An integrated conceptual framework of coupling mechanisms between cyanobacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater ecosystems

Cyanobacteria are integral components of freshwater ecosystems. As prokaryotes, they can harbor antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs); however, the co-occurrence patterns between specific ARGs and cyanobacteria observed in metagenomic data remain challenging to interpret. This review synthesizes current evidence by integrating qualitative assessment, bibliometric trend analysis, and a conceptual framework to examine cyanobacteria–ARG interactions and their modulating drivers, such as climatic variation, anthropogenic pressures, environmental factors, and microbial interdependencies. Two principal findings are identified: cyanobacteria function both as carriers of ARGs and as ecological regulators, and many documented cyanobacteria–shared environmental drivers influence ARG relationships. The review highlights the need for taxon-resolved quantitative datasets, mechanistic studies of ARG-mediated cyanobacterial resilience, and cross-system comparisons utilizing multi-omics and predictive modeling. Advancing these research directions will improve understanding of cyanobacteria–ARG linkages and enhance risk assessment in the context of global warming and increasing anthropogenic impact.