Anthropogenic pollution may enhance natural transformation in water, favouring the spread of antibiotic resistance genes

This study investigates the impact of anthropogenic water pollution on microbial community diversity, the antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) dissemination, and the antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) resistance. The research found that treated wastewater had higher anthropogenic pollution-related parameters than lake water, with higher richness in microbial community, antimicrobial resistome, and high-risk ARGs. The study also found that anthropogenic pollution may facilitate ARG dissemination through extracellular DNA plasmid uptake.