Mobile Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Probiotics. - Related Documents




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392201.0000Mobile Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Probiotics. Even though people worldwide tend to consume probiotic products for their beneficial health effects on a daily basis, recently, concerns were outlined regarding the uptake and potential intestinal colonisation of the bacteria that they carry. These bacteria are capable of executing horizontal gene transfer (HGT) which facilitates the movement of various genes, including antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), among the donor and recipient bacterial populations. Within our study, 47 shotgun sequencing datasets deriving from various probiotic samples (isolated strains and metagenomes) were bioinformatically analysed. We detected more than 70 ARGs, out of which rpoB mutants conferring resistance to rifampicin, tet(W/N/W) and potentially extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) coding TEM-116 were the most common. Numerous ARGs were associated with integrated mobile genetic elements, plasmids or phages promoting the HGT. Our findings raise clinical and public health concerns as the consumption of probiotic products may lead to the transfer of ARGs to human gut bacteria.202134827225
392310.9999Antimicrobial resistance genes in raw milk for human consumption. The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to global health. More and more multi-drug-resistant bacterial strains cause life-threatening infections and the death of thousands of people each year. Beyond disease control animals are often given antibiotics for growth promotion or increased feed efficiency, which further increase the chance of the development of multi-resistant strains. After the consumption of unprocessed animal products, these strains may meet the human bacteriota. Among the foodborne and the human populations, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) may be shared by horizontal gene transfer. This study aims to test the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in milk metagenome, investigate their genetic position and their linkage to mobile genetic elements. We have analyzed raw milk samples from public markets sold for human consumption. The milk samples contained genetic material from various bacterial species and the in-depth analysis uncovered the presence of several antimicrobial resistance genes. The samples contained complete ARGs influencing the effectiveness of acridine dye, cephalosporin, cephamycin, fluoroquinolone, penam, peptide antibiotics and tetracycline. One of the ARGs, PC1 beta-lactamase may also be a mobile element that facilitates the transfer of resistance genes to other bacteria, e.g. to the ones living in the human gut.202032366826
394220.9998Food commensal microbes as a potentially important avenue in transmitting antibiotic resistance genes. The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant (ART) pathogens is a major threat to public health. While the surfacing of ART food-borne pathogens is alarming, the magnitude of the antibiotic resistance (AR) gene pool in food-borne commensal microbes is yet to be revealed. Incidence of ART commensals in selected retail food products was examined in this study. The presence of 10(2)-10(7) CFU of ART bacteria per gram of foods in many samples, particularly in ready-to-eat, 'healthy' food items, indicates that the ART bacteria are abundant in the food chain. AR-encoding genes were detected in ART isolates, and Streptococcus thermophilus was found to be a major host for AR genes in cheese microbiota. Lactococcus lactis and Leuconostoc sp. isolates were also found carrying AR genes. The data indicate that food could be an important avenue for ART bacterial evolution and dissemination. AR-encoding plasmids from several food-borne commensals were transmitted to Streptococcus mutans via natural gene transformation under laboratory conditions, suggesting the possible transfer of AR genes from food commensals to human residential bacteria via horizontal gene transfer.200616445749
344830.9998Antimicrobial resistance genes and associated mobile genetic elements in Lactobacillales from various sources. Lactobacillales are commonly used in food products and as probiotics in animal and human medicine. Despite being generally recognized as safe, lactic acid bacteria may harbor a variety of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), which may be transferable to human or veterinary pathogens, thus, may pose veterinary and public health concerns. This study investigates the resistome of Lactobacillales. A total of 4,286 whole-genome sequences were retrieved from NCBI RefSeq database. We screened ARGs in whole genome sequences and assessed if they are transmissible by plasmid transfer or by linkage to integrative mobile genetic elements. In the database, 335 strains were found to carry at least one ARG, and 194 strains carried at least one potentially transferable ARG. The most prevalent transferable ARG were tetM and tetW conferring antibiotic resistance to tetracycline. This study highlights the importance of the One Health concept by demonstrating the potential for Lactobacillales, commonly used in food products, to serve as reservoirs and vectors for ARGs.202338045025
