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678700.8702Impact of chlorine disinfection on intracellular and extracellular antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater treatment and water reclamation. Wastewater treatment plants and water reclamation facilities are reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). These ARGs are not limited solely to intracellular DNA (inARGs) but include extracellular DNA (exARGs) present in wastewater. The release of exARGs from cells can be exacerbated by treatment processes, including chlorine disinfection, which disrupts bacterial cells. Given the potential for exARGs to drive horizontal gene transfer and contribute to the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance, it is imperative to recognize these fractions as emerging environmental pollutants. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive year-long assessment of both inARGs and exARGs, further differentiating between dissolved exARGs (Dis_exARGs) and exARGs adsorbed onto particulate matter (Ads_exARGs), within a full-scale wastewater treatment and water reclamation facility. The results revealed that Ads_exARGs comprised up to 30 % of the total ARGs in raw sewage with high biomass content. Generally, treatments at low and high doses of chlorine increased the abundance of Dis_exARGs and Ads_exARGs. The fate of ARG levels that varied depending on the type of ARGs suggested variations in the susceptibility of the host bacteria to chlorination. Moreover, co-occurrence of several potential opportunistic pathogenic bacteria and ARGs were observed. Therefore, we propose higher doses of chlorination as a prerequisite for the effective removal of inARGs and exARGs.202439067603
705510.8540Characterization of antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial community in selected municipal and industrial sewage treatment plants beside Poyang Lake. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are significant reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). Municipal STPs (MSTPs) and industrial STPs (ISTPs) are the two most important STP types in cities. In this study, the ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and bacterial communities of selected STPs, including two MSTPs and one ISTP, in the vicinity of Poyang Lake were comprehensively investigated through high-throughput qPCR and high-throughput Illumina sequencing. The results showed that the profiles of ARGs, MGEs and bacteria differed between the ISTP and the two MSTPs, most likely due to differences in influent water quality, such as the Pb that characterized in the ISTP's influent. The longer hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of the two MSTPs than of the ISTP may also have accounted for the different profiles. Thus, a prolonged HRT in the CASS process seems to allow a more extensive removal of ARGs and bacteria in ISTPs with similar treatment process. By providing comprehensive insights into the characteristics of ARGs, MGEs and the bacterial communities of the selected MSTPs and ISTP, our study provides a scientific basis for controlling the propagation and diffusion of ARGs and ARB in different types of STPs.202032092547
842220.8540Slightly beneficial genes are retained by bacteria evolving DNA uptake despite selfish elements. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and gene loss result in rapid changes in the gene content of bacteria. While HGT aids bacteria to adapt to new environments, it also carries risks such as selfish genetic elements (SGEs). Here, we use modelling to study how HGT of slightly beneficial genes impacts growth rates of bacterial populations, and if bacterial collectives can evolve to take up DNA despite selfish elements. We find four classes of slightly beneficial genes: indispensable, enrichable, rescuable, and unrescuable genes. Rescuable genes - genes with small fitness benefits that are lost from the population without HGT - can be collectively retained by a community that engages in costly HGT. While this 'gene-sharing' cannot evolve in well-mixed cultures, it does evolve in a spatial population like a biofilm. Despite enabling infection by harmful SGEs, the uptake of foreign DNA is evolutionarily maintained by the hosts, explaining the coexistence of bacteria and SGEs.202032432548
679230.8538Parity in bacterial communities and resistomes: Microplastic and natural organic particles in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Petroleum-based microplastic particles (MPs) are carriers of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments, influencing the selection and spread of antimicrobial resistance. This research characterized MP and natural organic particle (NOP) bacterial communities and resistomes in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a region impacted by plastic pollution and climate change. MP and NOP bacterial communities were similar but different from the free-living planktonic communities. Likewise, MP and NOP ARG abundances were similar but different (higher) from the planktonic communities. MP and NOP metagenome-assembled genomes contained ARGs associated with mobile genetic elements and exhibited co-occurrence with metal resistance genes. Overall, these findings show that MPs and NOPs harbor potential pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria, which can aid in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Further, petroleum-based MPs do not represent novel ecological niches for allochthonous bacteria; rather, they synergize with NOPs, collectively facilitating the spread of antimicrobial resistance in marine ecosystems.202438759465
