Long-term application of organic fertilization causes the accumulation of antibiotic resistome in earthworm gut microbiota

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), prevalent across multiple environmental media, threaten human health worldwide and are considered emerging environmental contaminants. Earthworm gut, a niche for bacteria to survive, represents a potential reservoir for ARGs in soil. However, the compositions of ARGs in the earthworm gut microbiota remain elusive, especially under field conditions. In this study, we applied high-throughput quantitative PCR to profile the ARGs in the gut microbiota of earthworms after chronic exposure to fertilizers. To elucidate the factors that impact the ARGs composition, the bacterial community of gut microbiota, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), soil (nutrients, heavy me..