biostudies-literatureLiu CFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Key Research and Development Program of Chinawrae169https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11453101biostudies-literatureUnknown18(1)Antibiotic resistance has grown into a major public health threat. In this study, we reveal predation by protists as an overlooked driver of antibiotic resistance dissemination in the soil microbiome. While previous studies have primarily focused on the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes, our work sheds light on the pivotal role of soil protists in shaping antibiotic resistance dynamics. Using a combination of metagenomics and controlled experiments in this study, we demonstrate that protists cause an increase in antibiotic resistance. We mechanistically link this increase to a fostering of antimicrobial activity in the microbiome. Protist predation gives a competitive edge to bacteria capable of producing antagonistic secondary metabolites, which secondary metabolites promote in The ISME journalProtist predation promotes antimicrobial resistance spread through antagonistic microbiome interactions.PMC114531012023YFD19011052023YFD1901402420900644210714142377296YDZX2023023XUEKEN2023039Ravanbakhsh MShen QJousset AWang SKowalchuk GALiu CWang YWei ZXiong WZhou ZfalseProtist predation promotes antimicrobial resistance spread through antagonistic microbiome interactions.Antibiotic resistance has grown into a major public health threat. In this study, we reveal predation by protists as an overlooked driver of antibiotic resistance dissemination in the soil microbiome. While previous studies have primarily focused on the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes, our work sheds light on the pivotal role of soil protists in shaping antibiotic resistance dynamics. Using a combination of metagenomics and controlled experiments in this study, we demonstrate that protists cause an increase in antibiotic resistance. We mechanistically link this increase to a fostering of antimicrobial activity in the microbiome. Protist predation gives a competitive edge to bacteria capable of producing antagonistic secondary metabolites, which secondary metabolites promote in 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jan2026-06-13T05:38:05.11Z2025-04-06T12:52:37.401ZS-EPMC114531013925918810.1093/ismejo/wrae169