Widespread occurrence of bacterial human virulence determinants in soil and freshwater environments. - Related Documents




#
Rank
Similarity
Title + Abs.
Year
PMID
012345
370501.0000Widespread occurrence of bacterial human virulence determinants in soil and freshwater environments. The occurrence of 22 bacterial human virulence genes (encoding toxins, adhesins, secretion systems, regulators of virulence, inflammatory mediators, and bacterial resistance) in beech wood soil, roadside soil, organic agricultural soil, and freshwater biofilm was investigated by nested PCR. The presence of clinically relevant bacterial groups known to possess virulence genes was tested by PCR of 16S and 23S rRNA genes. For each of the virulence genes detected in the environments, sequencing and NCBI BLAST analysis confirmed the identity of the PCR products. The virulence genes showed widespread environmental occurrence, as 17 different genes were observed. Sixteen genes were detected in beech wood soil, and 14 were detected in roadside and organic agricultural soils, while 11 were detected in the freshwater biofilm. All types of virulence traits were represented in all environments; however, the frequency at which they were detected was variable. A principal-component analysis suggested that several factors influenced the presence of the virulence genes; however, their distribution was most likely related to the level of contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pH. The occurrence of the virulence genes in the environments generally did not appear to be the result of the presence of clinically relevant bacteria, indicating an environmental origin of the virulence genes. The widespread occurrence of the virulence traits and the high degree of sequence conservation between the environmental and clinical sequences suggest that soil and freshwater environments may constitute reservoirs of virulence determinants normally associated with human disease.201323835169
387210.9999Functional metagenomic analysis reveals rivers are a reservoir for diverse antibiotic resistance genes. The environment harbours a significant diversity of uncultured bacteria and a potential source of novel and extant resistance genes which may recombine with clinically important bacteria disseminated into environmental reservoirs. There is evidence that pollution can select for resistance due to the aggregation of adaptive genes on mobile elements. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent disposal to a river by using culture independent methods to study diversity of resistance genes downstream of the WWTP in comparison to upstream. Metagenomic libraries were constructed in Escherichia coli and screened for phenotypic resistance to amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin, ampicillin and ciprofloxacin. Resistance genes were identified by using transposon mutagenesis. A significant increase downstream of the WWTP was observed in the number of phenotypic resistant clones recovered in metagenomic libraries. Common β-lactamases such as blaTEM were recovered as well as a diverse range of acetyltransferases and unusual transporter genes, with evidence for newly emerging resistance mechanisms. The similarities of the predicted proteins to known sequences suggested origins of genes from a very diverse range of bacteria. The study suggests that waste water disposal increases the reservoir of resistance mechanisms in the environment either by addition of resistance genes or by input of agents selective for resistant phenotypes.201424636906
334320.9999Shotgun metagenomics reveals a wide array of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile elements in a polluted lake in India. There is increasing evidence for an environmental origin of many antibiotic resistance genes. Consequently, it is important to identify environments of particular risk for selecting and maintaining such resistance factors. In this study, we described the diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in an Indian lake subjected to industrial pollution with fluoroquinolone antibiotics. We also assessed the genetic context of the identified resistance genes, to try to predict their genetic transferability. The lake harbored a wide range of resistance genes (81 identified gene types) against essentially every major class of antibiotics, as well as genes responsible for mobilization of genetic material. Resistance genes were estimated to be 7000 times more abundant than in a Swedish lake included for comparison, where only eight resistance genes were found. The sul2 and qnrD genes were the most common resistance genes in the Indian lake. Twenty-six known and 21 putative novel plasmids were recovered in the Indian lake metagenome, which, together with the genes found, indicate a large potential for horizontal gene transfer through conjugation. Interestingly, the microbial community of the lake still included a wide range of taxa, suggesting that, across most phyla, bacteria has adapted relatively well to this highly polluted environment. Based on the wide range and high abundance of known resistance factors we have detected, it is plausible that yet unrecognized resistance genes are also present in the lake. Thus, we conclude that environments polluted with waste from antibiotic manufacturing could be important reservoirs for mobile antibiotic resistance genes.201425520706
