# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 7430 | 0 | 1.0000 | Sources of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (ARB) and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) in the Soil: A Review of the Spreading Mechanism and Human Health Risks. Soil is an essential part of our ecosystem and plays a crucial role as a nutrient source, provides habitat for plants and other organisms. Overuse of antibiotics has accelerated the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). ARB and ARGs are recognized as emerging environmental contaminants causing soil pollution and serious risks to public health. ARB and ARGs are discharged into soils through several pathways. Application of manure in agriculture is one of the primary sources of ARB and ARGs dissemination in the soil. Different sources of contamination by ARB and ARGs were reviewed and analyzed as well as dissemination mechanisms in the soil. The effects of ARB and ARGs on soil bacterial community were evaluated. Furthermore, the impact of different sources of manure on soil microbial diversity as well as the effect of antibiotics on the development of ARB and ARGs in soils was analyzed. Human health risk assessments associated with the spreading of ARB and ARGs in soils were investigated. Finally, recommendations and mitigation strategies were proposed. | 2021 | 33948742 |
| 7431 | 1 | 0.9999 | Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Municipal Wastes: Is There Reason for Concern? Recently, there has been increased concern about the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARG), in treated domestic wastewaters, animal manures and municipal biosolids. The concern is whether these additional sources of ARB contribute to antibiotic resistance levels in the environment, that is, "environmental antibiotic resistance." ARB and ARG occur naturally in soil and water, and it remains unclear whether the introduction of ARB in liquid and solid municipal and animal wastes via land application have any significant impact on the background levels of antibiotic resistance in the environment, and whether they affect human exposure to ARB. In this current review, we examine and re-evaluate the incidence of ARB and ARG resulting from land application activities, and offer a new perspective on the threat of antibiotic resistance to public health via exposure from nonclinical environmental sources. Based on inputs of ARBs and ARGs from land application, their fate in soil due to soil microbial ecology principles, and background indigenous levels of ARBs and ARGs already present in soil, we conclude that while antibiotic resistance levels in soil are increased temporally by land application of wastes, their persistence is not guaranteed and is in fact variable, and often contradictory based on application site. Furthermore, the application of wastes may not produce the most direct impact of ARGs and ARB on public health. Further investigation is still warranted in agriculture and public health, including continued scrutiny of antibiotic use in both sectors. | 2018 | 29505255 |
| 6402 | 2 | 0.9999 | Livestock and poultry breeding farms as a fixed and underestimated source of antibiotic resistance genes. The excessive use of antibiotics, disinfectants, and drugs in livestock and poultry breeding has resulted in a rise in the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs have been widely found in animal feces, farm wastewater, and farm air. ARGs can not only spread across media through adsorption and migration, but also transfer resistance across bacterial genera through horizontal gene transfer. Livestock breeding has become a fixed and unavoidable source of ARGs in the environment. Existing technologies for controlling ARGs, such as composting, disinfection, and sewage treatment, are not efficient in removing ARB and ARGs from waste. Furthermore, the remaining ARGs still possess a strong capacity for dissemination. At present, antibiotics used in animal husbandry are difficult to replace in a short period of time. The growth and potential risks of resistance genes in livestock and poultry breeding sources in the receiving environment are not yet clear. In this paper, we summarize the current situation of ARGs in the livestock and poultry breeding environment. We also explain the key environmental processes, main influencing factors, and corresponding ecological risks associated with ARGs in this environment. The advantages and disadvantages of current technologies for the removal of ARGs are primarily discussed. There is a particular emphasis on clarifying the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and environmental process mechanisms of ARGs, as well as highlighting the importance and urgency of developing efficient pollution control technologies. | 2024 | 39052112 |
