Thermophilic degradation of sulfamethazine by Geobacillus sp. S-07: pathway and mechanism

Biodegradation is crucial for the removal and remediation of sulfonamide antibiotic (SA) contamination. Comprehensively understanding the thermophilic degradation mechanism is essential for the application of SA-biodegrading isolates in engineered systems, such as composting. In this study, we explored the thermophilic biodegradation mechanism of Geobacillus sp. S-07 on sulfamethazine (SMZ). Targeted metabolite analysis unveiled that strain S-07 effectively detoxifies SMZ by modifying the amino moiety and disassembling the sulfonamide bridge moiety. By integrating genomic and proteomic analysis, enzymes potentially involved in the SMZ biotransformation were further proposed, including an adenine deaminase, a dimethylsulfone monooxygenase, and a putative heme-containing peroxidase. Genomic analysis indicated that S-07 carries five antibiotic resistance genes, presenting a low mobility in horizontal transfer, implying its low resistance pollution risk in bioremediation application. This study offers novel insights into the thermophilic SA biodegradation mechanism, and provides biological resources for the development of thermophilic bioremediation technologies aimed at enhanced SA removal.