Removal of antibiotic resistance genes in pig manure composting influenced by inoculation of compound microbial agents

[Display omitted] •Microbial agents promoted the removal of total antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).•Microbial agents accelerated the changes in ARG profiles and bacterial communities.•Microbial agents may cause changes in the potential hosts of ARGs.•Nutrients affected ARG profiles by driving the succession of bacterial communities.•IntI1, Mycobacterium and Bacillus were positively correlated with increased ARGs. The influence of compound microbial agents on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in pig manure composting was investigated. The results show that the addition of microbial agents promoted the reduction of total ARGs and the maximum removal efficiencies for absolute abundance (77.2%) and relative abundance (64.5%) were observed in the repeated dose and high dose groups, respectively. Four categories of ARGs declined with the reduction of Firmicutes and Tn916/1545, whereas two categories increased with the proliferation of intI1 and various potential hosts in the composting. The ARG profiles and bacterial communities were shaped by composting stages (mesophilic-thermophilic and cooling-maturation stages) in all groups. However, the addition of microbial agents accelerated the variation of composting stages, and may change the potential ARG hosts which influences the removal of ARGs. Of note, intI1 and two potential pathogens (Mycobacterium and Bacillus) correlated positively to several increased ARGs, implying the possible risks of compost products.