Effects of exogenously added humic acid on the fate of aminoglycoside antibiotics and humification process during aerobic compost.

[Display omitted] • Adding humic acid (HA) could enhance the removal of aminoglycoside antibiotics in composting. • The contents of HI, HR and HS were further increased with HA addition. • Adding HA significantly improved the carbon cycle related microorganism in composting. • Adding HA significantly reduced the genes' expression of T4SS and oxidative stress in composting. Efficient elimination of antibiotics, particularly aminoglycosides, and Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from agricultural and livestock waste, as well as enhancing the level of humification, remains a major challenge in the pursuit of high-value utilization of agricultural waste. Here, the roles of bacteria and fungus in the dissipation of aminoglycoside antibiotics, ARGs and the enhancement of humification with the addition of humic acid (HA) to compost systems were investigated. Compared to the control, the contents of humus (HS) and HA were increased by 41.3 and 143.3 %, respectively, and the content of fulvic acid (FA) was decreased by 74.1 % with HA addition. Interestingly, the abundance of aminoglycoside ARGs was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) as well as the abundance of functional genes involved in oxidative stress response and type IV secretion system (T4SS). The bacterium Nocardiopsis related to carbon cycle, and the fungi Ascomycota and Basidiomycota associated with ligocellulose degradation were significantly enriched (p < 0.05). Structural equation models revealed that the decrease in aminoglycoside ARGs abundance was attributed to bacteria promoting HA synthesis, thereby inhibiting the multiplication of aminoglycoside ARGs and ultimately mitigating oxidative damage to microbial cells. These findings shed light on the mechanism by which HA removes aminoglycoside ARGs, and provide valuable insights into enhancing the biosafety of compost products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]