540.8536GmRAR1 and GmSGT1 are required for basal, R gene-mediated and systemic acquired resistance in soybean. RAR1, SGT1, and HSP90 are important components of effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in diverse plants, where RAR1 and SGT1 are thought to serve as HSP90 co-chaperones. We show that ETI in soybean requires RAR1 and SGT1 but not HSP90. Rsv1-mediated extreme resistance to Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and Rpg-1b-mediated resistance to Pseudomonas syringae were compromised in plants silenced for GmRAR1 and GmSGT1-2 but not GmHSP90. This suggests that RAR1- or SGT1-dependant signaling is not always associated with a dependence on HSP90. Unlike in Arabidopsis, SGT1 in soybean also mediates ETI against the bacterial pathogen P. syringae. Similar to Arabidopsis, soybean RAR1 and SGT1 proteins interact with each other and two related HSP90 proteins. Plants silenced for GmHSP90 genes or GmRAR1 exhibited altered morphology, suggesting that these proteins also contribute to developmental processes. Silencing GmRAR1 and GmSGT1-2 impaired resistance to virulent bacteria and systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in soybean as well. Because the Arabidopsis rar1 mutant also showed a defect in SAR, we conclude that RAR1 and SGT1 serve as a point of convergence for basal resistance, ETI, and SAR. We demonstrate that, although soybean defense signaling pathways recruit structurally conserved components, they have distinct requirements for specific proteins.200919061405
854550.8532Role of anaerobic sludge digestion in handling antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes - A review. Currently, anaerobic sludge digestion (ASD) is considered not only for treating residual sewage sludge and energy recovery but also for the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The current review highlights the reasons why antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs exist in ASD and how ASD performs in the reduction of ARB and ARGs. ARGs and ARB have been detected in ASD with some reports indicating some of the ARGs can be completely removed during the ASD process, while other studies reported the enrichment of ARB and ARGs after ASD. This paper reviews the performance of ASD based on operational parameters as well as environmental chemistry. More studies are needed to improve the performance of ASD in reducing ARGs that are difficult to handle and also differentiate between extracellular (eARGs) and intracellular ARGs (iARGs) to achieve more accurate quantification of the ARGs.202133735726
660.8517YprA family helicases provide the missing link between diverse prokaryotic immune systems. Bacteria and archaea possess an enormous variety of antivirus immune systems that often share homologous proteins and domains, some of which contribute to diverse defense strategies. YprA family helicases are central to widespread defense systems DISARM, Dpd, and Druantia. Here, through comprehensive phylogenetic and structural prediction analysis of the YprA family, we identify several major, previously unrecognized clades, with unique signatures of domain architecture and associations with other genes. Each YprA family clade defines a distinct class of defense systems, which we denote ARMADA (disARM-related Antiviral Defense Array), BRIGADE (Base hypermodification and Restriction Involving Genes encoding ARMADA-like and Dpd-like Effectors), or TALON (TOTE-like and ARMADA-Like Operon with Nuclease). In addition to the YprA-like helicase, ARMADA systems share two more proteins with DISARM. However, ARMADA YprA homologs are most similar to those of Druantia, suggesting ARMADA is a 'missing link' connecting DISARM and Druantia. We show experimentally that ARMADA protects bacteria against a broad range of phages via a direct, non-abortive mechanism. We also discovered multiple families of satellite phage-like mobile genetic elements that often carry both ARMADA and Druantia Type III systems and show that these can provide synergistic resistance against diverse phages.202541000832
