Biodegradation mechanisms of sulfonamides by Phanerochaete chrysosporium – Luffa fiber system revealed at the transcriptome level

The overuse of antibiotics and subsequent enrichment antibiotic resistant microbes in the natural built environments is a severe threat to global public health. In this study, Phanerochaete chrysosporium fungal-luffa fiber system was found efficiently biodegrade two sulfonamides, sulfadimethoxine (SDM) sulfadizine (SDZ), cow urine wastewater. Biodegradation pathways were proposed on basis key metabolites identified using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QqTOF-MS). Transcriptomic, metabolomic, free radical analyses performed explore functional groups detailed molecular mechanisms SDM SDZ degradation. A total 27 UniGene clusters showed significant differences between luffa fiber-free systems, which significantly correlated cellulose catabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, oxidoreductase activity. Carbohydrate-active enzymes oxidoreductases appear play particularly important roles Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy revealed generation evolution OH R during biodegradation SDZ, suggesting that beyond enzymatic degradation, also transformed through pathway. Luffa acts as co-substrate improve activity for degradation SDZ. This research provides potential strategy removing from agricultural industrial wastewater systems.