Nano- biochar regulates phage-host interactions, reducing antibiotic resistance genes in vermicomposting systems

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Xie, Ting; Lin, Da; Cai, Xing-Da; Ma, Li-Juan; Wang, Lu; Cai, Tian-Gui; Ye, Yu-Qiu; Shen, Luo-Qin; Sun, Ming-Ming; Ye, Mao; Neilson, Roy; Zhu, Dong
• 署名单位: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Institute of Urban Environment, CAS; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS; Hebei University; Nanjing Agricultural University; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing Institute of Soil Science, CAS; James Hutton Institute
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-10314
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2511986122
• 发表日期: 2025-08-26
• 关键词: lysogeny

摘要

Biochar amendment reshapes microbial community dynamics in vermicomposting, but the mechanism of how phages respond to this anthropogenic intervention and regulate the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remains unclear. In this study, we used metagenomics, viromics, and laboratory validation to explore how nano- biochar affects phage-host interactions and ARGs dissemination in vermicomposting. Our results revealed distinct niche- specific phage life strategies. In vermicompost, lytic phages dominated and used a kill- the- winner strategy to suppress antibiotic- resistant bacteria (ARB). In contrast, lysogenic phages prevailed in the earthworm gut, adopting a piggyback- the- winner strategy that promoted ARGs transduction through mutualistic host interactions. Nano- biochar induced the conversion of lysogenic to lytic phages in the earthworm gut, while concurrently reducing the abundance of lysogenic phages and their encoded auxiliary metabolic genes carried by ARB. This shift disrupted phage-host mutualism and inhibited ARGs transmission via a phage shunting mechanism. In vitro validation with batch culture experiments further confirmed that lysogenic phages the spread of ARGs by enhancing lysis infectivity. Our study constructs a mechanistic egies in organic waste treatment ecosystems.