reducing ARGs and MGEs during animal manure composting.
- Composting temperature plays a crucial role in regulating ARGs, particularly in EHC conditions.
- Understanding the link between ARGs and NFGs in microbial communities is vital for optimizing composting processes to mitigate antibiotic resistance spread.
Keywords:
ARGs riskAerobic compostingAntibiotic resistance genesBacteria compositionN-functional genesMore Related Videos
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