Post-digestate composting shifts microbial composition and degrades antimicrobial resistance genes

Post-digestate treatments may reduce the risk linked to Antibiotic Resistant Genes (ARGs) release with digestate direct land application. Thus, this study aimed evaluate post-digestate composting and co-composting biogas production feedstock (maize silage, food processing waste, poultry litter) effect on abundance of selected ARGs: erm(B), tet(K), tet(M), tet(O), tet(S) genes. More than 80% all ARGs were removed after 90 days but removals from lower. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria dominated fresh digestate, a network analysis indicated that these potential hosts ARGs. The emergence Actinobacteria (dominant), Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia phyla during shifted microbial composition. Moreover, canonical correspondence showed trace elements explaining 90% variations in abundance. illustrates significance mitigating release, effectiveness could be shift composition release.