Viruses Enhance Sulfamethoxazole Removal in Wetlands by Modulating Bacteria-Phage Interactions

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a widely distributed antibiotic that poses significant ecological risks in aquatic environments. Constructed wetlands, essential for pollutant removal, rely on microbial communities for biogeochemical transformations. This study reveals how positive bacteria-phage interactions improve SMX removal in these systems. The addition of phage-concentrated solutions (PCS) increased SMX removal efficiency by up to 35%. Phages enrich SMX-degrading bacteria and enhance their metabolic capacity through auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs). Notably, lytic viruses reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) by lysing antibiotic-resistant bacterial cells. These findings highlight the ecological role of viruses in bioremediation and antibiotic resistance management.