# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6460 | 0 | 1.0000 | Biocides as drivers of antibiotic resistance: A critical review of environmental implications and public health risks. The widespread and indiscriminate use of biocides poses significant threats to global health, socioeconomic development, and environmental sustainability by accelerating antibiotic resistance. Bacterial resistance development is highly complex and influenced significantly by environmental factors. Increased biocide usage in households, agriculture, livestock farming, industrial settings, and hospitals produces persistent chemical residues that pollute soil and aquatic environments. Such contaminants contribute to the selection and proliferation of resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), facilitating their dissemination among humans, animals, and ecosystems. In this review, we conduct a critical assessment of four significant issues pertaining to this topic. Specifically, (i) the role of biocides in exerting selective pressure within the environmental resistome, thereby promoting the proliferation of resistant microbial populations and contributing to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs); (ii) the role of biocides in triggering transient phenotypic adaptations in bacteria, including efflux pump overexpression, membrane alterations, and reduced porin expression, which often result in cross-resistance to multiple antibiotics; (iii) the capacity of biocides to disrupt bacteria and make the genetic content accessible, releasing DNA into the environment that remains intact under certain conditions, facilitating horizontal gene transfer and the spread of resistance determinants; (iv) the capacity of biocides to disrupt bacterial cells, releasing intact DNA into the environment and enhancing horizontal gene transfer of resistance determinants; and (iv) the selective interactions between biocides and bacterial biofilms in the environment, strengthening biofilm cohesion, inducing resistance mechanisms, and creating reservoirs for resistant microorganisms and ARG dissemination. Collectively, this review highlights the critical environmental and public health implications of biocide use, emphasizing an urgent need for strategic interventions to mitigate their role in antibiotic resistance proliferation. | 2025 | 40230384 |
| 9639 | 1 | 0.9999 | Co-selection mechanism for bacterial resistance to major chemical pollutants in the environment. Bacterial resistance is an emerging global public health problem, posing a significant threat to animal and human health. Chemical pollutants present in the environment exert selective pressure on bacteria, which acquire resistance through co-resistance, cross-resistance, co-regulation, and biofilm resistance. Resistance genes are horizontally transmitted in the environment through four mechanisms including conjugation transfer, bacterial transformation, bacteriophage transduction, and membrane vesicle transport, and even enter human bodies through the food chain, endangering human health. Although the co-selection effects of bacterial resistance to chemical pollutants has attracted widespread attention, the co-screening mechanism and co-transmission mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this article summarises the current research status of the co-selection effects and mechanism of environmental pollutants resistance, emphasising the necessity of studying the co-selection mechanism of bacteria against major chemical pollutants, and lays a solid theoretical foundation for conducting risk assessment of bacterial resistance. | 2024 | 38101638 |
| 6467 | 2 | 0.9999 | The role of biofilms as environmental reservoirs of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance has become a significant and growing threat to public and environmental health. To face this problem both at local and global scales, a better understanding of the sources and mechanisms that contribute to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance is required. Recent studies demonstrate that aquatic ecosystems are reservoirs of resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes as well as potential conduits for their transmission to human pathogens. Despite the wealth of information about antibiotic pollution and its effect on the aquatic microbial resistome, the contribution of environmental biofilms to the acquisition and spread of antibiotic resistance has not been fully explored in aquatic systems. Biofilms are structured multicellular communities embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix that acts as a barrier to antibiotic diffusion. High population densities and proximity of cells in biofilms also increases the chances for genetic exchange among bacterial species converting biofilms in hot spots of antibiotic resistance. This review focuses on the potential effect of antibiotic pollution on biofilm microbial communities, with special emphasis on ecological and evolutionary processes underlying acquired resistance to these compounds. | 2015 | 26583011 |
