TY  - JOUR
AU  - Werner, Katharina A.
AU  - Feyen, Lara
AU  - Hübner, Tobias
AU  - Brüggemann, Nicolas
AU  - Prost, Katharina
AU  - Grohmann, Elisabeth
TI  - Fate of Horizontal-Gene-Transfer Markers and Beta-Lactamase Genes during Thermophilic Composting of Human Excreta
JO  - Microorganisms
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
SN  - 2076-2607
CY  - Basel
PB  - MDPI
M1  - FZJ-2023-01866
SP  - 308 -
PY  - 2023
AB  - Thermophilic composting is a suitable treatment for the recycling of organic wastes for agriculture. However, using human excreta as feedstock for composting raises concerns about antibiotic resistances. We analyzed samples from the start and end of a thermophilic composting trial of human excreta, together with green cuttings and straw, with and without biochar. Beta-lactamase genes blaCTX-M, blaIMP, and blaTEM conferring resistance to broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics, as well as horizontal gene transfer marker genes, intI1 and korB, were quantified using qPCR. We found low concentrations of the beta-lactamase genes in all samples, with non-significant mean decreases in blaCTX-M and blaTEM copy numbers and a mean increase in blaIMP copy numbers. The decrease in both intI1 and korB genes from start to end of composting indicated that thermophilic composting can decrease the horizontal spread of resistance genes. Thus, thermophilic composting can be a suitable treatment for the recycling of human excreta.
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
C6  - 36838273
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000941487800001
DO  - DOI:10.3390/microorganisms11020308
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1006813
ER  -