Reduction of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in simulated-sunlight-supported counter-diffusion bacteria-Algae biofilms: Interface properties and functional gene responses

A novel bacteria-algae symbiotic counter-diffusion biofilm system integrated within simulated-sunlight (designated UV-MABAR) was engineered to simultaneously address antibiotic residuals and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) while maintaining functional microbial consortia under simulated solar irradiation. The non-algal control system (UV-MABR) demonstrated elevated repulsion energy barriers accompanied by significant suppression of ATP synthase (p < 0.01) and DNA repair-related gene clusters, leading to biofilm homeostasis disruption and subsequent sulfamethoxazole (SMX) effluent accumulation peaking at 138.11±2.34 μg/L. In contrast, the UV-MABAR configuration exhibited dynamic quenching of tyrosine-associated fluorescence moieties within extracellular polymeric substances, thereby diminishing complexation potential with SMX aromatic rings and achieving 70.75 %±3.21 % abiotic photodegradation efficiency, which substantially curtailed ARG proliferation pathways, promoting a significant downregulation of sul1 (-1.9 log₂ fold-change) and sul2 (-1.1 log₂ fold-change) expression compared to conventional MABR controls. Besides, algal in UV-MABAR attenuated the irradiation-induced α-helix/(β-sheet + random coil) conformational shift, moderating biofilm matrix compaction. Crucially, algal proliferation up-regulated bacterial recA expression (1.7-fold increase), thereby preserving catabolic gene integrity and preventing endogenous substances release. These protective measures kept effluent concentrations of SMX, NH₄⁺-N, total nitrogen, and COD in UV-MABAR at 19.84 μg/L, 3.88 mg/L, 12.76 mg/L, and 34.97 mg/L, respectively, during 150 days of operation.