[Research Progress on Microalgae-bacteria Symbioses Influencing the Persistence and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance...

The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes （ARGs） has become a major challenge in global public health， particularly in wastewater treatment plants， which serve as critical hubs. With the widespread use of antibiotics， the spread of resistant bacteria and ARGs in the environment has accelerated， making wastewater treatment facilities a significant source of ARG dissemination. Traditional wastewater treatment technologies， such as the activated sludge process and membrane filtration， can remove some organic pollutants and microorganisms from water， but their efficiency in eliminating ARGs remains low， often accompanied by high energy consumption and the use of chemical agents that risk secondary pollution. As a result， the development of efficient， eco-friendly， and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies has become an urgent priority. The microalgae-bacteria symbiotic system， an emerging approach， exhibits immense potential for ARG removal through the synergistic interplay of microalgae and bacteria. Microalgae fix carbon dioxide via photosynthesis and absorb nutrients from water， while bacteria utilize their robust degradative abilities to effectively break down ARGs and other harmful substances. This system not only excels in removing ARGs but also meets green and sustainable standards due to its low energy demands and minimal reliance on chemical reagents. The interactions between microalgae and bacteria， including metabolic cooperation and quorum sensing mechanisms， are central to its effectiveness in ARG removal. However， practical application of the microalgae-bacteria symbiotic system faces challenges， particularly in terms of system stability， scalability， and operational costs. Furthermore， quorum sensing plays a vital role in regulating ARG dissemination and removal， with microalgae potentially enhancing ARG elimination and inhibiting their horizontal transfer by modulating bacterial quorum sensing （QS）. This review examines the application of the microalgae-bacteria symbiotic system in ARG removal， its underlying mechanisms， environmental impacts， challenges， and future research directions， offering suggestions to improve system stability and achieve large-scale implementation， while highlighting its promising prospects for widespread use in wastewater treatment.