457130.9998Growth of soil bacteria, on penicillin and neomycin, not previously exposed to these antibiotics. There is growing evidence that bacteria, in the natural environment (e.g. the soil), can exhibit naturally occurring resistance/degradation against synthetic antibiotics. Our aim was to assess whether soils, not previously exposed to synthetic antibiotics, contained bacterial strains that were not only antibiotic resistant, but could actually utilize the antibiotics for energy and nutrients. We isolated 19 bacteria from four diverse soils that had the capability of growing on penicillin and neomycin as sole carbon sources up to concentrations of 1000 mg L(-1). The 19 bacterial isolates represent a diverse set of species in the phyla Proteobacteria (84%) and Bacteroidetes (16%). Nine antibiotic resistant genes were detected in the four soils but some of these genes (i.e. tetM, ermB, and sulI) were not detected in the soil isolates indicating the presence of unculturable antibiotic resistant bacteria. Most isolates that could subsist on penicillin or neomycin as sole carbon sources were also resistant to the presence of these two antibiotics and six other antibiotics at concentrations of either 20 or 1000 mg L(-1). The potentially large and diverse pool of antibiotic resistant and degradation genes implies ecological and health impacts yet to be explored and fully understood.201424956077
370440.9998Antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from the deep terrestrial subsurface. Various natural environments have been examined for the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and/or novel resistance mechanisms, but little is known about resistance in the terrestrial deep subsurface. This study examined two deep environments that differ in their known period of isolation from surface environments and the bacteria therein. One hundred fifty-four strains of bacteria were isolated from sediments located 170-259 m below land surface at the US Department of Energy Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina and Hanford Site (HS) in Washington. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that both sets of strains were phylogenetically diverse and could be assigned to several genera in three to four phyla. All of the strains were screened for resistance to 13 antibiotics by plating on selective media and 90% were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Eighty-six percent of the SRS and 62% of the HS strains were resistant to more than one antibiotic. Resistance to nalidixic acid, mupirocin, or ampicillin was noted most frequently. The results indicate that antibiotic resistance is common among subsurface bacteria. The somewhat higher frequencies of resistance and multiple resistance at the SRS may, in part, be due to recent surface influence, such as exposure to antibiotics used in agriculture. However, the HS strains have never been exposed to anthropogenic antibiotics but still had a reasonably high frequency of resistance. Given their long period of isolation from surface influences, it is possible that they possess some novel antibiotic resistance genes and/or resistance mechanisms.200918677528
324550.9998From Metagenomes to Functional Expression of Resistance: floR Gene Diversity in Bacteria from Salmon Farms. Background. The increase in antibiotic resistance in human-impacted environments, such as coastal waters with aquaculture activity, is related to the widespread use of antibiotics, even at sub-lethal concentrations. In Chile, the world's second largest producer of salmon, aquaculture is considered the main source of antibiotics in coastal waters. In this work, we aimed to characterize the genetic and phenotypic profiles of antibiotic resistance in bacterial communities from salmon farms. Methods. Bacterial metagenomes from an intensive aquaculture zone in southern Chile were sequenced, and the composition, abundance and sequence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were analyzed using assembled and raw read data. Total DNA from bacterial communities was used as a template to recover floR gene variants, which were tested by heterologous expression and functional characterization of phenicol resistance. Results. Prediction of ARGs in salmon farm metagenomes using more permissive parameters yielded significantly more results than the default Resistance Gene Identifier (RGI) software. ARGs grouped into drug classes showed similar abundance profiles to global ocean bacteria. The floR gene was the most abundant phenicol-resistance gene with the lowest gene counts, showing a conserved sequence although with variations from the reference floR. These differences were recovered by RGI prediction and, in greater depth, by mapping reads to the floR sequence using SNP base-calling. These variants were analyzed by heterologous expression, revealing the co-existence of high- and low-resistance sequences in the environmental bacteria. Conclusions. This study highlights the importance of combining metagenomic and phenotypic approaches to study the genetic variability in and evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria associated with salmon farms.202540001366
338560.9998Escherichia coli in urban marine sediments: interpreting virulence, biofilm formation, halotolerance, and antibiotic resistance to infer contamination or naturalization. Marine sediments have been suggested as a reservoir for pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli. The origins, and properties promoting survival of E. coli in marine sediments (including osmotolerance, biofilm formation capacity, and antibiotic resistance), have not been well-characterized. Phenotypes and genotypes of 37 E. coli isolates from coastal marine sediments were characterized. The isolates were diverse: 30 sequence types were identified that have been previously documented in humans, livestock, and other animals. Virulence genes were found in all isolates, with more virulence genes found in isolates sampled from sediment closer to the effluent discharge point of a wastewater treatment plant. Antibiotic resistance was demonstrated phenotypically for one isolate, which also carried tetracycline resistance genes on a plasmid. Biofilm formation capacity varied for the different isolates, with most biofilm formed by phylogroup B1 isolates. All isolates were halotolerant, growing at 3.5% NaCl. This suggests that the properties of some isolates may facilitate survival in marine environments and can explain in part how marine sediments can be a reservoir for pathogenic E. coli. As disturbance of sediment could resuspend bacteria, this should be considered as a potential contributor to compromised bathing water quality at nearby beaches.202439246828
