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Updated: Jun 3, 2025
Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
Interactions between fungi and bacteria hosts carrying MGEs is dominant for ARGs fate during manure mesophilic
Yan Yang1, Wenjie Chen1, Jie Yin1
1Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Abstract:
The mycelial networks of fungi promote the interaction between the originally isolated bacteria, thereby potentially enhancing the exchange of nutrients and the horizontal transfer of genetic materials. However, the driving effect of fungi on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during mesophilic facultative composting is still unclear. This study aims to elucidate the changes in ARGs and underlying mechanisms during the mesophilic composting of manure. Results indicated that reduction rates of ARGs in sheep and pig manure over a 90-day composting period were 34.68% and 60.10%, respectively. The sul1, sul2 and tetX were identified as recalcitrant ARGs in both composting treatments, with the additional unique recalcitrant gene addA observed in sheep manure. Fungal communities appeared to have a more significant influence on the cooperation between bacteria and fungi. Massive fungi interacted intensively with bacterial hosts carrying both ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). In sheep and pig manure, there were 53 and 38 potential bacterial hosts (genus level) carrying both ARGs and MGEs, associated close interactions with fungi. Structural equation modeling revealed that compost properties influence ARGs by affecting the abundance of core fungi and the hosts carrying MGEs, and that core fungi could also impact ARGs by influencing the bacterial hosts carrying MGEs. Core fungi have the potential to facilitate the horizontal transfer of ARGs by enhancing bacterial network interactions.
Insights
Fungi in composting significantly reduce antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) by promoting bacterial interactions. Core fungi facilitate the horizontal transfer of ARGs via enhanced bacterial networks, impacting manure treatment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Composting science
- Antimicrobial resistance
Background:
- Mycelial networks of fungi can enhance bacterial interactions, nutrient exchange, and horizontal gene transfer.
- The role of fungi in driving antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during mesophilic facultative composting remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the changes in ARGs during manure composting.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, particularly the role of fungi, in ARG dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Mesophilic composting of sheep and pig manure over 90 days.
- Quantification of ARGs and identification of recalcitrant genes.
- Analysis of fungal communities and their interactions with bacterial hosts carrying ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs).
- Structural equation modeling to determine the influence of compost properties, fungi, and MGE-carrying hosts on ARGs.
Main Results:
- ARG reduction rates of 34.68% in sheep manure and 60.10% in pig manure were observed.
- sul1, sul2, tetX were identified as recalcitrant ARGs; addA was unique to sheep manure.
- Fungal communities significantly influenced bacterial cooperation and interactions with hosts carrying both ARGs and MGEs.
- Compost properties affected ARGs by influencing core fungi and MGE-carrying hosts; core fungi also impacted ARGs via MGE-carrying bacterial hosts.
Conclusions:
- Core fungi play a crucial role in the dynamics of ARGs during composting.
- Fungi can facilitate the horizontal transfer of ARGs by enhancing bacterial network interactions.
- Understanding these fungal-bacterial interactions is key to managing ARGs in composting systems.
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