Optimising microbial processes with nano-carbon/selenite materials: An eco-friendly approach for antibiotic resistance mitigation in broiler manure

[Display omitted] •Nano-carbon/selenite materials minimize ARGs spread in broiler manure.•Dominant ARG subtypes shift due to the changing abundance of ARG hosts.•Nano-carbon/selenite alters microbial DNA replication and nitrogen cycle processes.•The co-occurrence network unveils DNA replication and the nitrogen cycle link. The presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in animal excrement has been a significant threat to global public health, necessitating sustainable animal husbandry practices to mitigate agriculture’s environmental impact. This study introduces two innovative nano-carbon/selenite materials: carbon-based selenite (Cse) and graphene-based selenite (Gse), synthesized using nano-carbon powder and graphene as carriers. These materials, with their high specific surface area, stability, and adsorption capabilities, were hypothesized to modulate microbial structure in broiler manure, potentially reducing ARGs pollution risk through effects on nitrogen metabolism and DNA replication. The order of ARGs abundance in broiler manure was as follows: control (CON) group > Cse group > Gse group, supporting the hypothesis. The top five antibiotic classes made up over 80 % of total gene abundances, with the multidrug class being the most prevalent, reaching 40.69 % and 40.48 % in Cse and Gse groups, respectively. PCA and LEfSe analyses revealed different ARG subtypes and biomarkers in the groups, showing the impact of these materials on ARG subtypes. Notably, the study demonstrated that Gse, utilizing graphene, exhibited greater efficacy in inhibiting essential microbial DNA replication genes compared to Cse. Additionally, the research identified associations between microbial DNA replication genes and ARGs, indicating a potential relationship between DNA replication and cellular reactions to antibiotics. Furthermore, both Cse and Gse were found to significantly impact nitrogen cycling pathways, possibly through their distinct characteristics that could alter key gene abundance. The findings expand our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying biogeochemical processes at a microscopic level. The study also reveals new ideas for mitigating potential hazards of ARGs in livestock waste to human well-being and ecological stability arising.