Antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion: Unresolved challenges and potential solutions

Chunxiao Wang; Xiaole Yin; Xiaoqing Xu; Dou Wang; Yubo Wang; Tong Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132075

Antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion: Unresolved challenges and potential solutions

Chunxiao Wang, Xiaole Yin, Xiaoqing Xu, Dou Wang, Yubo Wang, Tong Zhang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens public health, necessitating urgent efforts to mitigate the global impact of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Anaerobic digestion (AD), known for volatile solid reduction and energy generation, also presents a feasible approach for the removal of ARGs. This review encapsulates the existing understanding of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) during the AD process, highlighting unresolved challenges pertaining to their detection and quantification. The questions raised and discussed include: Do current ARGs detection methods meet qualitative and quantitative requirements? How can we conduct risk assessments of ARGs? What happens to ARGs when they come into co-exposure with other emerging pollutants? How can the application of internal standards bolster the reliability of the AD resistome study? What are the potential future research directions that could enhance ARG elimination? Investigating these subjects will assist in shaping more efficient management strategies that employ AD for effective ARG control. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Original language	English
Article number	132075
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	419
Online published	16 Jan 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132075
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This work was supported by the Theme-based Research Scheme grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (T21-705/20-N) and Young Scientist Funding from National Natural Science Foundation of China (42407575).

Research Keywords

Anaerobic digestion (AD)
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB)
Antibiotics resistance gene (ARG)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132075

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Cite this

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title = "Antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion: Unresolved challenges and potential solutions",

abstract = "Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens public health, necessitating urgent efforts to mitigate the global impact of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Anaerobic digestion (AD), known for volatile solid reduction and energy generation, also presents a feasible approach for the removal of ARGs. This review encapsulates the existing understanding of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) during the AD process, highlighting unresolved challenges pertaining to their detection and quantification. The questions raised and discussed include: Do current ARGs detection methods meet qualitative and quantitative requirements? How can we conduct risk assessments of ARGs? What happens to ARGs when they come into co-exposure with other emerging pollutants? How can the application of internal standards bolster the reliability of the AD resistome study? What are the potential future research directions that could enhance ARG elimination? Investigating these subjects will assist in shaping more efficient management strategies that employ AD for effective ARG control. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd",

keywords = "Anaerobic digestion (AD), Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), Antibiotics resistance gene (ARG), Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), Mobile genetic elements (MGEs)",

author = "Chunxiao Wang and Xiaole Yin and Xiaoqing Xu and Dou Wang and Yubo Wang and Tong Zhang",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132075",

language = "English",

volume = "419",

journal = "Bioresource Technology",

issn = "0960-8524",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion

T2 - Unresolved challenges and potential solutions

AU - Wang, Chunxiao

AU - Yin, Xiaole

AU - Xu, Xiaoqing

AU - Wang, Dou

AU - Wang, Yubo

AU - Zhang, Tong

PY - 2025/3

Y1 - 2025/3

N2 - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens public health, necessitating urgent efforts to mitigate the global impact of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Anaerobic digestion (AD), known for volatile solid reduction and energy generation, also presents a feasible approach for the removal of ARGs. This review encapsulates the existing understanding of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) during the AD process, highlighting unresolved challenges pertaining to their detection and quantification. The questions raised and discussed include: Do current ARGs detection methods meet qualitative and quantitative requirements? How can we conduct risk assessments of ARGs? What happens to ARGs when they come into co-exposure with other emerging pollutants? How can the application of internal standards bolster the reliability of the AD resistome study? What are the potential future research directions that could enhance ARG elimination? Investigating these subjects will assist in shaping more efficient management strategies that employ AD for effective ARG control. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

AB - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens public health, necessitating urgent efforts to mitigate the global impact of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Anaerobic digestion (AD), known for volatile solid reduction and energy generation, also presents a feasible approach for the removal of ARGs. This review encapsulates the existing understanding of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) during the AD process, highlighting unresolved challenges pertaining to their detection and quantification. The questions raised and discussed include: Do current ARGs detection methods meet qualitative and quantitative requirements? How can we conduct risk assessments of ARGs? What happens to ARGs when they come into co-exposure with other emerging pollutants? How can the application of internal standards bolster the reliability of the AD resistome study? What are the potential future research directions that could enhance ARG elimination? Investigating these subjects will assist in shaping more efficient management strategies that employ AD for effective ARG control. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

KW - Anaerobic digestion (AD)

KW - Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB)

KW - Antibiotics resistance gene (ARG)

KW - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

KW - Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)

KW - Mobile genetic elements (MGEs)

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U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132075

DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132075

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0960-8524

VL - 419

JO - Bioresource Technology

JF - Bioresource Technology

M1 - 132075

ER -

Antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion: Unresolved challenges and potential solutions

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

UN SDGs

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TBRS-ExtU-Lead: Assess Antibiotic Resistome Flows from Pollution Hotspots to Environments and Explore the Control Strategies

Cite this

Antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion: Unresolved challenges and potential solutions

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

UN SDGs

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

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Projects

TBRS-ExtU-Lead: Assess Antibiotic Resistome Flows from Pollution Hotspots to Environments and Explore the Control Strategies

Cite this