470.8516Bacteria deplete deoxynucleotides to defend against bacteriophage infection. DNA viruses and retroviruses consume large quantities of deoxynucleotides (dNTPs) when replicating. The human antiviral factor SAMHD1 takes advantage of this vulnerability in the viral lifecycle, and inhibits viral replication by degrading dNTPs into their constituent deoxynucleosides and inorganic phosphate. Here, we report that bacteria use a similar strategy to defend against bacteriophage infection. We identify a family of defensive bacterial deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) deaminase proteins that convert dCTP into deoxyuracil nucleotides in response to phage infection. We also identify a family of phage resistance genes that encode deoxyguanosine triphosphatase (dGTPase) enzymes, which degrade dGTP into phosphate-free deoxyguanosine and are distant homologues of human SAMHD1. Our results suggest that bacterial defensive proteins deplete specific deoxynucleotides (either dCTP or dGTP) from the nucleotide pool during phage infection, thus starving the phage of an essential DNA building block and halting its replication. Our study shows that manipulation of the dNTP pool is a potent antiviral strategy shared by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.202235817891
793580.8514Removal of antibiotic resistance genes by Cl(2)-UV process: Direct UV damage outweighs free radicals in effectiveness. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) pose significant environmental health problems and have become a major global concern. This study investigated the efficacy and mechanism of the Cl(2)-UV process (chlorine followed by UV irradiation) for removing ARGs in various forms. The Cl(2)-UV process caused irreversible damage to nearly all ARB at typical disinfectant dosages. In solutions containing only extracellular ARGs (eARGs), the Cl₂-UV process achieved over 99.0 % degradation of eARGs. When both eARGs and intracellular ARGs (iARGs) were present, the process reached a 97.2 % removal rate for iARGs. While the abundance of eARGs initially increased due to the release of iARGs from lysed cells during pre-chlorination, subsequent UV irradiation rapidly degraded the released eARGs, restoring their abundance to near-initial levels by the end of the Cl₂-UV process. Analysis of the roles in degrading eARGs and iARGs during the Cl(2)-UV process revealed that UV, rather than free radicals, was the dominant factor causing ARG damage. Pre-chlorination enhanced direct UV damage to eARGs and iARGs by altering plasmid conformation and promoting efficient damage to high UV-absorbing cellular components. Furthermore, no further natural transformation of residual ARGs occurred following the Cl(2)-UV treatment. This study demonstrated strong evidence for the effectiveness of the Cl(2)-UV process in controlling antibiotic resistance.202540048777
787190.8511Effects of different quaternary ammonium compounds on intracellular and extracellular resistance genes in nitrification systems under the pre-contamination of benzalkyl dimethylammonium compounds. As the harm of benzalkyl dimethylammonium compounds (BACs) on human health and environment was discovered, alkyltrimethyl ammonium compound (ATMAC) and dialkyldimethyl ammonium compound (DADMAC), which belong to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), were likely to replace BACs as the main disinfectants. This study simulated the iterative use of QACs to explore their impact on resistance genes (RGs) in nitrification systems pre-contaminated by BACs. ATMAC could initiate and maintain partial nitrification. DADMAC generated higher levels of reactive oxygen species and lactate dehydrogenase, leading to increased biological toxicity in bacteria. The abundance of intracellular RGs of sludge was higher with the stress of QACs. DADMAC also induced higher extracellular polymeric substance secretion. Moreover, it facilitated the transfer of RGs from sludge to water, with ATMAC disseminating RGs through si-tnpA-04 and DADMAC through si-intI1. Sediminibacterium might be potential hosts for RGs. This study offered insights into disinfectant usage in the post-COVID-19 era.202539612960
6793100.8510Interplays between cyanobacterial blooms and antibiotic resistance genes. Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), which are a form of microbial dysbiosis in freshwater environments, are an emerging environmental and public health concern. Additionally, the freshwater environment serves as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose a risk of transmission during microbial dysbiosis, such as cyanoHABs. However, the interactions between potential synergistic pollutants, cyanoHABs, and ARGs remain poorly understood. During cyanoHABs, Microcystis and high microcystin levels were dominant in all the nine regions of the river sampled. The resistome, mobilome, and microbiome were interrelated and linked to the physicochemical properties of freshwater. Planktothrix and Pseudanabaena competed with Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria during cyanoHABs. Forty two ARG carriers were identified, most of which belonged to Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria. ARG carriers showed a strong correlation with ARGs density, which decreased with the severity of cyanoHAB. Although ARGs decreased due to a reduction of ARG carriers during cyanoHABs, mobile gene elements (MGEs) and virulence factors (VFs) genes increased. We explored the relationship between cyanoHABs and ARGs for potential synergistic interaction. Our findings demonstrated that cyanobacteria compete with freshwater commensal bacteria such as Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, which carry ARGs in freshwater, resulting in a reduction of ARGs levels. Moreover, cyanoHABs generate biotic and abiotic stress in the freshwater microbiome, which may lead to an increase in MGEs and VFs. Exploration of the intricate interplays between microbiome, resistome, mobilome, and pathobiome during cyanoHABs not only revealed that the mechanisms underlying the dynamics of microbial dysbiosis but also emphasizes the need to prioritize the prevention of microbial dysbiosis in the risk management of ARGs.202337897871
