Summary
This long-term field study examined how sewage sludge application impacts soil antibiotic resistance gene populations using high-throughput quantitative PCR. The intrinsic soil resistome contained genes conferring resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, with strong correlation between ARG and MGE abundance. Annual sewage sludge applications posed greater impact on soil resistome than past applications, through both direct introduction of sludge-specific ARGs and stimulation of indigenous soil resistance genes, with notable attenuation of sludge-derived aminoglycoside and tetracycline resistance genes.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to United Kingdom agricultural practice, as sewage sludge application to agricultural land is a widespread and regulated practice in the UK. The results inform risk assessment and management of antibiotic resistance gene dissemination from urban wastewater systems into British agricultural soils.
Key measures
High-throughput quantitative PCR quantification of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) conferring resistance to multidrug, β-lactam, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB), tetracycline, vancomycin, and aminoglycoside; mobile genetic element (MGE) marker genes; ARG and MGE abundance and composition; correlation between ARG and MGE abundance
Outcomes reported
The study quantified antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements in soils amended with sewage sludge over a long-term field experiment, comparing soils receiving past versus annual applications of five different sludge types. It measured changes in soil resistome composition, diversity, and the persistence or attenuation of sludge-derived ARGs following application.
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