Study on the impact of Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim on the plant microbiome

This study assessed the active lettuce microbiome responses to SMX and TMP antibiotic treatment. Changes detected in the active microbiome were more compartment-specific than treatment-specific. Using unplanted controls, we determined that there were plant-mediated effects on the microbiome. There was a unique recruitment of taxa to antibiotic-exposed plants, although minimal, and we could distinguish among the plant- and environment-responsive taxa. This work identifies bacterial community taxa that may be recruited by or lost by lettuce plants during antibiotic exposure, which can be targeted to improve understanding and tested for plant benefits.