6909110.8508Effect of meddling ARBs on ARGs dynamics in fungal infested soil and their selective dispersal along spatially distant mycelial networks. During the recent times, environmental antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their potential transfer to other bacterial hosts of pathogenic importance are of serious concern. However, the dissemination strategies of such ARGs are largely unknown. We tested that saprotrophic soil fungi differentially enriched antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARBs) and subsequently contributed in spatial distribution of selective ARGs. Wafergen qPCR analysis of 295 different ARGs was conducted for manure treated pre-sterilized soil incubated or not with selected bacterial-fungal consortia. The qPCR assay detected unique ARGs specifically found in the mycosphere of ascomycetous and basidiomycetous fungi. Both fungi exerted potentially different selection pressures on ARBs, resulting in different patterns of ARGs dissemination (to distant places) along their respective growing fungal highways. The relative abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was significantly decreased along fungal highways compared to the respective inoculation points. Moreover, the decrease in MGEs and ARGs (along fungal highways) was more prominent over time which depicts the continuous selection pressure of growing fungi on ARBs for enrichment of particular ARGs in mycosphere. Such data also indicate the potential role of saprotrophic soil fungi to facilitate horizontal gene transfer within mycospheric environmental settings. Our study, therefore, advocates to emphasize the future investigations for such (bacteria-fungal) interactive microbial consortia for potential (spatial) dissemination of resistance determinants which may ultimately increase the exposure risks of ARGs.202438992349
6934120.8508Impact of protist predation on bacterial community traits in river sediments. Sediment-associated microbial communities are pivotal in driving biogeochemical processes and serve as key indicators of ecosystem health and function. However, the ecological impact of protist predation on these microbial communities remains poorly understood. Here, sediment microcosms were established with varying concentrations of indigenous protists. Results revealed that protist predation exerted strong and differential effects on the bacterial community composition, functional capabilities, and antibiotic resistance profiles. Higher levels of protist predation pressure increased bacterial alpha diversity and relative abundance of genera associated with carbon and nitrogen cycling, such as Fusibacter, Methyloversatilis, Azospirillum, and Holophaga. KEGG analysis indicated that protist predation stimulated microbial processes related to the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. Notably, the relative abundance and associated health risks of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factor genes (VFGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were affected by predation pressure. Medium protist predation pressure increased the relative abundance and potential risks associated with ARGs, whereas high protist concentrations led to a reduction in both, likely due to a decrease in the relative abundance of ARG-hosting pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Aeromonas. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the dynamics of bacterial communities under protist predation in river sediment ecosystems.202540885182
6788130.8507Release and Constancy of an Antibiotic Resistance Gene in Seawater under Grazing Stress by Ciliates and Heterotrophic Nanoflagellates. Extracellular DNA (exDNA) is released from bacterial cells through various processes. The antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) coded on exDNA may be horizontally transferred among bacterial communities by natural transformation. We quantitated the released/leaked tetracycline resistance gene, tet(M) over time under grazing stress by ciliates and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs), and found that extracellular tet(M) (ex-tetM) increased with bacterial grazing. Separate microcosms containing tet(M)-possessing bacteria with ciliates or HNFs were prepared. The copy number of ex-tetM in seawater in the ciliate microcosm rapidly increased until 3 d after the incubation, whereas that in the HNF microcosm showed a slower increase until 20 d. The copy number of ex-tetM was stable in both cases throughout the incubation period, suggesting that extracellular ARGs are preserved in the environment, even in the presence of grazers. Additionally, ARGs in bacterial cells were constant in the presence of grazers. These results suggest that ARGs are not rapidly extinguished in a marine environment under grazing stress.201728592722