454540.9998Beta-lactamases in lactic acid bacteria: Dual role in antimicrobial resistance spread and environmental detoxification of antibiotic residues. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely used in food production and as probiotics. However, their potential role in the spreading of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains underexplored. A major AMR mechanism is the production of beta-lactamases, which is well-documented in most pathogenic bacteria; the diversity and functionality of these enzymes in LAB are less understood. Here, we explored the genomic diversity of beta-lactamase genes in LAB in a broad range of publicly available LAB genomes. Our findings revealed the presence of two distinct types of beta-lactamase genes in LAB: ampC-type beta-lactamases (class C), likely developed within LAB lineages, and bla(TEM)-type (class A), potentially acquired via HGT. Phylogenetic and structural analysis revealed similarities between LAB-derived ampC genes and clinically relevant class C beta-lactamases, while bla(TEM)-type genes were identified to be often flanked by mobility-related genetic elements, indicating a potential for horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Molecular docking studies further showed that LAB beta-lactamases may hydrolyze a broad spectrum of beta-lactam antibiotics, particularly aminopenicillins and cephalosporins. These findings will contribute to the broader field of AMR research, highlighting the importance of monitoring beta-lactamase production by LAB and its implications for food safety, bioremediation of beta-lactam antibiotic residues in wastewater and agro-industrial effluents.202540651383
392450.9998Antimicrobial resistance determinants in silage. Animal products may play a role in developing and spreading antimicrobial resistance in several ways. On the one hand, residues of antibiotics not adequately used in animal farming can enter the human body via food. However, resistant bacteria may also be present in animal products, which can transfer the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) to the bacteria in the consumer's body by horizontal gene transfer. As previous studies have shown that fermented foods have a meaningful ARG content, it is indicated that such genes may also be present in silage used as mass feed in the cattle sector. In our study, we aspired to answer what ARGs occur in silage and what mobility characteristics they have? For this purpose, we have analyzed bioinformatically 52 freely available deep sequenced silage samples from shotgun metagenome next-generation sequencing. A total of 16 perfect matched ARGs occurred 54 times in the samples. More than half of these ARGs are mobile because they can be linked to integrative mobile genetic elements, prophages or plasmids. Our results point to a neglected but substantial ARG source in the food chain.202235347213
496660.9998Whole Genome Analysis of 335 New Bacterial Species from Human Microbiota Reveals a Huge Reservoir of Transferable Antibiotic Resistance Determinants. BACKGROUND: The emergence and diffusion of strains of pathogenic bacteria resistant to antibiotics constitutes a real public health challenge. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can be carried by both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, including commensal bacteria from the human microbiota, which require special monitoring in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. METHODS: We analyzed the proteomes of 335 new bacterial species from human microbiota to estimate its whole range of ARGs using the BLAST program against ARGs reference databases. RESULTS: We found 278 bacteria that harbor a total of 883 potential ARGs with the following distribution: 264 macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramin, 195 aminoglycosides, 156 tetracyclines, 58 β-lactamases, 58 fosfomycin, 51 glycopeptides, 36 nitroimidazoles, 33 phenicols and 32 rifamycin. Furthermore, evolutionary analyses revealed the potential horizontal transfer with pathogenic bacteria involving mobile genetic elements such as transposase and plasmid. We identified many ARGs that may represent new variants in fosfomycin and β-lactams resistance. CONCLUSION: These findings show that new bacterial species from human microbiota should be considered as an important reservoir of ARGs that can be transferred to pathogenic bacteria. In vitro analyses of their phenotypic potential are required to improve our understanding of the functional role of this bacterial community in the development of antibiotic resistance.202235216256
334170.9998The shared resistome of human and pig microbiota is mobilized by distinct genetic elements. The extensive use of antibiotics in hospitals and in the animal breeding industry has promoted antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which resulted in the emergence of a large number of antibiotic resistance genes in the intestinal tract of human and farmed animals. Genetic exchange of resistance genes between the two ecosystems is now well documented for pathogenic bacteria, but the repertoire of shared resistance genes in the commensal bacterial community and by which genetic modules they are disseminated are still unclear. By analyzing metagenomics data of human and pig intestinal samples both collected in Shenzhen, China, a set of 27 highly prevalent antibiotic resistance genes was found to be shared between human and pig intestinal microbiota. The mobile genetic context for 11 of these core antibiotic resistance genes could be identified by mining their carrying scaffolds constructed from the two datasets, leading to the detection of seven integrative and conjugative/mobilizable elements and two IS-related transposons. The comparison of the relative abundances between these detected mobile genetic elements and their associated antibiotic resistance genes revealed that for many genes, the estimated contribution of the mobile elements to the gene abundance differs strikingly depending on the host. These findings indicate that although some antibiotic resistance genes are ubiquitous across microbiota of human and pig populations, they probably