Supplying conductive materials (CMs) into anaerobic bioreactors is considered as a promising technology for antibiotic wastewater treatment. However, whether and how CMs influence antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spread remains poorly known. Here, we investigated the effects of three CMs, i.e., magnetite, activated carbon (AC), and zero valent iron (ZVI), on ARGs dissemination during treating sulfamethoxazole wastewater, by dissecting the shifts of physiological features and microbial community. With the addition of magnetite, AC, and ZVI, the SMX removal was improved from 49.05 to 71.56—92.27 %, while the absolute abundance of ARGs reducing by 26.48 %, 61.95 %, 48.45 %, respectively. The reduced mobile genetic elements and antibiotic resistant bacteria suggested the inhibition of horizontal and vertical transfer of ARGs. The physiological features, including oxidative stress response, quorum sensing, and secretion system may regulate horizontal transfer of ARGs. The addition of all CMs relieved oxidative stress compared with no CMs, but ZVI may cause additional free radicals that needs to be concerned. Further, ZVI and AC also interfered with cell communication and secretion system. This research deepens the insights about the underlying mechanisms of CMs in regulating ARGs, and is expected to propose practical ways for mitigating ARGs proliferation.

将导电材料 (CM) 供应到厌氧生物反应器中被认为是一种很有前途的抗生素废水处理技术。然而，CMs 是否以及如何影响抗生素抗性基因 (ARGs) 的传播仍然知之甚少。在这里，我们通过解剖生理特征和微生物群落的变化，研究了三种 CM，即磁铁矿、活性炭 (AC) 和零价铁 (ZVI)，在处理磺胺甲恶唑废水过程中对 ARGs 传播的影响。添加磁铁矿、AC和ZVI后，SMX去除率从49.05提高到71.56—92.27 %，而ARGs的绝对丰度分别降低了26.48 %、61.95 %、48.45 %。减少的移动遗传元件和抗生素抗性细菌表明抑制了 ARGs 的水平和垂直转移。包括氧化应激反应、群体感应和分泌系统在内的生理特征可能会调节 ARGs 的水平转移。与不添加 CM 相比，添加所有 CM 可缓解氧化应激，但 ZVI 可能会导致需要关注的额外自由基。此外，ZVI 和 AC 还干扰细胞通讯和分泌系统。该研究加深了对CMs调节ARGs的潜在机制的认识，并有望提出缓解ARGs扩散的实用方法。ZVI 和 AC 还干扰细胞通讯和分泌系统。该研究加深了对CMs调节ARGs的潜在机制的认识，并有望提出缓解ARGs扩散的实用方法。ZVI 和 AC 还干扰细胞通讯和分泌系统。该研究加深了对CMs调节ARGs的潜在机制的认识，并有望提出缓解ARGs扩散的实用方法。