| 6469 | 3 | 0.9999 | From environment to clinic: the role of pesticides in antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogens has been associated mainly with excessive use of antibiotics. Most studies of resistance have focused on clinical pathogens; however, microorganisms are exposed to numerous anthropogenic substances. Few studies have sought to determine the effects of chemical substances on microorganisms. Exposure to these substances may contribute to increased rates of AMR. Understanding microorganism communities in natural environments and AMR mechanisms under the effects of anthropogenic substances, such as pesticides, is important to addressing the current crisis of antimicrobial resistance. This report draws attention to molecules, rather than antibiotics, that are commonly used in agrochemicals and may be involved in developing AMR in non-clinical environments, such as soil. This report examines pesticides as mediators for the appearance of AMR, and as a route for antibiotic resistance genes and antimicrobial resistant bacteria to the anthropic environment. Available evidence suggests that the natural environment may be a key dissemination route for antibiotic-resistant genes. Understanding the interrelationship of soil, water, and pesticides is fundamental to raising awareness of the need for environmental monitoring programs and overcoming the current crisis of AMR. | 2020 | 32973897 |
| 6459 | 4 | 0.9999 | Aquatic systems: maintaining, mixing and mobilising antimicrobial resistance? Bacteria showing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pose a significant global healthcare problem. Although many mechanisms conferring AMR are understood, the ecological processes facilitating its persistence and spread are less well characterised. Aquatic systems represent an important milieu for the environmental release, mixing, persistence and spread of AMR bacteria and resistance genes associated with horizontally transferable genetic elements. Additionally, owing to the use and discharge of antimicrobials and biocides, and the accumulation and abundance of other pollutants, mechanisms that confer AMR might evolve in aquatic systems. In this review, we hypothesise that aquatic systems have an important ecological and evolutionary role in driving the persistence, emergence and spread of AMR, which could have consequences when attempting to reduce its occurrence in clinical settings. | 2011 | 21458879 |
| 4017 | 5 | 0.9999 | Non-antibiotic compounds associated with humans and the environment can promote horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes. Horizontal gene transfer plays a key role in the global dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR genes are often carried on self-transmissible plasmids, which are shared amongst bacteria primarily by conjugation. Antibiotic use has been a well-established driver of the emergence and spread of AMR. However, the impact of commonly used non-antibiotic compounds and environmental pollutants on AMR spread has been largely overlooked. Recent studies found common prescription and over-the-counter drugs, artificial sweeteners, food preservatives, and environmental pollutants, can increase the conjugative transfer of AMR plasmids. The potential mechanisms by which these compounds promote plasmid transmission include increased membrane permeability, upregulation of plasmid transfer genes, formation of reactive oxygen species, and SOS response gene induction. Many questions remain around the impact of most non-antibiotic compounds on AMR plasmid conjugation in clinical isolates and the long-term impact on AMR dissemination. By elucidating the role of routinely used pharmaceuticals, food additives, and pollutants in the dissemination of AMR, action can be taken to mitigate their impact by closely monitoring use and disposal. This review will discuss recent progress on understanding the influence of non-antibiotic compounds on plasmid transmission, the mechanisms by which they promote transfer, and the level of risk they pose. | 2024 | 37462915 |
| 6476 | 6 | 0.9999 | Sustainable strategies: Nature-based solutions to tackle antibiotic resistance gene proliferation and improve agricultural productivity and soil quality. The issue of antibiotic resistance is now recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the major problems in human health. Although its effects are evident in the healthcare settings, the root cause should be traced back to the One Health link, extending from animals to the environment. In fact, the use of organic fertilizers in agroecosystems represents one, if not the primary, cause of the introduction of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the soil. Since the concentrations of antibiotics introduced into the soil are residual, the agroecosystem has become a perfect environment for the selection and proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The continuous influx of these emerging contaminants (i.e., antibiotics) into the agroecosystem results in the selection and accumulation of ARGs in soil bacteria, occasionally giving rise to multi-resistant bacteria. These bacteria may harbour ARGs related to various antibiotics on their plasmids. In this context, these bacteria can potentially enter the human sphere when individuals consume food from contaminated agroecosystems, leading to the acquisition of multi-resistant bacteria. Once introduced into the nosocomial environment, these bacteria pose a significant threat to human health. In this review, we analyse how the use of digestate as an organic fertilizer can mitigate the spread of ARGs in agroecosystems. Furthermore, we highlight how, according to European guidelines, digestate can be considered a Nature-Based Solution (NBS). This NBS not only has the ability to mitigate the spread of ARGs in agroecosystems but also offers the opportunity to further improve Microbial-Based Solutions (MBS), with the aim of enhancing soil quality and productivity. | 2024 | 38307185 |
