Mass lysis of bacterial predators drives the enrichment of antibiotic resistance in soil microbial communities

Abstract

While studies on anthropogenic activities and antibiotic resistance are numerous, the impact of microbial interactions on resistance in complex communities remains uncertain. Here we demonstrate a correlation between the presence of Myxococcus xanthus in natural soil communities and the abundance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Further, introducing M. xanthus isolates also enriches antibiotic resistance. This is due to the mass lysis of M. xanthus cells, which results in a toxic environment that fosters the proliferation of pre-existing resistant bacteria rather than de novo resistance evolution. Metagenomic analysis revealed that this enrichment is not limited to the tested antibiotics in culture-based methods, indicating its broader relevance. Crucially, these findings go beyond laboratory settings, showing M. xanthus introduction enriches resistant isolates in natural soil communities. Finally, we demonstrate that the mass lysis of M. xanthus cells during starvation-induced development--key aspect of the lifecycle of M. xanthus--also results in the enrichment of antibiotic resistance in soil communities. Together, we demonstrate how life-history traits in bacterial predators, like M. xanthus, significantly impact antibiotic resistomes in nature. This study also highlights the complex dynamics at play in the evolution and maintenance of antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the role of interspecies interactions in shaping antibiotic resistance profiles.