relied on different genetic elements for their dissemination within each population.IMPORTANCE There is growing concern that antibiotic resistance genes could spread from the husbandry environment to human pathogens through dissemination mediated by mobile genetic elements. In this study, we investigated the contribution of mobile genetic elements to the abundance of highly prevalent antibiotic resistance genes found in commensal bacteria of both human and pig intestinal microbiota originating from the same region. Our results reveal that for most of these antibiotic resistance genes, the abundance is not explained by the same mobile genetic element in each host, suggesting that the human and pig microbial communities promoted a different set of mobile genetic carriers for the same antibiotic resistance genes. These results deepen our understanding of the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes among and between human and pig gut microbiota.202133310720
340580.9998Practical implications of erythromycin resistance gene diversity on surveillance and monitoring of resistance. Use of antibiotics in human and animal medicine has applied selective pressure for the global dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is of interest to develop strategies to mitigate the continued amplification and transmission of resistance genes in environmental reservoirs such as farms, hospitals and watersheds. However, the efficacy of mitigation strategies is difficult to evaluate because it is unclear which resistance genes are important to monitor, and which primers to use to detect those genes. Here, we evaluated the diversity of one type of macrolide antibiotic resistance gene (erm) in one type of environment (manure) to determine which primers would be most informative to use in a mitigation study of that environment. We analyzed all known erm genes and assessed the ability of previously published erm primers to detect the diversity. The results showed that all known erm resistance genes group into 66 clusters, and 25 of these clusters (40%) can be targeted with primers found in the literature. These primers can target 74%-85% of the erm gene diversity in the manures analyzed.201829346541
498790.9998The Human Health Implications of Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Isolates from Two Nebraska Watersheds. One Health field-based approaches are needed to connect the occurrence of antibiotics present in the environment with the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Gram-negative bacteria that confer resistance to antibiotics important in for both veterinary and human health. Water samples from two Nebraska watersheds influenced by wastewater effluent and agricultural runoff were tested for the presence of antibiotics used in veterinary and human medicine. The water samples were also cultured to identify the bacteria present. Of those bacteria isolated, the Gram-negative rods capable of causing human infections had antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) performed to identify ARGs present. Of the 211 bacterial isolates identified, 37 belonged to pathogenic genera known to cause human infections. Genes conferring resistance to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fosfomycins, and quinolones were the most frequently detected ARGs associated with horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the watersheds. WGS also suggest recent HGT events involving ARGs transferred between watershed isolates and bacteria of human and animal origins. The results of this study demonstrate the linkage of antibiotics and bacterial ARGs present in the environment with potential human and/or veterinary health impacts. IMPORTANCE One health is a transdisciplinary approach to achieve optimal health for humans, animals, plants and their shared environment, recognizing the interconnected nature of health in these domains. Field based research is needed to connect the occurrence of antibiotics used in veterinary medicine and human health with the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, the presence of antibiotics, bacteria and ARGs was determined in two watersheds in Nebraska, one with agricultural inputs and the other with both agricultural and wastewater inputs. The results presented in this study provide evidence of transfer of highly mobile ARG between environment, clinical, and animal-associated bacteria.202235311538
3925100.9998Evaluating the health risk of probiotic supplements from the perspective of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance remains a public health threat. Probiotics harboring antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs) have, in recent years, been considered a potential health risk. Studies conducted on probiotics from increasingly popular health supplements have raised the possibility of transmitting ARGs to commensals in the human gut, concomitantly establishing a reservoir of ARGs and risking acquisition by opportunistic pathogens. Building on our previous study that reported multiple antibiotic resistance in probiotics of health supplements, in this research, we have attempted to detect their ARGs that may account for resistant phenotypes. ARGs responsible for tetracycline, macrolide, aminoglycoside, and glycopeptide resistance were prevalent in probiotics. Through laboratory adaptive evolution studies, we also show that streptomycin-adapted probiotics gained resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, and doxycycline more effectively than non-adapted ones. When co-incubated with Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, or Staphylococcus aureus on Caco-2 and/or HCT-116 cells, streptomycin resistance was transferred from the adapted probiotics to generate transconjugants