323270.9998Metagenome-Based Analysis of the Microbial Community Structure and Drug-Resistance Characteristics of Livestock Feces in Anhui Province, China. We analyzed metagenome data of feces from sows at different physiological periods reared on large-scale farms in Anhui Province, China, to provide a better understanding of the microbial diversity of the sow intestinal microbiome and the structure of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence genes it carries. Species annotation of the metagenome showed that in the porcine intestinal microbiome, bacteria were dominant, representing >97% of the microorganisms at each physiological period. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated the bacterial community. In the porcine gut microbiome, the viral component accounted for an average of 0.65%, and the species annotation results indicated that most viruses were phages. In addition, we analyzed the microbiome for ARGs and virulence genes. Multidrug-like, MLS-like, and tetracycline-like ARGs were most abundant in all samples. Evaluation of the resistance mechanisms indicated that antibiotic inactivation was the main mechanism of action in the samples. It is noteworthy that there was a significant positive correlation between ARGs and the total microbiome. Moreover, comparative analysis with the Virulence Factor Database showed that adhesion virulence factors were most abundant.202438393105
313880.9998Insight into the diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in the intestinal bacteria of shrimp Penaeus vannamei by culture-dependent and independent approaches. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that distributed in antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARBs) are widespread in aquaculture and have great threats to the aquatic organism as well as to human. However, our understanding about the risk of ARGs to the health of aquatic organism is still limited. In the present study, we got a deep insight into the diversity of ARGs in the intestinal bacteria of shrimp by culture-dependent and independent approaches. Results of the PCR-based detection and culture-dependent analysis indicated that the tetracycline, sulfadiazine, quinolone and erythromycin resistance genes were prevalent in the commercial shrimps that bought from aquatic markets or supermarket. The culture-independent plasmid metagenomic analysis identified 62 different ARGs, which were classified into 21 types, with abundances ranging from 13 to 1418 ppm. The analysis suggested that most of the ARGs come from the plasmids originating from Vibrio (accounted for 2.8-51%) and Aeromonas (accounted for 16-55%), and the Vibrio group was concluded to be the main bacterial pathogen that probably resulted in the shrimp disease. Accordingly, the plasmid metagenomic that focuses on the mobile genetic elements has great potential on the identification of ARGs in complex environments.201930735978
370190.9998Genetic Determinants for Metal Tolerance and Antimicrobial Resistance Detected in Bacteria Isolated from Soils of Olive Tree Farms. Copper-derived compounds are often used in olive tree farms. In a previous study, a collection of bacterial strains isolated from olive tree farms were identified and tested for phenotypic antimicrobial resistance and heavy metal tolerance. The aim of this work was to study the genetic determinants of resistance and to evaluate the co-occurrence of metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance genes. Both metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance genes (including beta-lactamase genes) were detected in the bacterial strains from Cu-treated soils. A high percentage of the strains positive for metal tolerance genes also carried antibiotic resistance genes, especially for genes involved in resistances to beta-lactams and tetracycline. Significant associations were detected between genes involved in copper tolerance and genes coding for beta-lactamases or tetracycline resistance mechanisms. A significant association was also detected between zntA (coding for a Zn(II)-translocating P-type ATPase) and tetC genes. In conclusion, bacteria from soils of Cu-treated olive farms may carry both metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance genes. The positive associations detected between metal tolerance genes and antibiotic resistance genes suggests co-selection of such genetic traits by exposure to metals.202032756388
3681100.9998A closer look at the antibiotic-resistant bacterial community found in urban wastewater treatment systems. The conventional biological treatment process can provide a favorable environment for the maintenance and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) they carry. This study investigated the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in three wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) to determine the role they play in the dissemination of ARGs. Bacterial isolates resistant to tetracycline were collected, and tested against eight antibiotics to determine their resistance profiles and the prevalence of multiple antibiotic resistance. It was found that bacteria resistant to tetracycline were more likely to display resistance to multiple antibiotics compared to those isolates that were not tetracycline resistant. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the tetracycline resistance determinants present within the bacterial communities of the WWTPs and receiving waters, and it was found that ARGs may not be released from the treatment process. Identification of isolates showed that there was a large diversity of species in both the tetracycline-resistant and tetracycline-sensitive populations and that the two groups were significantly different in composition. Antibiotic resistance profiles of each population showed that a large diversity of resistance patterns existed within genera suggesting that transmission of ARG may progress by both horizontal gene and vertical proliferation.201829484827
