Impact of thermophilic composting of human feces on human pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and bacterial pathogenicity Raw sequence reads

In this study, we have assessed the effect of thermophilic composting (up to 154 days with peak temperatures of 51.4 - 57.1) of dry toilet contents, green cuttings and straw, with and without biochar. The trial was conducted between August 2018 and January 2019 in Eckernfoerde, Germany, and comprised two repetitions and two treatments each (with and without biochar). Molecular analyses were conducted on samples before and after composting. The results indicated decreases in several human pathogens, as well as antibiotic resistance genes and genes contributing to bacterial pathogenicity, thereby suggesting that thermophilic composting is a promising way to recycle human wastes.