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Phages Shape the Transformation of Organic Matter During Composting
Yuanyuan Bao1,2, Jan Dolfing3, Ruirui Chen1,2
1State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
Microbial Biotechnology
|December 22, 2025
Summary
Phages influence organic waste composting by altering microbial strategies and dissolved organic matter. Temperate phages promote microbial growth and microbial DOM, while virulent phages favor resource acquisition and plant DOM.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Microorganisms transform dissolved organic matter (DOM) during organic waste composting.
- The roles of temperate and virulent phages in this biotransformation are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate phage community dynamics, microbial life-history strategies (Y-A-S framework), and DOM composition during rice chaff and chicken manure composting.
- Explore the linkages between phage lifestyles, microbial traits, and DOM molecular changes.
Main Methods:
- Bulk metagenomic sequencing
- Electrospray Ionisation Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR MS)
- Random Forest analysis
Main Results:
- Temperate/virulent phage ratio, microbial Y/A strategy, and DOM components showed consistent dynamics, peaking mid-composting.
- Phage ratio and microbial Y/A strategy predicted variations in microbial traits and DOM composition.
- Temperate phages favored microbial Y-strategy and microbial DOM; virulent phages favored A-strategy and plant DOM.
Conclusions:
- Phage lifestyles significantly mediate microbial strategies and DOM transformation during composting.
- This study provides insights into the ecological roles of phages in organic waste material cycling.
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