Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

Nano-biochar regulates phage–host interactions, reducing antibiotic resistance genes in vermicomposting systems

Ting Xie, Da Lin, Xing-Da Cai, Lijuan Ma, Lu Wang, Tian-Gui Cai, Yuqiu Ye, Luo-Qin Shen, Mingming Sun, Mao Ye, Roy Neilson, Dong Zhu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2025

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Summary

Biochar amendment reshapes microbial community dynamics in vermicomposting, but the mechanism of how phages respond to this anthropogenic intervention and regulate the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remains unclear. In this study, we used metagenomics, viromics, and laboratory validation to explore how nano-biochar affects phage-host interactions and ARGs dissemination in vermicomposting. Our results revealed distinct niche-specific phage life strategies. In vermicompost, lytic phages dominated and used a "kill-the-winner" strategy to suppress antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). In contrast, lysogenic phages prevailed in the earthworm gut, adopting a "piggyback-the-winner" strategy that promoted ARGs transduction through mutualistic host interactions. Nano-biochar ind

Source type
Peer-reviewed study
DOI
10.1073/pnas.2511986122
Catalogue ID
SNmojyxui1-47c0u2
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