at frequencies comparable to or higher than that of other studies conducted through filter mating. Consistently, ARGs conferring resistance to streptomycin (aadA) and erythromycin [erm(B)-1] were detected in E. coli and S. aureus transconjugants, respectively, after co-incubation with streptomycin-adapted probiotics on Caco-2 cells. aadA and erm(B)-1 were both detected in E. faecalis transconjugant after the same co-incubation on HCT-116 cells. Our data and future comparative genomics and metagenomics studies conducted on animal models and in healthy, immunocompromised, and/or antibiotic-treated human cohorts will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of probiotic consumption, application, and safety. IMPORTANCE: Probiotics are becoming increasingly popular, with promising applications in food and medicine, but the risk of transferring ARGs to disease-causing bacteria has raised concerns. Our study detected ARGs in probiotics of health supplements conferring resistance to tetracycline, macrolide, aminoglycoside, and glycopeptide drugs. Streptomycin-adapted probiotics also gained resistance to other antibiotics more effectively than non-adapted ones. Importantly, we showed that streptomycin resistance could be transferred to other bacteria after co-incubation with probiotics on human intestinal cells. ARGs responsible for erythromycin and streptomycin resistance, which were initially absent in the recipient bacteria, were also detected in the transconjugants. Our data build the foundation for future studies that will be conducted on animal models and in humans and leveraging advanced metagenomics approaches to clarify the long-term health risk of probiotic consumption.202539655960
4989110.9998A closer look on the variety and abundance of the faecal resistome of wild boar. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious problem for public and animal health, and also for the environment. Monitoring and reporting the occurrence of AMR determinants and bacteria with the potential to disseminate is a priority for health surveillance programs around the world and critical to the One Health concept. Wildlife is a reservoir of AMR, and human activities can strongly influence their resistome. The main goal of this work was to study the resistome of wild boar faecal microbiome, one of the most important game species in Europe using metagenomic and culturing approaches. The most abundant genes identified by the high-throughput qPCR array encode mobile genetic elements, including integrons, which can promote the dissemination of AMR determinants. A diverse set of genes (n = 62) conferring resistance to several classes of antibiotics (ARGs), some of them included in the WHO list of critically important antimicrobials were also detected. The most abundant ARGs confer resistance to tetracyclines and aminoglycosides. The phenotypic resistance of E. coli and Enterococcus spp. were also investigated, and together supported the metagenomic results. As the wild boar is an omnivorous animal, it can be a disseminator of AMR bacteria and ARGs to livestock, humans, and the environment. This study supports that wild boar can be a key sentinel species in ecosystems surveillance and should be included in National Action Plans to fight AMR, adopting a One Health approach.202234710519
3253120.9998Metagenome-assembled genomes indicate that antimicrobial resistance genes are highly prevalent among urban bacteria and multidrug and glycopeptide resistances are ubiquitous in most taxa. INTRODUCTION: Every year, millions of deaths are associated with the increased spread of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in bacteria. With the increasing urbanization of the global population, the spread of ARGs in urban bacteria has become a more severe threat to human health. METHODS: In this study, we used metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) recovered from 1,153 urban metagenomes in multiple urban locations to investigate the fate and occurrence of ARGs in urban bacteria. Additionally, we analyzed the occurrence of these ARGs on plasmids and estimated the virulence of the bacterial species. RESULTS: Our results showed that multidrug and glycopeptide ARGs are ubiquitous among urban bacteria. Additionally, we analyzed the deterministic effects of phylogeny on the spread of these ARGs and found ARG classes that have a non-random distribution within the phylogeny of our recovered MAGs. However, few ARGs were found on plasmids and most of the recovered MAGs contained few virulence factors. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that the observed non-random spreads of ARGs are not due to the transfer of plasmids and that most of the bacteria observed in the study are unlikely to be virulent. Additional research is needed to evaluate whether the ubiquitous and widespread ARG classes will become entirely prevalent among urban bacteria and how they spread among phylogenetically distinct species.202336760505
