Improved detection of microbial risk of releasing genetically modified bacteria in soil by using massive sequencing and antibiotic resistance selection

► GM bacteria/element diminished with no shift in structure of bacterial community. ► Abundance of antibiotic resistant bacteria and potential pathogens were altered. ► Potential risk of GM Corynebacterium glutamicum was less than GM Escherichia coli. ► Stability of GM plasmid may influence the potential risk of GM bacteria.