3475110.9998Phylogenomics of novel clones of Aeromonas veronii recovered from a freshwater lake reveals unique biosynthetic gene clusters. Aquatic ecosystems serve as crucial reservoirs for pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes, thus presenting a significant global health risk. Here, we investigated the phylogenomics of Aeromonas veronii from Lake Wilcox in Ontario. Among the 11 bacterial isolates, nine were identified as A. veronii. Notably, 67% of A. veronii isolates were potential human pathogens. Considerable genetic diversity was noted among the A. veronii isolates, suggesting the lake as a reservoir for multiple human pathogenic strains. Comparison of the A. veronii sequenced with global A. veronii genomes highlighted significant genetic diversity and suggests widespread dissemination of strains. All the isolates carried chromosomal genes encoding resistance to β-lactams. Although virulence gene content differed between human and non-human pathogenic strains, type III secretion systems was associated with human pathogenic isolates. The assessment of AMR genes in global isolates showed that β-lactam and tetracycline resistance genes were predominant. Although the machine learning-based pangenome-wide association approach performed did not yield any source-based genes, some genes were enriched in a few isolates from different sources. The mrkABCDF operon that mediates biofilm formation and genes encoding resistance to colistin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, and tetracycline were enriched in animal products, whereas macrolide resistance genes and Inc plasmid-types were linked to the aquatic environment. Novel biosynthetic gene clusters were identified, suggesting that A. veronii with varying pathogenic potential could produce unique secondary metabolites. There is a need for continuous tracking of pathogens in aquatic ecosystems to contribute to our understanding of their evolutionary dynamics and the ecological roles of their genetic elements. IMPORTANCE: Lakes and other aquatic ecosystems can harbor harmful bacteria that can make people sick and resist antibiotics, posing a significant global health risk. In this study, we investigated Aeromonas veronii, a Gram-negative bacteria found in Lake Wilcox in Ontario. We used various techniques, including whole-genome sequencing (WGS), to analyze the bacteria and found that many of the isolates had the potential to cause human disease. We also discovered significant genetic diversity among the isolates, indicating that the lake may be a reservoir for multiple human pathogenic strains. All isolates carried genes that confer resistance to antibiotics, and some virulence genes were associated with human pathogenic isolates. This study highlights the importance of monitoring aquatic ecosystems for harmful bacteria to better understand their evolution, potential for human pathogenicity, and the ecological roles of their genetic elements. This knowledge can inform strategies for preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and protecting public health.202439513706
3884120.9998Distribution and quantification of antibiotic resistant genes and bacteria across agricultural and non-agricultural metagenomes. There is concern that antibiotic resistance can potentially be transferred from animals to humans through the food chain. The relationship between specific antibiotic resistant bacteria and the genes they carry remains to be described. Few details are known about the ecology of antibiotic resistant genes and bacteria in food production systems, or how antibiotic resistance genes in food animals compare to antibiotic resistance genes in other ecosystems. Here we report the distribution of antibiotic resistant genes in publicly available agricultural and non-agricultural metagenomic samples and identify which bacteria are likely to be carrying those genes. Antibiotic resistance, as coded for in the genes used in this study, is a process that was associated with all natural, agricultural, and human-impacted ecosystems examined, with between 0.7 to 4.4% of all classified genes in each habitat coding for resistance to antibiotic and toxic compounds (RATC). Agricultural, human, and coastal-marine metagenomes have characteristic distributions of antibiotic resistance genes, and different bacteria that carry the genes. There is a larger percentage of the total genome associated with antibiotic resistance in gastrointestinal-associated and agricultural metagenomes compared to marine and Antarctic samples. Since antibiotic resistance genes are a natural part of both human-impacted and pristine habitats, presence of these resistance genes in any specific habitat is therefore not sufficient to indicate or determine impact of anthropogenic antibiotic use. We recommend that baseline studies and control samples be taken in order to determine natural background levels of antibiotic resistant bacteria and/or antibiotic resistance genes when investigating the impacts of veterinary use of antibiotics on human health. We raise questions regarding whether the underlying biology of each type of bacteria contributes to the likelihood of transfer via the food chain.201223133629
