Unraveling antibiotic resistance dynamics at the soil–plant interface under climate change for One Health
Xinyuan Li, Samuel Bickel, Wisnu Adi Wicaksono, Xianyong Lin, Gabriele Berg, Yong‐Guan Zhu
Abstract
Abstract Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) naturally serve ecological and adaptive functions in microorganisms, yet human activities have disrupted this balance, accelerating their enrichment and spread in the soil–plant system. As a key ARG transmission interface across One Health sectors, the soil–plant system warrants greater attention. This review synthesizes emerging evidence on the distribution and transmission of resistomes in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere, revealing the potential risk of soil–plant ARGs to human, animal, and plant health. However, major gaps remain, particularly in horizontal and vertical ARG transmission associated within the plant endosphere and across plant generations. Moreover, we summarize key factors shaping soil–plant ARG dynamics, including soil conditions, plant evolution and traits, and anthropogenic influences. Among these, climate change emerges as a global, long-term, and largely irreversible driver, altering soil properties, plant physiology, and microbial activity through drastic environmental shifts. We discuss the risks of climate-driven ARG dissemination and its broader ecological and agricultural implications. Addressing these challenges requires advanced monitoring methods, integrated data sources, and policy innovations. In this review, we highlight climate change as an emerging driver of ARG selection and dissemination, emphasizing its impact on soil–plant resistome and the need for future One Health research on climate-driven resistome shifts.