9919130.9998An In Vitro Chicken Gut Model Demonstrates Transfer of a Multidrug Resistance Plasmid from Salmonella to Commensal Escherichia coli. The chicken gastrointestinal tract is richly populated by commensal bacteria that fulfill various beneficial roles for the host, including helping to resist colonization by pathogens. It can also facilitate the conjugative transfer of multidrug resistance (MDR) plasmids between commensal and pathogenic bacteria which is a significant public and animal health concern as it may affect our ability to treat bacterial infections. We used an in vitro chemostat system to approximate the chicken cecal microbiota, simulate colonization by an MDR Salmonella pathogen, and examine the dynamics of transfer of its MDR plasmid harboring several genes, including the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase bla(CTX-M1) We also evaluated the impact of cefotaxime administration on plasmid transfer and microbial diversity. Bacterial community profiles obtained by culture-independent methods showed that Salmonella inoculation resulted in no significant changes to bacterial community alpha diversity and beta diversity, whereas administration of cefotaxime caused significant alterations to both measures of diversity, which largely recovered. MDR plasmid transfer from Salmonella to commensal Escherichia coli was demonstrated by PCR and whole-genome sequencing of isolates purified from agar plates containing cefotaxime. Transfer occurred to seven E. coli sequence types at high rates, even in the absence of cefotaxime, with resistant strains isolated within 3 days. Our chemostat system provides a good representation of bacterial interactions, including antibiotic resistance transfer in vivo It can be used as an ethical and relatively inexpensive approach to model dissemination of antibiotic resistance within the gut of any animal or human and refine interventions that mitigate its spread before employing in vivo studies.IMPORTANCE The spread of antimicrobial resistance presents a grave threat to public health and animal health and is affecting our ability to respond to bacterial infections. Transfer of antimicrobial resistance via plasmid exchange is of particular concern as it enables unrelated bacteria to acquire resistance. The gastrointestinal tract is replete with bacteria and provides an environment for plasmid transfer between commensals and pathogens. Here we use the chicken gut microbiota as an exemplar to model the effects of bacterial infection, antibiotic administration, and plasmid transfer. We show that transfer of a multidrug-resistant plasmid from the zoonotic pathogen Salmonella to commensal Escherichia coli occurs at a high rate, even in the absence of antibiotic administration. Our work demonstrates that the in vitro gut model provides a powerful screening tool that can be used to assess and refine interventions that mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance in the gut before undertaking animal studies.201728720731
4988140.9998Oh, deer! How worried should we be about the diversity and abundance of the faecal resistome of red deer? The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to public health. Antimicrobials are used in animal production and human medicine, which contribute to the circulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. Wildlife can be reservoirs of pathogens and resistant bacteria. Furthermore, anthropogenic pressure can influence their resistome. This work aimed to study the AMR of the faecal microbiome of red deer, one of the most important game species in Europe. To this end, a high-throughput qPCR approach was employed to screen a high number of ARGs and the antimicrobial susceptibility of indicator bacteria was determined. Several genes that confer resistance to different classes of antibiotics were identified, with the most abundant being tetracycline ARGs. Other genes were also present that are considered current and future threats to human health, and some of these were relatively abundant. Multidrug-resistant E. coli and Enterococcus spp. were isolated, although the overall level of antibiotic resistance was low. These results highlight the pressing need to know the origin and transmission of AMR in wildlife. Thus, and considering the One Health concept, studies such as this one shows the need for surveillance programs to prevent the spread of drug-resistant strains and ARGs.202235151727
3932150.9998Acquired antibiotic resistance: are we born with it? The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance (AR) is a major public health concern. Recent findings on the prevalence of food-borne antibiotic-resistant (ART) commensal bacteria in ready-to-consume food products suggested that daily food consumption likely serves as a major avenue for dissemination of ART bacteria from the food chain to human hosts. To properly assess the impact of various factors, including the food chain, on AR development in hosts, it is important to determine the baseline of ART bacteria in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We thus examined the gut microbiota of 16 infant subjects, from the newborn stage to 1 year of age, who fed on breast milk and/or infant formula during the early stages of development and had no prior exposure to antibiotics. Predominant bacterial populations resistant to several antibiotics and multiple resistance genes were found in the infant GI tracts within the first week of age. Several ART population transitions were also observed in the absence of antibiotic exposure and dietary changes. Representative AR gene pools including tet(M), ermB, sul2, and bla(TEM) were detected in infant subjects. Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Streptococcus spp., and Escherichia coli/Shigella spp. were among the identified AR gene carriers. ART bacteria were not detected in the infant formula and infant foods examined, but small numbers of skin-associated ART bacteria were found in certain breast milk samples. The data suggest that the early development of AR in the human gut microbiota is independent of infants' exposure to antibiotics but is likely impacted by exposure to maternal and environmental microbes during and after delivery and that the ART population is significantly amplified within the host even in the absence of antibiotic selective pressure.201121821748