6396140.8505Interaction between microplastic biofilm formation and antibiotics: Effect of microplastic biofilm and its driving mechanisms on antibiotic resistance gene. As two pollutants with similar transport pathways, microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics (ATs) inevitably co-exist in water environments, and their interaction has become a topic of intense research interest for scholars over the past few years. This paper comprehensively and systematically reviews the current interaction between MPs and ATs, in particular, the role played by biofilm developed MPs (microplastic biofilm). A summary of the formation process of microplastic biofilm and its unique microbial community structure is presented in the paper. The formation of microplastic biofilm can enhance the adsorption mechanisms of ATs on primary MPs. Moreover, microplastic biofilm system is a diverse and vast reservoir of genetic material, and this paper reviews the mechanisms by which microplastics with biofilm drive the production of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the processes that selectively enrich for more ARGs. Meanwhile, the enrichment of ARGs may lead to the development of microbial resistance and the gradual loss of the antimicrobial effect of ATs. The transfer pathways of ARGs affected by microplastic biofilm are outlined, and ARGs dependent transfer of antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) is mainly through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Furthermore, the ecological implications of the interaction between microplastic biofilm and ATs and perspectives for future research are reviewed. This review contributes to a new insight into the aquatic ecological environmental risks and the fate of contaminants (MPs, ATs), and is of great significance for controlling the combined pollution of these two pollutants.202337517232
8734150.8505Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis, Folium Artemisiae argyi, and Galla Chinensis on the protein expression and resistance genes of Exiguobacterium sp. in response to gentamicin. Currently, the issue of antibiotic resistance genes as emerging pollutants in the environment has attracted significant attention in the field of environmental pollution research. Moreover, plant-derived compounds has become a research hotspot due to its high efficiency and low toxicity in reversing microbial intracellular antibiotic resistance genes. However, there is little research on the impact of specific plant extracts on proteins and antibiotic resistance genes during the process of reversing antibiotic resistance genes. In this study, the phosphorus removal performance test, combined with protein Raman spectroscopy analysis and antibiotic resistance gene abundance detection methods, was employed to investigate the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis, Folium Artemisiae argyi, and Galla Chinensis on the phosphorus removal rate, intracellular protein binding sites, and antibiotic resistance gene abundance of Exiguobacterium sp. after exposure to gentamicin. The Raman spectroscopy test results revealed a shift in the protein peaks of Exiguobacterium sp., transitioning from the stable C = C = C = C, C = C, C = C = C structures found in drug-resistant Exiguobacterium sp. to unsaturated bonds of C, CH(2), olefinic unsaturation, and H bonds, similar to those of normal Exiguobacterium sp. Furthermore, the antibiotic resistance gene abundance test results indicated a significant reduction in the abundance of gentamicin resistance genes within the intracellular environment of Exiguobacterium sp. following treatment with these plant extracts. The potential roles of flavonoids in Scutellaria baicalensis and Folium Artemisiae argyi, and tannins in Galla Chinensis in reversing resistance were discussed.202540721471
8128160.8504Recognize and assessment of key host humic-reducing microorganisms of antibiotic resistance genes in different biowastes composts. Humic-reducing microorganisms (HRMs) can utilize humic substance as terminal electron mediator promoting the bioremediation of contaminate, which is ubiquitous in composts. However, the impacts of HRMs on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in composts and different HRMs community composition following the types of biowastes effected the spread of ARGs have not been investigated. Herein, the dynamics and mobility of ARGs and HRMs during protein-, lignocellulose- and lignin-rich composting were investigated. Result show that ARGs change significantly at the thermophilic phase, and the relative abundance of most ARGs increase during composting. Seven groups of HRMs communities are classified as primary host HRMs of ARGs, and most host HRMs groups from protein-rich composts. Conclusively, regulating methods for inhibiting ARGs spread for different composts are proposed. HRMs show a higher ARGs dissemination capacity in protein-rich composts than lignocellulose- and lignin-rich composts, but the spread of ARGs can be inhibited by regulate physicochemical parameters in protein-rich composts. In contrary, most HRMs have inhibitory effects on ARGs spread in lignocellulose- and lignin-rich composts, and those HRMs can be used as a new agent that inhibits the spread of ARGs. Our results can help in understanding the potential risk spread of ARGs by inoculating functional bacteria derived from different biowastes composts for environmental remediation, given their expected importance to developing a classification-oriented approach for composting different biowastes.202234600985
