A new insight into the ARG association with antibiotics and non-antibiotic agents-antibiotic resistance and toxicity

Although concerns have been raised about co-selection for antibiotic resistance and various antibiotics and nonantibiotic agents, the data on their association in urban sludge is still limited. In addition, antibiotic contamination can result in not only the toxicity but also the antibiotic resistance. In this study, the first large-scale identification of antibiotics and non-antibiotic agents concern for co-selection of resistance against antibiotics was conducted in urban sludge. Co-occurrence analysis showed that antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) had no significant correlation with the corresponding antibiotics. Therefore, the results of co-occurrence analysis based on antibiotic concentration and ARG abundance were always ambiguous and difficult to interpret. However, antibiotic resistance was positively correlated with highly toxic compounds such as diclofenac, enrofloxacin and nicotine, suggesting that environmental contaminants might influence antibiotic resistance while exerting toxicity through mechanisms such as changes in microbial community and enzyme activity. The close correlation between class 1 integrase gene (intI1) and diclofenac/enrofloxacin indicated that the co-selection scenario between environmental contaminants and ARGs was likely mediated via intI1. In total, the derived co-occurrence patterns improve our understanding of the co-selection between ARGs, antibiotics and non-antibiotic agents, and also reaffirm the importance of potential role of non-antibiotic agents in the global spread of antibiotic resistance.

Automated summary

This study identified co-selection of resistance against antibiotics in urban sludge, with antibiotic resistance showing a positive correlation with highly toxic compounds. The co-occurrence analysis based on antibiotic concentration and ARG abundance was found to be ambiguous, while the close correlation between intI1 gene and certain compounds suggested a potential mediation in co-selection. The findings improve understanding of the co-selection between ARGs, antibiotics, and non-antibiotic agents, highlighting the importance of non-antibiotic agents in the global spread of antibiotic resistance.