Effect of earthworms in removal and fate of Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARG) during clinical laboratory wastewater treatment by vermifiltration

摘要: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluent has been implicated in the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), and genes (ARG) as WWTP environment contains multiple selective pressures that may increase mutation rates, pathogen survivability, induce gene transfer between bacteria. In lieu this, present study explored effects dynamics earthworm-microorganisms interactions on efficacy clinical laboratory wastewater by vermifiltration technology effect earthworms fate removal pathogens, ARB ARG. The is first its kind to investigate performance vermifilter (VF) for treatment. results showed VF associated microbial community had a significant BOD COD reduction (78-85%), coliforms (>99.9 %) caused shift prevalence pattern Additionally, molecular profiling ESBL, mec-A colistin mechanisms behind resistance pattern. diversity influent, filter media layers with assists formation biofilm, which helps pathogens from wastewater. also paradigm profile ARG, specifically most effective against drugs, targeting cell wall protein synthesis inhibition such Ampicillin, Ticarcillin, Gentamicin Chloramphenicol. These findings further validate sustainable natural wastewater, resistance.