Biochar and theaflavins mitigate the antibiotic resistome and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in a soil-lettuce continuum

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2024-12, Vol.480, p.135821, Article 135821
• Main Authors: Shan, Mei, Zheng, Conglai, Song, Jiajin, Qiu, Mengting, Huang, Chenyu, Cui, Minrong, Wang, Jiao, Chen, Weibin, Zhang, Luqing, Yu, Yunlong, Fang, Hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotic resistance genes; Antibiotic-resistant pathogens; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacteria - genetics; Biflavonoids - pharmacology; Catechin - chemistry; Catechin - pharmacology; Charcoal - chemistry; Charcoal - pharmacology; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - drug effects; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - genetics; Drug Resistance, Microbial - genetics; Genes, Bacterial - drug effects; Green materials; Lactuca - microbiology; Mobile genetic elements; Plant Leaves - microbiology; Soil Microbiology; Soil-plant continuum
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135821

Antibiotic resistance can be transferred into the food chain, leading to increased risks to human health from ready-to-eat vegetables. Mitigating the transmission of antibiotic resistance from soil to vegetables by green materials is of great significance. Here, we deciphered the roles of biochar and theaflavins in mitigating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant pathogens (ARPs) in a soil-lettuce continuum. Metagenomic results showed that biochar led to a significant decrease in the abundance of ARGs in lettuce leaves, while theaflavins contributed to a significant reduction in the diversity and abundance of ARGs in soil, particularly targeting dominant ARG types such as sulfonamide and aminoglycoside resistance genes. Meanwhile, biochar and theaflavins alleviated the potential mobility of ARGs, in lettuce leaves and soil, respectively, including the spread of ARGs to human pathogens. In addition, the diversity of ARG hosts was reduced in the soil-lettuce continuum and ARPs were not detected in lettuce leaves after the application of biochar or theaflavins. Overall, this study provides a novel perspective on green materials for mitigating the antibiotic resistome and ARPs in the soil-lettuce continuum, contributing to food security and human health. [Display omitted] •Biochar reduced the antibiotic resistome and mobilome in lettuce leaves.•Theaflavins decreased the abundance of ARGs and MGEs in soil.•The transmission of ARGs was altered after biochar or theaflavins amendment.•Both biochar and theaflavins reduced the diversity of ARG hosts in the soil-lettuce continuum.•The ARPs were not detected in lettuce leaves with biochar or theaflavins application.