3893160.9998Diverse antibiotic resistance genes in dairy cow manure. Application of manure from antibiotic-treated animals to crops facilitates the dissemination of antibiotic resistance determinants into the environment. However, our knowledge of the identity, diversity, and patterns of distribution of these antibiotic resistance determinants remains limited. We used a new combination of methods to examine the resistome of dairy cow manure, a common soil amendment. Metagenomic libraries constructed with DNA extracted from manure were screened for resistance to beta-lactams, phenicols, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines. Functional screening of fosmid and small-insert libraries identified 80 different antibiotic resistance genes whose deduced protein sequences were on average 50 to 60% identical to sequences deposited in GenBank. The resistance genes were frequently found in clusters and originated from a taxonomically diverse set of species, suggesting that some microorganisms in manure harbor multiple resistance genes. Furthermore, amid the great genetic diversity in manure, we discovered a novel clade of chloramphenicol acetyltransferases. Our study combined functional metagenomics with third-generation PacBio sequencing to significantly extend the roster of functional antibiotic resistance genes found in animal gut bacteria, providing a particularly broad resource for understanding the origins and dispersal of antibiotic resistance genes in agriculture and clinical settings. IMPORTANCE The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among bacteria is one of the most intractable challenges in 21st-century public health. The origins of resistance are complex, and a better understanding of the impacts of antibiotics used on farms would produce a more robust platform for public policy. Microbiomes of farm animals are reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes, which may affect distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in human pathogens. Previous studies have focused on antibiotic resistance genes in manures of animals subjected to intensive antibiotic use, such as pigs and chickens. Cow manure has received less attention, although it is commonly used in crop production. Here, we report the discovery of novel and diverse antibiotic resistance genes in the cow microbiome, demonstrating that it is a significant reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes. The genomic resource presented here lays the groundwork for understanding the dispersal of antibiotic resistance from the agroecosystem to other settings.201424757214
3403170.9998Antibiotic Resistance Genetic Markers and Integrons in White Soft Cheese: Aspects of Clinical Resistome and Potentiality of Horizontal Gene Transfer. Antibiotic resistance poses an important threat to global public health and has become a challenge to modern medicine. The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in a broad range of foods has led to a growing concern about the impact that food may have as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes. Considering Minas Frescal Cheese (MFC)-a typical Brazilian white soft cheese-and its economic and cultural values, in this study, medically relevant antimicrobial-resistance genetic markers (AR genes) were screened, and the occurrence of integrons were evaluated in manufactured MFC using culture-independent approaches. Through a fingerprinting analysis, the tested MFCs were brand-clustered, indicating reproducibility along the production chain. A common core of resistance markers in all brands evaluated and related antimicrobials such as β-lactams, tetracyclines, quinolones, and sulfonamide was detected. Several other markers, including efflux pumps and aminoglycosides-resistance were distributed among brands. Class 1 and 2 integrons were observed, respectively, in 77% and 97% of the samples. The presence of AR genes is of special interest due to their clinical relevance. Taken together, the data may suggest that the production chain of MFC might contribute to the spread of putative drug-resistant bacteria, which could greatly impact human health. Furthermore, detection of class 1 and class 2 integrons in MFC has led to discussions about resistance gene spread in this traditional cheese, providing evidence of potential horizontal transfer of AR genes to human gut microbiota.201829463055
4640180.9998Genome analysis of probiotic bacteria for antibiotic resistance genes. To date, probiotic bacteria are used in the diet and have various clinical applications. There are reports of antibiotic resistance genes in these bacteria that can transfer to other commensal and pathogenic bacteria. The aim of this study was to use whole-genome sequence analysis to identify antibiotic resistance genes in a group of bacterial with probiotic properties. Also, this study followed existing issues about the importance and presence of antibiotic resistance genes in these bacteria and the dangers that may affect human health in the future. In the current study, a collection of 126 complete probiotic bacterial genomes was analyzed for antibiotic resistance genes. The results of the current study showed that there are various resistance genes in these bacteria that some of them are transferable to other bacteria. The tet(W) tetracycline resistance gene was more than other antibiotic resistance genes in these bacteria and this gene was found in Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. In our study, the most numbers of antibiotic resistance genes were transferred with mobile genetic elements. We propose that probiotic companies before the use of a micro-organism as a probiotic, perform an antibiotic susceptibility testing for a large number of antibiotics. Also, they perform analysis of complete genome sequence for prediction of antibiotic resistance genes.202234989942
3475190.9998Phylogenomics 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