Research progress on the mechanisms of microbial degradation of antibiotics and attenuation of antibiotic resistance genes during composting

Antibiotics and their resistance genes (ARGs) commonly coexist in organic solid waste, posing significant ecological and public health risks. Composting is a crucial biological process for mitigating such composite pollution. This review elucidates the microbial mechanisms driving the simultaneous removal of antibiotics and ARGs in composting systems. Specifically, it details how parent antibiotic compounds are transformed through enzymatic degradation and co-metabolic pathways, thereby alleviating selection pressure on drug-resistant bacteria. Microbial strategies that interfere with the transmission and persistence of ARGs, including the inhibition of horizontal gene transfer and the degradation of extracellular DNA, are highlighted. Furthermore, this review introduces the core concept of “synergistic attenuation,” emphasizing the coupled relationship between antibiotic degradation and ARG suppression. It also summarizes the application of multi-omics techniques (e.g., metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics) in validating these complex mechanisms. Finally, it outlines future directions for enhancing this synergistic process through targeted regulation of microbial community structure and function, providing a theoretical foundation and innovative insights for optimizing composting as an efficient and low-risk organic waste treatment technology.