Global wastewater microbiome reveals core bacterial community and viral diversity with regional antibiotic resistance patterns

Abstract

Intensifying urbanization and human activities have dramatically increased global wastewater generation, creating complex microbial ecosystems that significantly impact environmental and public health. This study presents the first large-scale, comprehensive characterization of bacterial and viral communities in wastewater treatment systems worldwide. By analyzing samples from diverse geographical, climatic, and socioeconomic contexts, we reveal how wastewater microbiomes serve as microbial fingerprints of human society, reflecting regional characteristics while maintaining functional conservation. Our findings demonstrate that these communities function as ecological extensions of human gut microbiota in the external environment, with important implications for the spread of antibiotic resistance and pathogens. The identification of viruses as key metabolic regulators in these systems provides new perspectives on microbial community dynamics. This global-scale analysis advances our understanding of wastewater microbiology and offers valuable insights for improving wastewater management, enhancing environmental monitoring systems, and strengthening public health surveillance through wastewater-based epidemiology.