7350170.8503The vertical distribution of tetA and intI1 in a deep lake is rather due to sedimentation than to resuspension. Lakes are exposed to anthropogenic pollution including the release of allochthonous bacteria into their waters. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) stabilize in bacterial communities of temperate lakes, and these environments act as long-term reservoirs of ARGs. Still, it is not clear if the stabilization of the ARGs is caused by a periodical introduction, or by other factors regulated by dynamics within the water column. Here we observed the dynamics of the tetracycline resistance gene (tetA) and of the class 1 integron integrase gene intI1 a proxy of anthropogenic pollution in the water column and in the sediments of subalpine Lake Maggiore, together with several chemical, physical and microbiological variables. Both genes resulted more abundant within the bacterial community of the sediment compared to the water column and the water-sediment interface. Only at the inset of thermal stratification they reached quantifiable abundances in all the water layers, too. Moreover, the bacterial communities of the water-sediment interface were more similar to deep waters than to the sediments. These results suggest that the vertical distribution of tetA and intI1 is mainly due to the deposition of bacteria from the surface water to the sediment, while their resuspension from the sediment is less important.202031926010
8640180.8502Comparative genomics reveals the acquisition of mobile genetic elements by the plant growth-promoting Pantoea eucrina OB49 in polluted environments. Heavy metal-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have gained popularity in bioremediation in recent years. A genome-assisted study of a heavy metal-tolerant PGPB Pantoea eucrina OB49 isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat grown on a heavy metal-contaminated site is presented. Comparative pan-genome analysis indicated that OB49 acquired heavy metal resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer. On contigs S10 and S12, OB49 has two arsRBCH operons that give arsenic resistance. On the S12 contig, an arsRBCH operon was discovered in conjunction with the merRTPCADE operon, which provides mercury resistance. P. eucrina OB49 may be involved in an ecological alternative for heavy metal remediation and growth promotion of wheat grown in metal-polluted soils. Our results suggested the detection of mobile genetic elements that harbour the ars operon and the fluoride resistance genes adjacent to the mer operon.202336792019
7930190.8499Fates of extracellular and intracellular antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge and plastisphere under sulfadiazine pressure. Microplastics, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) represent prominent emerging contaminants that can potentially hinder the efficacy of biological wastewater treatment and pose health risks. Plastisphere as a distinct ecological niche for microorganisms, acts as a repository for ARGs and potential pathogenic bacteria. Nonetheless, the spread pattern of extracellular ARGs (eARGs) and intracellular ARGs (iARGs) in plastisphere under antibiotic exposure was not yet known. This study aimed to investigate disparities in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production, extracellular and intracellular microbial community structures, as well as the transmission of eARGs and iARGs between activated sludge and plastisphere in an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic system under sulfadiazine (SDZ) exposure. SDZ was found to enhance EPS production in activated sludge and plastisphere. Interestingly, as SDZ removal efficiency increased, EPS content decreased in activated sludge and plastisphere collected from oxic zone, and continued to increase in plastisphere samples collected from anaerobic and anoxic zones. There were significant differences in microbial community structure between activated sludge and plastisphere, and the DNA fragments of potential pathogenic bacteria were detected in extracellular samples. SDZ exhibited a promoting effect on the propagation of eARGs, which were more abundant in the plastisphere than in activated sludge, thus heightening the risk of ARGs dissemination. Extracellular mobile genetic elements played a pivotal role in driving the spread of eARGs, while the microbial community induced the changes of iARGs. Potential pathogenic bacteria emerged as potential hosts for ARGs and mobile genetic elements within activated sludge and plastisphere, leading to more serious environmental threats.202337898001