The release of sulfonamide antibiotics
into the environment is
alarming because the existence of these antibiotics in the environment
may promote resistance in clinically relevant microorganisms, which
is a potential threat to the effectiveness of antibiotic therapies.
Controllable biodegradation processes are of particular significance
for the inexpensive yet effective restoration of sulfonamide-contaminated
environments. Cultivation-based techniques have already made great
strides in successfully isolating bacteria with promising sulfonamide
degradation abilities, but the implementation of these isolates in
bioremediation has been limited by unknown microbial diversity, vast
population responsiveness, and the impact of perturbations from open
and complex environments. Advances in DNA sequencing technologies
and metagenomic analyses are being used to complement the information
derived from cultivation-based procedures. In this Review, we provide
an overview of the growing understanding of isolated sulfonamide degraders
and identify shortcomings of the prevalent literature in this field.
In addition, we propose a technical paradigm that integrates experimental
testing with metagenomic analysis to pave the way for improved understanding
and exploitation of these ecologically important isolates. Overall,
this Review aims to outline how metagenomic studies of isolated sulfonamide
degraders are being applied for the advancement of bioremediation
strategies for sulfonamide contamination