| 7505 | 3 | 0.9999 | A Review on the Degradation of Antibiotic Resistance Genes During Composting of Livestock Manure. As emerging pollutants, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been recognized as originating from diverse sources. Among these, the use of livestock feed and veterinary drugs was identified as the primary source of ARGs in livestock manure. ARGs were found to be widely distributed in global environments, particularly in agriculture-related soils, water bodies, and the atmosphere, posing potential threats to ecological environments and human health. This paper reviewed the degradation mechanisms of ARGs during aerobic composting of livestock manure and the safety evaluation of compost products. Aerobic composting was demonstrated to be an effective method for degrading ARGs, primarily through mechanisms such as high-temperature elimination of ARG-carrying microorganisms, reduction in host bacterial abundance, and inhibition of horizontal gene transfer. Factors including the physicochemical properties of the composting substrate, the use of additives, and the presence of antibiotic and heavy metal residues were shown to influence the degradation efficiency of ARGs, with compost temperature being the core factor. The safety of organic fertilizers encompassed multiple aspects, including heavy metal content, seed germination index, and risk assessments based on ARG residues. The analysis indicated that deficiencies existed in areas such as the persistence of thermotolerant bacteria carrying ARGs, the dissemination of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (eARGs), and virus-mediated gene transfer. Future research should focus on (1) the removal of thermotolerant bacteria harboring ARGs; (2) the decomposition of eARGs or the blocking of their transmission pathways; (3) the optimization of ultra-high temperature composting parameters; and (4) the analysis of interactions between viruses and resistant hosts. This study reviews the mechanisms, influencing factors, and safety assessment of aerobic composting for degrading ARGs in livestock manure. It not only deepens the understanding of this important environmental biotechnology process but also provides a crucial knowledge base and practical guidance for effectively controlling ARG pollution, ensuring agricultural environmental safety, and protecting public health. Additionally, it clearly outlines the key paths for future technological optimization, thus holding significant implications for the environment, agriculture, and public health. | 2025 | 40863943 |
| 7504 | 4 | 0.9999 | Contribution of antibiotics to the fate of antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic treatment processes of swine wastewater: A review. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in water environment have become a global health concern. Swine wastewater is widely considered to be one of the major contributors for promoting the proliferation of ARGs in water environments. This paper comprehensively reviews and discusses the occurrence and removal of ARGs in anaerobic treatment of swine wastewater, and contributions of antibiotics to the fate of ARGs. The results reveal that ARGs' removal is unstable during anaerobic processes, which negatively associated with the presence of antibiotics. The abundance of bacteria carrying ARGs increases with the addition of antibiotics and results in the spread of ARGs. The positive relationship was found between antibiotics and the abundance and transfer of ARGs in this review. However, it is necessary to understand the correlation among antibiotics, ARGs and microbial communities, and obtain more knowledge about controlling the dissemination of ARGs in the environment. | 2020 | 31917094 |
| 6415 | 5 | 0.9999 | Research progress on the origin, fate, impacts and harm of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plants. Previous studies reported microplastics (MPs), antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). There is still a lack of research progress on the origin, fate, impact and hazards of MPs and ARGs in WWTPs. This paper fills a gap in this regard. In our search, we used "microplastics", "antibiotic resistance genes", and "wastewater treatment plant" as topic terms in Web of Science, checking the returned results for relevance by examining paper titles and abstracts. This study mainly explores the following points: (1) the origins and fate of MPs, antibiotics and ARGs in WWTPs; (2) the mechanisms of action of MPs, antibiotics and ARGs in sludge biochemical pools; (3) the impacts of MPs in WWTPs and the spread of ARGs; (4) and the harm inflicted by MPs and ARGs on the environment and human body. Contaminants in sewage sludge such as MPs, ARGs, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria enter the soil and water. Contaminants can travel through the food chain and thus reach humans, leading to increased illness, hospitalization, and even mortality. This study will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of action among MPs, antibiotics, ARGs, and the harm they inflict on the human body. | 2024 | 38678134 |
| 6413 | 6 | 0.9999 | Interactions of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes and their effects on the aquaculture environments. Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have become the increasing attention and global research hotpots due to their unique ecological and environmental effects. As susceptible locations for MPs and ARGs, aquaculture environments play an important role in their enrichment and transformation. In this review, we focused on the MPs, ARGs, and the effects of their interactions on the aquaculture environments. The facts that antibiotics have been widely applied in different kinds of agricultural productions (e.g., aquaculture) and that most of antibiotics enter the water environment with rainfall and residual in the aquaculture environment have been resulting in the emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB). Moreover, the water MPs are effective carriers of the environmental microbes and ARB, making them likely to be continuously imported into the aquaculture environments. As a result, the formation of the compound pollutions may also enter the aquatic organisms through the food chains and eventually enter the human body after a long-term enrichment. Furthermore, the compound pollutions result in the joint toxic effects on the human health and the ecological environment. In summary, this review aims to emphasize the ecological effects and the potential hazards on the aquaculture environments where interactions between MPs and ARGs results, and calls for to reduce the use of the plastic products and the antibiotics in the aquaculture environments. | 2021 | 33265004 |
| 6414 | 7 | 0.9999 | Microplastic biofilms in water treatment systems: Fate and risks of pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes. Microplastics (MPs) biofilms in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants (DWTPs and WWTPs) have gained increasing attention due to their potential to come into close contact with humans. This review examines the fate of pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in MP biofilms and their impacts on operations in DWTPs and WWTPs, as well as the associated microbial risks for ecology and human health. The literature shows that pathogenic bacteria, ARBs, and ARGs with high resistance can persist on MP surfaces and may escape treatment plants, contaminating drinking and receiving water. Nine potential pathogens, ARB, and ARGs can be retained in DWTPs and sixteen in WWTPs. While MP biofilms can improve the removal of MPs themselves, as well as the associated heavy metals and antibiotic compounds, they can also induce biofouling, hinder the effectiveness of chlorination and ozonation, and cause the formation of disinfection by-products. Furthermore, the operation-resistant pathogenic bacteria, ARB, and ARGs on MPs may have adverse impacts on receiving ecosystems, as well as human health, including a range of human diseases, from skin infections to pneumonia and meningitis. Given the significant implications of MP biofilms for aquatic ecosystems and human health, further research is necessary on the disinfection resistance of microbial populations in MP biofilm. This study provides valuable insights into the comprehensive understanding of the changes of MP biofilms in water and wastewater treatment systems as well as their impacts on ecology and human health. | 2023 | 37268132 |
| 6816 | 8 | 0.9999 | The impact of microplastics on antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, and bacterial community in aquaculture environment. Microplastics are emerging contaminants. However, their effects on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), metal resistance genes (MRGs), and the structure and abundance of bacterial communities, particularly pathogens, in aquaculture environments remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of microplastics of different sizes on the abundance and distribution of ARGs, MRGs, and bacterial communities in aquaculture environments. The results revealed that, compared with pond water, large microplastics harbored significantly higher ARG abundances, particularly for multidrug-resistant genes; notably, level-I- and -II-risk ARGs were more prevalent on microplastics, highlighting the potential for horizontal gene transfer. Microplastics also exhibited a propensity to aggregate pathogenic bacteria such as Brucella and Pseudomonas, which could pose direct risks to aquatic product safety and public health. Network and differential network analyses revealed significant correlations between bacterial genera and ARG/MRG abundance, particularly on microplastics. Therefore, our findings suggest that microplastics act as vectors for the spread of ARGs, MRGs, and pathogens in aquaculture, potentially leading to the formation of complexes of these materials that threaten ecosystem health and human well-being. This study provides critical insights into the need for targeted management strategies to mitigate microplastic pollution in aquaculture settings. | 2025 | 39987738 |
| 7433 | 9 | 0.9999 | Manure as a Potential Hotspot for Antibiotic Resistance Dissemination by Horizontal Gene Transfer Events. The increasing demand for animal-derived foods has led to intensive and large-scale livestock production with the consequent formation of large amounts of manure. Livestock manure is widely used in agricultural practices as soil fertilizer worldwide. However, several antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria are frequently detected in manure and manure-amended soils. This review explores the role of manure in the persistence and dissemination of ARGs in the environment, analyzes the procedures used to decrease antimicrobial resistance in manure and the potential impact of manure application in public health. We highlight that manure shows unique features as a hotspot for antimicrobial gene dissemination by horizontal transfer events: richness in nutrients, a high abundance and diversity of bacteria populations and antibiotic residues that may exert a selective pressure on bacteria and trigger gene mobilization; reduction methodologies are able to reduce the concentrations of some, but not all, antimicrobials and microorganisms. Conjugation events are often seen in the manure environment, even after composting. Antibiotic resistance is considered a growing threat to human, animal and environmental health. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce the amount of antimicrobials and the load of antimicrobial resistant bacteria that end up in soil. | 2020 | 32823495 |