3852130.9998Phenotype profiles and adaptive preference of Acinetobacter johnsonii isolated from Ba River with different environmental backgrounds. Acinetobacter johnsonii is a potentially opportunistic pathogen widely distributed in nosocomial and natural environments, but little attention has been paid to this bacillus. Here A. johnsonii strains from Ba River with different pollution levels were isolated. In this study, we found that the increasing anthropogenic contaminants accounted for the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. johnsonii strains. Correlation analysis results showed that the resistance phenotype of strains could be generated by co-selection of heavy metals or non-corresponding antibiotics. The whole genome sequence analysis showed that the relative heavy pollution of water selects strains containing more survival-relevant genes. We found that only some genes like bla(OXA-24) were responsible for its corresponding resistance profile. Additionally, the tolerance profiles toward heavy metals also attribute to the expression of efflux pumps rather than corresponding resistance genes. In summary, our finding revealed that the resistance profiles of A. johnsonii could be generated by cross or co-selection of anthropogenic contaminants and mediated by efflux pumps instead of corresponding resistance determinants. Our study also has deep-sight into the adaptive preference of bacteria in natural environments, and contributes to surveillance studies and MDR- A. johnsonii monitoring worldwide.202133639142
3474140.9998Antibiotic resistance in bacterial isolates from freshwater samples in Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Anthropic activity in Antarctica has been increasing considerably in recent years, which could have an important impact on the local microbiota affecting multiple features, including the bacterial resistome. As such, our study focused on determining the antibiotic-resistance patterns and antibiotic-resistance genes of bacteria recovered from freshwater samples collected in areas of Antarctica under different degrees of human influence. Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing and PCR. The isolates collected from regions of high human intervention were resistant to several antibiotic groups, and were mainly associated with the presence of genes encoding aminoglycosides-modifying enzymes (AMEs) and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Moreover, these isolates were resistant to synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, in contrast with those recovered from zones with low human intervention, which resulted highly susceptible to antibiotics. On the other hand, we observed that zone A, under human influence, presented a higher richness and diversity of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in comparison with zones B and C, which have low human activity. Our results suggest that human activity has an impact on the local microbiota, in which strains recovered from zones under anthropic influence were considerably more resistant than those collected from remote regions.202032081909
3401150.9998Heavy metal resistance and virulence profile in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from Brazilian soils. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen, which can have several virulence factors that confer on it the ability to cause severe, acute and chronic infections. Thus, the simultaneous occurrence of resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals associated with the presence of virulence genes is a potential threat to human health and environmental balance. This study aimed to investigate the resistance profile to heavy metals and the correlation of this phenotype of resistance to antimicrobials and to investigate the pathogenic potential of 46 P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from the soil of five Brazilian regions. The bacteria were evaluating for antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance, as well as the presence of plasmids and virulence genes. The isolates showed resistance to four different antibiotics and the majority (n = 44) had resistance to aztreonam or ticarcillin, furthermore, 32 isolates showed concomitant resistance to both of these antibiotics. A high prevalence of virulence genes was found, which highlights the pathogenic potential of the studied environmental isolates. Moreover, a high frequency of heavy metal resistance genes was also detected, however, the phenotypic results indicated that other genes and/or mechanisms should be related to heavy metal resistance.201627197940
3871160.9998Functional characterization of bacteria isolated from ancient arctic soil exposes diverse resistance mechanisms to modern antibiotics. Using functional metagenomics to study the resistomes of bacterial communities isolated from different layers of the Canadian high Arctic permafrost, we show that microbial communities harbored diverse resistance mechanisms at least 5,000 years ago. Among bacteria sampled from the ancient layers of a permafrost core, we isolated eight genes conferring clinical levels of resistance against aminoglycoside, β-lactam and tetracycline antibiotics that are naturally produced by microorganisms. Among these resistance genes, four also conferred resistance against amikacin, a modern semi-synthetic antibiotic that does not naturally occur in microorganisms. In bacteria sampled from the overlaying active layer, we isolated ten different genes conferring resistance to all six antibiotics tested in this study, including aminoglycoside, β-lactam and tetracycline variants that are naturally produced by microorganisms as well as semi-synthetic variants produced in the laboratory. On average, we found that resistance genes found in permafrost bacteria conferred lower levels of resistance against clinically relevant antibiotics than resistance genes sampled from the active layer. Our results demonstrate that antibiotic resistance genes were functionally diverse prior to the anthropogenic use of antibiotics, contributing to the evolution of natural reservoirs of resistance genes.201525807523
