Environmental Studies and Forestry

Organic fertilization co-selects genetically linked antibiotic and metal(loid) resistance genes in global soil microbiome

Z. Liu, R. Ma, et al.

This groundbreaking research by Zi-Teng Liu and colleagues reveals how organic fertilization drives the co-selection of antibiotic resistance and metal(loid) resistance genes in agricultural soils. With a significant increase in antibiotic and metal resistance markers and alarming implications for public health, this study calls for urgent mitigation strategies.

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Abstract

This study investigates the co-selection of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal(loid) resistance genes (MRGs) by organic fertilization in global agricultural soil microbiomes. Analysis of 511 metagenomes revealed a threefold increase in ARG-MRG-carrying contigs (AMCCs) in organically fertilized soils. Metatranscriptomic data showed increased AMCC expression under arsenic stress, with co-regulation of ARG-MRG pairs. A global map indicated higher relative abundance and pathogenicity risks of coexistent ARG-MRGs in Central North America, Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northeast China. The findings highlight the co-selection of genetically linked ARGs and MRGs by organic fertilization, emphasizing the need for mitigation strategies to protect public health.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Jun 17, 2024

Authors

Zi-Teng Liu, Rui-Ao Ma, Dong Zhu, Konstantinos T. Konstantinidis, Yong-Guan Zhu, Si-Yu Zhang

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