| 7506 | 10 | 0.9999 | Risk assessment and dissemination mechanism of antibiotic resistance genes in compost. In recent years, the excessive of antibiotics in livestock and poultry husbandry, stemming from extensive industry experience, has resulted in the accumulation of residual antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in livestock manure. Composting, as a crucial approach for the utilization of manure resources, has the potential to reduce the levels of antibiotics and ARGs in manure, although complete elimination is challenging. Previous studies have primarily focused on the diversity and abundance of ARGs in compost or have solely examined the correlation between ARGs and their carriers, potentially leading to a misjudgment of the actual risk associated with ARGs in compost. To address this gap, this study investigated the transfer potential of ARGs in compost and their co-occurrence with opportunistic pathogenic bacteria by extensively analyzing metagenomic sequencing data of compost worldwide. The results demonstrated that the potential risk of ARGs in compost was significantly lower than in manure, suggesting that composting effectively reduces the risk of ARGs. Further analysis showed that the microbes shifted their life history strategy in manure and compost due to antibiotic pressure and formed metabolic interactions dominated by antibiotic-resistant microbes, increasing ARG dissemination frequency. Therefore, husbandry practice without antibiotic addition was recommended to control ARG evolution, dissemination, and abatement both at the source and throughout processing. | 2023 | 37562342 |
| 6394 | 11 | 0.9999 | Potential Environmental and Human Health Risks Caused by Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (ARB), Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) and Emerging Contaminants (ECs) from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill. The disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) directly at landfills or open dump areas, without segregation and treatment, is a significant concern due to its hazardous contents of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and metal resistance genes (MGEs). The released leachate from landfills greatly effects the soil physicochemical, biological, and groundwater properties associated with agricultural activity and human health. The abundance of ARB, ARGs, and MGEs have been reported worldwide, including MSW landfill sites, animal husbandry, wastewater, groundwater, soil, and aerosol. This review elucidates the occurrence and abundance of ARB, ARGs, and MRGs, which are regarded as emerging contaminants (ECs). Recently, ECs have received global attention because of their prevalence in leachate as a substantial threat to environmental and public health, including an economic burden for developing nations. The present review exclusively discusses the demands to develop a novel eco-friendly management strategy to combat these global issues. This review also gives an intrinsic discussion about the insights of different aspects of environmental and public health concerns caused due to massive leachate generation, the abundance of antibiotics resistance (AR), and the effects of released leachate on the various environmental reservoirs and human health. Furthermore, the current review throws light on the source and fate of different ECs of landfill leachate and their possible impact on the nearby environments (groundwater, surface water, and soil) affecting human health. The present review strongly suggests the demand for future research focuses on the advancement of the removal efficiency of contaminants with the improvement of relevant landfill management to reduce the potential effects of disposable waste. We propose the necessity of the identification and monitoring of potential environmental and human health risks associated with landfill leachate contaminants. | 2021 | 33915892 |
| 6401 | 12 | 0.9999 | Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in landfills: A review. Landfill are important reservoirs of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). They harbor diverse contaminants, such as heavy metals and persistent organic chemicals, complex microbial consortia, and anaerobic degradation processes, which facilitate the occurrence, development, and transfer of ARGs and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). The main concern is that antibiotics and developed ARGs and ARB may transfer to the local environment via leachate and landfill leakage. In this paper, we provide an overview of established studies on antibiotics and ARGs in landfills, summarize the origins and distribution of antibiotics and ARGs, discuss the linkages among various antibiotics, ARGs, and bacterial communities as well as the influencing factors of ARGs, and evaluate the current treatment processes of antibiotics and ARGs. Finally, future research is proposed to fill the current knowledge gaps, which include mechanisms for the development and transmission of antibiotic resistance, as well as efficient treatment approaches for antibiotic resistance. | 2022 | 34597560 |
