Reduction of antibiotic resistance genes under different conditions during composting process of aerobic combined with anaerobic

Abstract

Single aerobic or anaerobic composting is reportedly as inefficient for removing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from animal manure. This study investigates the effects of ARG removal during aerobic combined with anaerobic composting (ACA) under different conditions. The results showed that a turning frequency of once a day, the proportion of swine manure and corn straw (3:1) and an anaerobic time of 6 days were the best operating conditions for ARG reduction (>95%, especially ermF: 99.78%) during ACA. Moreover, redundancy analysis demonstrated that the bacterial community (especially Truepera, Petrimonas and Ureibacillus) had a stronger effect on ARG removal than environmental factors did (especially temperature, total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen and pH). Network analysis indicated the important effect of these potential host bacteria on the spread of ARGs through significant co-occurrence between individual ARGs and specific bacteria. These findings offer an effective technology to reduce and block ARGs spread from animal manure.

Keywords: Aerobic combined with anaerobic; Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs); Bacterial community; Environmental factors; Reduction.