The formation mechanism of antibiotic-resistance genes associated with bacterial communities during biological decomposition of household garbage

Abstract

Food wastes are significant reservoir of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) available for exchange with clinical pathogens. However, food wastes-related changes of antibiotic resistance in long-period decomposition have been overlooked. Here, we evaluated the comprehensive ARG profile and its association with microbial communities, explained how this might vary with household garbage decomposition. Average of 128, 150 and 91 ARGs were detected in meat, vegetable and fruit wastes, respectively, with multidrug and tetracycline as the predominant ARG types. ARG abundance significantly increased at initial stage of waste fermentation and then decreased. High abundance of Eubacterium-coprostanoligenes, Sporanaerobacter, Peptoniphilus, Peptostreptococcus might be explained for the high relative abundance of ARGs in meat, while high abundance of Advenella, Prevotella, Solobacterium was attributed to the high diversity of ARGs in vegetables. Significant correlations were observed among volatile organic compounds, mobile genetic elements and ARGs, implying that they might contribute to transfer and transport of ARGs. Network analysis revealed that aph(2′)-Id-01, acrA-05, tetO-1 were potential ARG indicators, while Hathewaya, Paraclostridium and Prevotellaceae were possible hosts of ARGs. Our work might unveil underlining mechanism of the effects of food wastes decomposition on development and spread of ARGs in environment and also clues to ARG mitigation.