| 9637 | 7 | 0.9999 | Heavy Metals as Catalysts in the Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance and the Mechanisms Underpinning Co-selection. The menace caused by antibiotic resistance in bacteria is acknowledged on a global scale. Concerns over the same are increasing because of the selection pressure exerted by a huge number of different antimicrobial agents, including heavy metals. Heavy metals are non-metabolizable and recalcitrant to degradation, therefore the bacteria can expel the pollutants out of the system and make it less harmful via different mechanisms. The selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria may be influenced by heavy metals present in environmental reservoirs. Through co-resistance and cross-resistance processes, the presence of heavy metals in the environment can act as co-selecting agents, hence increasing resistance to both heavy metals and antibiotics. The horizontal gene transfer or mutation assists in the selection of mutant bacteria resistant to the polluted environment. Hence, bioremediation and biodegradation are sustainable methods for the natural clean-up of pollutants. This review sheds light on the occurrence of metal and antibiotic resistance in the environment via the co-resistance and cross-resistance mechanisms underpinning co-selection emphasizing the dearth of studies that specifically examine the method of co-selection in clinical settings. Furthermore, it is advised that future research incorporate both culture- and molecular-based methodologies to further our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying bacterial co- and cross-resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals. | 2024 | 38642082 |
| 4000 | 8 | 0.9999 | Biofilms as potential reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance in vulnerable settings. Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health threat, characterized by the ability of microorganisms to withstand the effects of antimicrobial agents. Biofilms, as unique microbial communities, significantly contribute to this threat. They provide a protective environment for pathogens, facilitate horizontal gene transfer, and create an ideal setting for the persistence and evolution of resistant bacteria. This issue can be particularly important in low-income settings and vulnerable communities, such as formal and informal refugee and migrant camps. These settings usually have limited access to healthcare resources and appropriate treatments, contributing to the selective pressure that promotes the survival and proliferation of resistant bacteria. Thus, biofilms formed in wastewater in these areas can play a critical role in spreading antimicrobial resistance or acting as hidden reservoirs for future outbreaks. While emerging efforts focus on detecting antibiotic resistance genes and planktonic bacteria in wastewater, biofilms may be a source of under-appreciated antimicrobial resistance, creating a significant gap in our understanding of resistance dynamics in wastewater systems. Incorporating biofilm surveillance into wastewater monitoring strategies in vulnerable settings can help develop a more comprehensive understanding of resistance transmission and more effective intervention measures in these settings. | 2025 | 40190753 |
| 6465 | 9 | 0.9999 | Knowledge gaps in the assessment of antimicrobial resistance in surface waters. The spread of antibiotic resistance in the water environment has been widely described. However, still many knowledge gaps exist regarding the selection pressure from antibiotics, heavy metals and other substances present in surface waters as a result of anthropogenic activities, as well as the extent and impact of this phenomenon on aquatic organisms and humans. In particular, the relationship between environmental concentrations of antibiotics and the acquisition of ARGs by antibiotic-sensitive bacteria as well as the impact of heavy metals and other selective agents on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) need to be defined. Currently, established safety values are based on the effects of antibiotic toxicity neglecting the question of AMR spread. In turn, risk assessment of antibiotics in waterbodies remains a complex question implicating multiple variables and unknowns reinforced by the lack of harmonized protocols and official guidelines. In the present review, we discussed current state-of-the-art and the knowledge gaps related to pressure exerted by antibiotics and heavy metals on aquatic environments and their relationship to the spread of AMR. Along with this latter, we reflected on (i) the risk assessment in surface waters, (ii) selective pressures contributing to its transfer and propagation and (iii) the advantages of metagenomics in investigating AMR. Furthermore, the role of microplastics in co-selection for metal and antibiotic resistance, together with the need for more studies in freshwater are highlighted. | 2021 | 34625810 |