| 6977 | 13 | 0.9999 | Tracking virulence genes and their interaction with antibiotic resistome during manure fertilization. Antibiotic resistance genes, collectively termed as antibiotic resistome, are regarded as emerging contaminants. Antibiotics resistome can be highly variable in different environments, imposing environmental safety concern and public health risk when it is in conjunction with pathogenic bacteria. However, it remains elusive how pathogenic bacteria interact with antibiotic resistome, making it challenging to assess microbial risk. Here, we examined the presence and relative abundance of bacterial virulence genes representing potential pathogens in swine manure, compost, compost-amended soil, and unamended agricultural soil in five suburban areas of Beijing, China. The absolute abundances of virulence genes were marginally significantly (p < 0.100) increased in compost-amended soils than unamended soil, revealing potential health risks in manure fertilization. The composition of potential pathogens differed by sample types and was linked to temperature, antibiotics, and heavy metals. As antibiotics can confer pathogens the resistance to clinic treatment, it was alarming to note that virulence genes tended to co-exist with antibiotic resistance genes, as shown by prevalently positive links among them. Collectively, our results demonstrate that manure fertilization in agriculture might give rise to the development of potentially antibiotic-resistant pathogens, unveiling an environmental health risk that has been frequently overlooked. | 2022 | 35810986 |
| 6431 | 14 | 0.9999 | The dynamics and transmission of antibiotic resistance associated with plant microbiomes. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been widely found and studied in soil and water environments. However, the propagation of ARGs in plant microbiomes has attracted insufficient attention. Plant microbiomes, especially the rhizosphere microorganisms, are closely connected with water, soil, and air, which allows ARGs to spread widely in ecosystems and pose a threat to human health after entering the human body with bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to deeply understand and explore the dynamics and the transmission of ARGs in rhizosphere microorganisms and endophytes of plants. In this review, the transmission and influencing factors of ARGs in the microorganisms associated with plants, especially the influence of root exudates on plant microbiomes, are analyzed. Notably, the role of intrinsic genes of plants in determining root exudates and their potential effects on ARGs are proposed and analyzed. The important role of phyllosphere microorganisms and endophytes in the transmission of ARGs and co-resistance of antibiotics and other substances are also emphasized. The proliferation and transmission of ARGs associated with plant microbiomes addressed in this review is conducive to revealing the fate of ARGs in plant microorganisms and alleviating ARG pollution. | 2023 | 37257204 |
| 6399 | 15 | 0.9999 | Research progress on distribution, migration, transformation of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environment. Antimicrobial and antibiotics resistance caused by misuse or overuse of antibiotics exposure is a growing and significant threat to global public health. The spread and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) by the selective pressure of antibiotics in an aquatic environment is a major public health issue. To develop a better understanding of potential ecological risks die to antibiotics and ARGs, this study mainly summarizes research progress about: (i) the occurrence, concentration, fate, and potential ecological effects of antibiotics and ARGs in various aquatic environments, (ii) the threat, spread, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs, and (iii) the relationship between antibiotics, ARGs, and ARB. Finally, this review also proposes future research direction on antibiotics and ARGs. | 2018 | 29807455 |
| 6510 | 16 | 0.9999 | Antibiotic Resistance in Minimally Human-Impacted Environments. Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) have become contaminants of concern in environmental systems. Studies investigating environmental ARB have primarily focused on environments that are greatly impacted by anthropogenic activity. Background concentrations of ARB in natural environments is not well understood. This review summarizes the current literature on the monitoring of ARB and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environments less impacted by human activity. Both ARB and ARGs have been detected on the Antarctic continent, on isolated glaciers, and in remote alpine environments. The methods for detecting and quantifying ARB and ARGs from the environment are not standardized and warrant optimization. Further research should be focused on the detection and quantification of ARB and ARGs along human gradients to better characterize the factors leading to their dissemination in remote environments. | 2020 | 32498349 |
