Distribution of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Microbial Communities in a Fishery Reclamation Mining Subsidence Area

The widespread use of antibiotics in the aquaculture industry has caused antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) pollution. Metagenomics technology was used to detect and analyze the relative abundance of ARGs and microbial community structure in a fishery reclamation mining subsidence area. A total of 29 ARGs were detected, and bacA had the highest relative abundance in all the samples, reaching 1.96×10-5-1.19×10-4. The relative abundance of sulfonamide and tetracycline ARGs in sediments was relatively high and the relative abundance of multidrug ARGs in well water was relatively high. Proteobacteria was the most dominant bacterial phylum in all the samples, and Chloroflexi and Euryarchaeota were relatively abundant in the sediments. Thiobacillus was the most dominant bacterial genus in the sediments, and Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas were the dominant bacterial genera in the well water. The correlation analysis between the ARGs and microorganisms showed that the genera and ARGs were mainly correlated to a moderate degree, and multiple genera had significant positive correlations with ARGs. The distribution of ARGs was affected by the structure of the microbial community. The sediments and well water in the fishery reclamation mining subsidence area were both contaminated by ARGs, and corresponding control measures should be strengthened to protect the regional environment.