| 4283 | 10 | 0.9999 | Development, spread and persistence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the soil microbiomes through co-selection. Bacterial pathogens resistant to multiple antibiotics are emergent threat to the public health which may evolve in the environment due to the co-selection of antibiotic resistance, driven by poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and/or heavy metal contaminations. The co-selection of antibiotic resistance (AMR) evolves through the co-resistance or cross-resistance, or co-regulatory mechanisms, present in bacteria. The persistent toxic contaminants impose widespread pressure in both clinical and environmental setting, and may potentially cause the maintenance and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In the past few years, due to exponential increase of AMR, numerous drugs are now no longer effective to treat infectious diseases, especially in cases of bacterial infections. In this mini-review, we have described the role of co-resistance and cross-resistance as main sources for co-selection of ARGs; while other co-regulatory mechanisms are also involved with cross-resistance that regulates multiple ARGs. However, co-factors also support selections, which results in development and evolution of ARGs in absence of antibiotic pressure. Efflux pumps present on the same mobile genetic elements, possibly due to the function of Class 1 integrons (Int1), may increase the presence of ARGs into the environment, which further is promptly changed as per environmental conditions. This review also signifies that mutation plays important role in the expansion of ARGs due to presence of diverse types of anthropogenic pollutants, which results in overexpression of efflux pump with higher bacterial fitness cost; and these situations result in acquisition of resistant genes. The future aspects of co-selection with involvement of systems biology, synthetic biology and gene network approaches have also been discussed. | 2020 | 32681784 |
| 4026 | 11 | 0.9999 | Gut microbiome in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. The human gastrointestinal tract is home to a complex and dynamic community of microorganisms known as gut microbiota, which provide the host with important metabolic, signaling, and immunomodulatory functions. Both the commensal and pathogenic members of the gut microbiome serve as reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistance genes (ARG), which can cause potential health threats to the host and can transfer the ARGs to the susceptible microbes and into the environment. Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a major burden on human health and is widely recognized as a global challenge. The diversity and abundance of ARGs in the gut microbiome are variable and depend on the exposure to healthcare-associated antibiotics, usage of antibiotics in veterinary and agriculture, and the migration of the population. The transfer frequency of the ARGs through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) with the help of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) like plasmids, transposons, or phages is much higher among bacteria living in the GI tract compared to other microbial ecosystems. HGT in gut bacteria is facilitated through multiple gene transfer mechanisms, including transformation, conjugation, transduction, and vesicle fusion. It is the need of the hour to implement strict policies to limit indiscriminate antibiotic usage when needed. Developing rapid diagnostic tests for resistance determination and alternatives to antibiotics like vaccination, probiotics, and bacteriophage therapy should have the highest priority in the research and development sectors. Collective actions for sustainable development against resistant pathogens by promoting endogenous gut microbial growth and diversity through interdisciplinary research and findings are key to overcoming the current antimicrobial resistance crisis. | 2022 | 36280316 |
| 9638 | 12 | 0.9999 | Response of microbial antibiotic resistance to pesticides: An emerging health threat. The spread of microbial antibiotic resistance has seriously threatened public health globally. Non-antibiotic stressors have significantly contributed to the evolution of bacterial antibiotic resistance. Although numerous studies have been conducted on the potential risk of pesticide pollution for bacterial antibiotic resistance, a systematic review of these concerns is still lacking. In the present study, we elaborate the mechanism underlying the effects of pesticides on bacterial antibiotic resistance acquisition as well as the propagation of antimicrobial resistance. Pesticide stress enhanced the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in bacteria via various mechanisms, including the activation of efflux pumps, inhibition of outer membrane pores for resistance to antibiotics, and gene mutation induction. Horizontal gene transfer is a major mechanism whereby pesticides influence the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in bacteria. Pesticides promoted the conjugation transfer of ARGs by increasing cell membrane permeability and increased the proportion of bacterial mobile gene elements, which facilitate the spread of ARGs. This review can improve our understanding regarding the pesticide-induced generation and spread of ARGs and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Moreover, it can be applied to reduce the ecological risks of ARGs in the future. | 2022 | 35977623 |
