Metagenomic insights on microbial contaminants and horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in aerobic and anaerobic membrane bioreactor

Two configurations of membrane bioreactor (aerobic and anaerobic) treating the same influent were evaluated in terms of their potential horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) using metagenomic analysis. There was a higher ratio of potential HGT of ARG and HGT involving potential opportunistic pathogens in the aerobic membrane bioreactor.