Remediating the poultry litter resistome

There is significant concern that agricultural use of antimicrobials leads to spill over of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) into the human population. Animal manures contain a large and diverse reservoir of AMR genes. While poultry litter is a rich source of nitrogen that is applied to soil to aid crop growth, it also contains an abundance of AMR genes and mobile genetic elements associated with its dissemination. Reduce this reservoir, and its potential to transmit AMR to pathogens is diminished. Four conditions: intermittent wet-dry, forced aeration, anaerobic, and static incubations were assessed for their impact on the community resistome of poultry litter and bacterial community composition.