| 6405 | 13 | 0.9998 | Extracellular DNA (eDNA): Neglected and Potential Sources of Antibiotic Resistant Genes (ARGs) in the Aquatic Environments. Over the past decades, the rising antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) are continuing to emerge as a global threat due to potential public health risk. Rapidly evolving antibiotic resistance and its persistence in the environment, have underpinned the need for more studies to identify the possible sources and limit the spread. In this context, not commonly studied and a neglected genetic material called extracellular DNA (eDNA) is gaining increased attention as it can be one of the significant drivers for transmission of extracellular ARGS (eARGs) via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) to competent environmental bacteria and diverse sources of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. Consequently, this review highlights the studies that address the environmental occurrence of eDNA and encoding eARGs and its impact on the environmental resistome. In this review, we also brief the recent dedicated technological advancements that are accelerating extraction of eDNA and the efficiency of treatment technologies in reducing eDNA that focuses on environmental antibiotic resistance and potential ecological health risk. | 2020 | 33114079 |
| 6446 | 14 | 0.9998 | Ecological consequences of antimicrobial residues and bioactive chemicals on antimicrobial resistance in agroecosystems. BACKGROUND: The widespread use of antimicrobials in agriculture, coupled with bioactive chemicals like pesticides and growth-promoting agents, has accelerated the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Agroecosystems provides a platform in the evolution and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose significant threats to both environmental and public health. AIM OF REVIEW: This review explores the ecological consequences of antimicrobial residues and bioactive chemicals in agroecosystems, with a focus on their role in shaping AMR. It delves into the mechanisms by which these substances enter agricultural environments, their interactions with soil microbiomes, and the subsequent impacts on microbial community structure. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: Evidence indicates that the accumulation of antimicrobials promotes resistance gene transfer among microorganisms, potentially compromising ecosystem health and agricultural productivity. By synthesizing current research, we identify critical gaps in knowledge and propose strategies for mitigating the ecological risks associated with antimicrobial residues. Moreover, this review highlights the urgent need for integrated management approaches to preserve ecosystem health and combat the spread of AMR in agricultural settings. | 2025 | 39414225 |
| 6534 | 15 | 0.9998 | Antibiotic resistance dissemination in soil ecosystems: deep understanding for effective management and global health protection. Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to global health, extending beyond clinical settings into environmental reservoirs such as soil, where resistant bacteria persist and evolve. Current efforts focus on understanding the origins and implications of antibiotic resistance in soil ecosystems. It defines antibiotic resistance within an environmental context and highlights soil as a critical reservoir for antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). Key sources of antibiotics in soil are identified, including agricultural practices, medical waste, and municipal and industrial effluents. The classification and mechanisms of ARGs are outlined, along with their transmission pathways, particularly within soil biofilms, which play a crucial role in gene transfer and microbial protection. The interplay between soil microbial communities and antibiotic resistance is discussed, emphasizing its potential risks to human health, including infectious diseases and food safety concerns. Strategies for mitigating antibiotic resistance in soil are presented, focusing on optimizing antibiotic usage, developing alternatives, and enhancing degradation mechanisms. This review underscores the need for interdisciplinary research to deepen understanding of soil microbial diversity and its connection to antibiotic resistance, emphasizing integrated efforts to safeguard soil and human health. | 2025 | 41166035 |
| 6486 | 16 | 0.9998 | Occurrence of antibiotics and bacterial resistance genes in wastewater: resistance mechanisms and antimicrobial resistance control approaches. Antimicrobial pharmaceuticals are classified as emergent micropollutants of concern, implying that even at low concentrations, long-term exposure to the environment can have significant eco-toxicological effects. There is a lack of a standardized regulatory framework governing the permissible antibiotic content for monitoring environmental water quality standards. Therefore, indiscriminate discharge of antimicrobials at potentially active concentrations into urban wastewater treatment facilities is rampant. Antimicrobials may exert selective pressure on bacteria, leading to resistance development and eventual health consequences. The emergence of clinically important multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria in untreated hospital effluents and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been linked to the continuous exposure of bacteria to antimicrobials. The levels of environmental exposure to antibiotics and their correlation to the evolution and spread of resistant bacteria need to be elucidated to help in the formulation of mitigation measures. This review explores frequently detected antimicrobials in wastewater and gives a comprehensive coverage of bacterial resistance mechanisms to different antibiotic classes through the expression of a wide variety of antibiotic resistance genes either inherent and/or exchanged among bacteria or acquired from the reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater systems. To complement the removal of antibiotics and ARGs from WWTPs, upscaling the implementation of prospective interventions such as vaccines, phage therapy, and natural compounds as alternatives to widespread antibiotic use provides a multifaceted approach to minimize the spread of antimicrobial resistance. | 2022 | 35781751 |
