[Research progress in the pollution status and biodegradation of sulfonamides in wastewater]

Sulfonamides (SAs) are frequently detected in natural water bodies, sediments, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Their persistence in the environment induces the generation and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) as well as drug-resistant bacteria, posing threats to ecosystems and public health. Current processes are insufficient for the removal of SAs. This paper reviews the recent research progress in SAs in terms of the occurrence concentrations, biological toxicity, and induction of resistance gene transfer, as well as our preliminary work on the degradation technology and mechanisms of SAs. Through the review, this paper summarizes the pollution status, hazards, biodegradation processes and key influencing factors of SAs, clarifies the roles of biological community interactions, microbial co-metabolism, eukaryotic enzymatic degradation, and interactions between gut microbiota and the host in the degradation of SAs and horizontal transfer control process of ARGs, and outlines representative degradation pathways, degradation kinetics, and related research methods. Furthermore, this paper makes an outlook on the future research directions from the aspects of innovative combination process, multi-factor synergistic influencing mechanisms, and mutually beneficial cooperation between eukaryotes and their microbial communities, aiming to provide insights for deciphering the degradation mechanisms of SAs and formulating pollution control measures.