3399170.9998Antibiotic-resistance and virulence genes in Enterococcus isolated from tropical recreational waters. The prevalence of enterococci harboring tetracycline- and vancomycin-resistance genes, as well as the enterococcal surface protein (esp) has mostly been determined in clinical settings, but their prevalence in tropical recreational waters remains largely unknown. The present study determined the prevalence of tetM (tetracycline-resistance), vanA and vanB (vancomycin-resistance) in the bacterial and viral fractions, enterococci and their induced phages isolated from tropical recreational marine and fresh waters, dry and wet sands. Since lysogenic phages can act as vectors for antibiotic-resistance and virulence factors, the prevalence of the mentioned genes, as well as that of an integrase-encoding gene (int) specific for Enterococcus faecalis phages was determined. Up to 60 and 54% of the bacterial fractions and enterococci, respectively, harbored at least one of the tested genes suggesting that bacteria in tropical environments may be reservoirs of antibiotic-resistance and virulence genes. int was detected in the viral fractions and in one Enterococcus isolate after induction. This study presents the opportunity to determine if the presence of bacteria harboring antibiotic-resistance and virulence genes in tropical recreational waters represents a threat to public health.201323981868
3400180.9998Chicken liver is a potential reservoir of bacteriophages and phage-derived particles containing antibiotic resistance genes. Poultry meat production is one of the most important agri-food industries in the world. The selective pressure exerted by widespread prophylactic or therapeutic use of antibiotics in intensive chicken farming favours the development of drug resistance in bacterial populations. Chicken liver, closely connected with the intestinal tract, has been directly involved in food-borne infections and found to be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, including Campylobacter and Salmonella. In this study, 74 chicken livers, divided into sterile and non-sterile groups, were analysed, not only for microbial indicators but also for the presence of phages and phage particles containing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Both bacteria and phages were detected in liver tissues, including those dissected under sterile conditions. The phages were able to infect Escherichia coli and showed a Siphovirus morphology. The chicken livers contained from 10(3) to 10(6) phage particles per g, which carried a range of ARGs (bla(TEM) , bla(CTx-M-1) , sul1, qnrA, armA and tetW) detected by qPCR. The presence of phages in chicken liver, mostly infecting E. coli, was confirmed by metagenomic analysis, although this technique was not sufficiently sensitive to identify ARGs. In addition, ARG-carrying phages were detected in chicken faeces by qPCR in a previous study of the group. Comparison of the viromes of faeces and liver showed a strong coincidence of species, which suggests that the phages found in the liver originate in faeces. These findings suggests that phages, like bacteria, can translocate from the gut to the liver, which may therefore constitute a potential reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes.202235485188
3244190.9998Metagenomic analysis of virulence-associated and antibiotic resistance genes of microbes in rumen of Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). A major research goal in rumen microbial ecology is to understand the relationship between community composition and its function, particularly involved in fermentation process is of a potential interest. The buffalo rumen microbiota impacts human food safety as well as animal health. Although the bacteria of bovine rumen have been well characterized, techniques have been lacking to correlate total community structure with gene function. We applied 454 next generations sequencing technology to characterize general microbial diversity present in buffalo rumen metagenome and also identified the repertoire of microbial genes present, including genes associated with antibiotic resistance and bacterial virulence. Results suggest that over six percent (6.44%) of the sequences from our buffalo rumen pool sample could be categorized as virulence genes and genes associated with resistance to antibiotic and toxic compounds (RATC), which is a higher proportion of virulence genes reported from metagenome samples of chicken cecum (5.39%), cow rumen (4.43%) and Sargasso sea (2.95%). However, it was lower than the proportion found in cow milk (11.33%) cattle faeces (8.4%), Antarctic marine derived lake (8.45%), human fecal (7.7%) and farm soil (7.79%). The dynamic nature of metagenomic data, together with the large number of RATC classes observed in samples from widely different ecologies indicates that metagenomic data can be used to track potential targets and relative amounts of antibiotic resistance genes in individual animals. In addition, these data can be also used to generate antibiotic resistance gene profiles to facilitate an understanding of the ecology of the microbial communities in each habitat as well as the epidemiology of antibiotic resistant gene transport between and among habitats.201222850272