| 6478 | 17 | 0.9998 | Antibiotic resistance in grass and soil. Antibiotic resistance is currently one of the greatest threats to human health. The global overuse of antibiotics in human medicine and in agriculture has resulted in the proliferation and dissemination of a multitude of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Despite a large proportion of antibiotics being used in agriculture, little is understood about how this may contribute to the overall antibiotic resistance crisis. The use of manure in agriculture is a traditional and widespread practice and is essential for returning nutrients to the soil; however, the impact of continuous manure application on the environmental microbiome and resistome is unknown. The use of antibiotics in animal husbandry in therapeutic and sub-therapeutic doses creates a selective pressure for ARGs in the gut microbiome of the animal, which is then excreted in the faeces. Therefore, the application of manure to agricultural land is a potential route for the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from livestock to crops, animals and humans. It is of vital importance to understand the mechanisms behind ARG enrichment and its maintenance both on the plant and within the soil microbiome to mitigate the spread of this resistance to animals and humans. Understanding this link between human health, animal health, plant health and the environment is crucial to inform implementation of new regulations and practice regarding antibiotic use in agriculture and manure application, aimed at ensuring the antibiotic resistance crisis is not aggravated. | 2019 | 30783015 |
| 6464 | 18 | 0.9998 | The potential contribution of aquatic wildlife to antibiotic resistance dissemination in freshwater ecosystems: A review. Antibiotic resistance (AR) is one of the major health threats of our time. The presence of antibiotics in the environment and their continuous release from sewage treatment plants, chemical manufacturing plants and animal husbandry, agriculture and aquaculture, result in constant selection pressure on microbial organisms. This presence leads to the emergence, mobilization, horizontal gene transfer and a selection of antibiotic resistance genes, resistant bacteria and mobile genetic elements. Under these circumstances, aquatic wildlife is impacted in all compartments, including freshwater organisms with partially impermeable microbiota. In this narrative review, recent advancements in terms of occurrence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in sewage treatment plant effluents source compared to freshwater have been examined, occurrence of antibiotic resistance in wildlife, as well as experiments on antibiotic exposure. Based on this current state of knowledge, we propose the hypothesis that freshwater aquatic wildlife may play a crucial role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance within the environment. Specifically, we suggest that organisms with high bacterial density tissues, which are partially isolated from the external environment, such as fishes and amphibians, could potentially be reservoirs and amplifiers of antibiotic resistance in the environment, potentially favoring the increase of the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and resistant bacteria. Potential avenues for further research (trophic transfer, innovative exposure experiment) and action (biodiversity eco-engineering) are finally proposed. | 2024 | 38599270 |
| 6468 | 19 | 0.9998 | Impact of anthropogenic activities on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance across ecological boundaries. Antibiotics are considered to be one of the major medical breakthroughs in history. Nonetheless, over the past four decades, antibiotic resistance has reached alarming levels worldwide and this trend is expected to continue to increase, leading some experts to forecast the coming of a 'post-antibiotic' era. Although antibiotic resistance in pathogens is traditionally linked to clinical environments, there is a rising concern that the global propagation of antibiotic resistance is also associated with environmental reservoirs that are linked to anthropogenic activities such as animal husbandry, agronomic practices and wastewater treatment. It is hypothesized that the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) within and between environmental microbial communities can ultimately contribute to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens. Nonetheless, the scope of this phenomenon is not clear due to the complexity of microbial communities in the environment and methodological constraints that limit comprehensive in situ evaluation of microbial genomes. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance in non-clinical environments, specifically focusing on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance across ecological boundaries and the contribution of this phenomenon to global antibiotic resistance. | 2017 | 28258226 |