| 6496 | 17 | 0.9999 | Strategies to Combat Antibiotic Resistance in the Wastewater Treatment Plants. The main goal of this manuscript is to review different treatment strategies and mechanisms for combating the antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) in the wastewater environment. The high amount of antibiotics is released into the wastewater that may promote selection of ARB and ARGs which find their way into natural environments. Emerging microbial pathogens and increasing antibiotic resistance among them is a global public health issue. The propagation and spread of ARB and ARGs in the environment may result in an increase of antibiotic resistant microbial pathogens which is a worldwide environmental and public health concern. A proper treatment of wastewater is essential before its discharge into rivers, lake, or sewage system to prevent the spread of ARB and ARGs into the environment. This review discusses various treatment options applied for combating the spread of ARB and ARGs in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). It was reported that low-energy anaerobic-aerobic treatment reactors, constructed wetlands, and disinfection processes have shown good removal efficiencies. Nanomaterials and biochar combined with other treatment methods and coagulation process are very recent strategies regarding ARB and ARGs removal and need more investigation and research. Based on current studies a wide-ranging removal efficiency of ARGs can be achieved depending on the type of genes present and treatment processes used, still, there are gaps that need to be further investigated. In order to find solutions to control dissemination of antibiotic resistance in the environment, it is important to (1) study innovative strategies in large scale and over a long time to reach an actual evaluation, (2) develop risk assessment studies to precisely understand occurrence and abundance of ARB/ARGs so that their potential risks to human health can be determined, and (3) consider operating and environmental factors that affect the efficiency of each treatment mechanism. | 2017 | 29387043 |
| 7432 | 18 | 0.9999 | Exploring the Animal Waste Resistome: The Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Through the Use of Livestock Manure. Antibiotic resistance is a public health problem of growing concern. Animal manure application to soil is considered to be a main cause of the propagation and dissemination of antibiotic residues, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the soil-water system. In recent decades, studies on the impact of antibiotic-contaminated manure on soil microbiomes have increased exponentially, in particular for taxonomical diversity and ARGs' diffusion. Antibiotic resistance genes are often located on mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Horizontal transfer of MGEs toward a broad range of bacteria (pathogens and human commensals included) has been identified as the main cause for their persistence and dissemination. Chemical and bio-sanitizing treatments reduce the antibiotic load and ARB. Nevertheless, effects of these treatments on the persistence of resistance genes must be carefully considered. This review analyzed the most recent research on antibiotic and ARG environmental dissemination conveyed by livestock waste. Strategies to control ARG dissemination and antibiotic persistence were reviewed with the aim to identify methods for monitoring DNA transferability and environmental conditions promoting such diffusion. | 2020 | 32793126 |
| 6432 | 19 | 0.9999 | Antibiotic resistance genes in the coastal atmosphere under varied weather conditions: Distribution, influencing factors, and transmission mechanisms. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have escalated to levels of concern worldwide as emerging environmental pollutants. Increasing evidence suggests that non-antibiotic antimicrobial substances expedite the spread of ARGs. However, the drivers and mechanisms involved in the generation and spread of ARGs in the atmosphere remain inadequately elucidated. Co-occurrence networks, mantel test analysis, and partial least squares path modeling were used to analyze the symbiotic relationships of ARGs with meteorological conditions, atmospheric pollutants, water-soluble inorganic ions, bacteria, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), antibacterial biocide and metal resistance genes, and to identify the direct drivers of ARGs. The types and abundance of ARGs exhibited different seasonal distribution. Specifically, the types exhibited a strong alignment with the diversity of air masses terrestrial sources, while the abundance displayed a significant positive correlation with both biocide resistance genes (BRGs) and metal resistance genes (MRGs). The contribution of bacterial communities and MGEs to the generation and spread of ARGs was constrained by the low levels of antibiotics in the atmosphere and the existence of "viral intermediates". Conversely, antibacterial biocides and metals influenced mutation rates, cellular SOS responses, and oxidative stress of bacteria, consequently facilitating the generation and spread of ARGs. Moreover, the co-selection among their derivatives, resistance genes, ensured a stable presence of ARGs. The research highlighted the significant impact of residual antimicrobial substances on both the generation and spread of ARGs. Elucidating the sources of aerosols and the co-selection mechanism linking with ARGs, BRGs, and MRGs were crucial for preserving the stability of ARGs in the atmosphere. | 2025 | 39824332 |