Floc Density-Driven Bacterial Community Succession Orchestrates Antibiotic Resistance Dissemination in Activated Sludge

Key Points

• To investigate how floc density influences bacterial community succession and the spread of antibiotic resistance in activated sludge systems.
• Analyzed structural characteristics of flocs in biological wastewater treatment units.
• Monitored bacterial community assembly within different density flocs.
• Assessed the pathways of antibiotic resistance dissemination based on community dynamics.
• Floc density significantly impacted the composition of bacterial communities.
• Higher density flocs exhibited enhanced dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes.
• Dynamic microenvironments within flocs shaped bacterial interactions and succession patterns.