Work

Revealing archaeal contributions to nitrogen cycling in large-scale swine wastewater treatment across China

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Archaea are important yet often neglected microorganisms, and their role in the wastewater nitrogen cycle remains unclear. Here, we analyze the distribution and nitrogen-cycling activity of archaea in swine wastewater using metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches based on samples collected from 34 large-scale swine wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across China. We find that archaea harbor diverse nitrogen-cycling genes, including several archaea-specific genes with high expression levels. Additionally, they carry relatively few antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors. We also observe gene exchange involving nitrogen-related genes both among archaea and between archaea and bacteria. Archaea alone explain 2.0% of the variation in nitrogen-cycling genes, whereas their co-contribution with bacteria reaches 34.3%, suggesting that archaea not only directly participate in the nitrogen transformation but also interact synergistically with bacteria. These findings identify archaea as key functional microorganisms with low biosafety risk potential, underscoring their unique value for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Source: Cell Reports Sustainability

DOI: 10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100787