# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6798 | 0 | 0.9871 | Diet-driven diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in wild bats: implications for public health. Wild bats may serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potentially contributing to antibiotic resistance and pathogen transmission. However, current assessments of bats' antibiotic resistance potential are limited to culture-dependent bacterial snapshots. In this study, we present metagenomic evidence supporting a strong association between diet, gut microbiota, and the resistome, highlighting bats as significant vectors for ARG propagation. We characterized gut microbiota, ARGs, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in bats with five distinct diets: frugivory, insectivory, piscivory, carnivory, and sanguivory. Our analysis revealed high levels of ARGs in bat guts, with limited potential for horizontal transfer, encompassing 1106 ARGs conferring resistance to 26 antibiotics. Multidrug-resistant and polymyxin-resistant genes were particularly prevalent among identified ARG types. The abundance and diversity of ARGs/MGEs varied significantly among bats with different dietary habits, possibly due to diet-related differences in microbial composition. Additionally, genetic linkage between high-risk ARGs and multiple MGEs was observed on the genomes of various zoonotic pathogens, indicating a potential threat to human health from wild bats. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the resistome in wild bats and underscores the role of dietary habits in wildlife-associated public health risks. | 2025 | 39892320 |
| 6821 | 1 | 0.9871 | Mangrove plastisphere as a hotspot for high-risk antibiotic resistance genes and pathogens. Microplastics (MPs) are critical vectors for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs); however, the prevalence and ecological risks of high-risk ARGs in mangrove ecosystems-globally vital yet understudied coastal habitats-remain poorly understood. To address this gap, this study investigated polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride incubated in mangrove sediments for one month, focusing on high-risk ARGs, virulence gene (VGs), and pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria within the mangrove plastisphere. High-throughput PCR and metagenomic analyses revealed that high-risk ARGs, VGs, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were significantly enriched on MPs compared to surrounding sediments. Pathogenic bacteria and MGEs were also more abundant in the plastisphere, highlighting its role as a hotspot for ARG dispersal. Metagenome-assembled genome analysis identified Pseudomonas and Bacillus as key hosts for ARGs, MGEs, and VGs, particularly multidrug resistance genes, integrase genes, and adherence factors. Notably, polystyrene harbored the highest abundance of pathogenic bacteria carrying ARGs, MGEs, and VGs, and mangrove root exudates were found to amplify horizontal gene transfer on MPs, uncovering a previously overlooked mechanism driving antibiotic resistance in coastal ecosystems. These findings not only elucidate how MPs accelerate the spread of ARGs, but also underscore the urgent need for targeted mitigation strategies to address the adverse impacts microplastic pollution on human, animal, and environmental health. | 2025 | 40043931 |
| 6793 | 2 | 0.9869 | Interplays between cyanobacterial blooms and antibiotic resistance genes. Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), which are a form of microbial dysbiosis in freshwater environments, are an emerging environmental and public health concern. Additionally, the freshwater environment serves as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose a risk of transmission during microbial dysbiosis, such as cyanoHABs. However, the interactions between potential synergistic pollutants, cyanoHABs, and ARGs remain poorly understood. During cyanoHABs, Microcystis and high microcystin levels were dominant in all the nine regions of the river sampled. The resistome, mobilome, and microbiome were interrelated and linked to the physicochemical properties of freshwater. Planktothrix and Pseudanabaena competed with Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria during cyanoHABs. Forty two ARG carriers were identified, most of which belonged to Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria. ARG carriers showed a strong correlation with ARGs density, which decreased with the severity of cyanoHAB. Although ARGs decreased due to a reduction of ARG carriers during cyanoHABs, mobile gene elements (MGEs) and virulence factors (VFs) genes increased. We explored the relationship between cyanoHABs and ARGs for potential synergistic interaction. Our findings demonstrated that cyanobacteria compete with freshwater commensal bacteria such as Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, which carry ARGs in freshwater, resulting in a reduction of ARGs levels. Moreover, cyanoHABs generate biotic and abiotic stress in the freshwater microbiome, which may lead to an increase in MGEs and VFs. Exploration of the intricate interplays between microbiome, resistome, mobilome, and pathobiome during cyanoHABs not only revealed that the mechanisms underlying the dynamics of microbial dysbiosis but also emphasizes the need to prioritize the prevention of microbial dysbiosis in the risk management of ARGs. | 2023 | 37897871 |
| 6507 | 3 | 0.9868 | What Are the Drivers Triggering Antimicrobial Resistance Emergence and Spread? Outlook from a One Health Perspective. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a critical global public health threat, exacerbating healthcare burdens and imposing substantial economic costs. Currently, AMR contributes to nearly five million deaths annually worldwide, surpassing mortality rates of any single infectious disease. The economic burden associated with AMR-related disease management is estimated at approximately $730 billion per year. This review synthesizes current research on the mechanisms and multifaceted drivers of AMR development and dissemination through the lens of the One Health framework, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health perspectives. Intrinsic factors, including antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), enable bacteria to evolve adaptive resistance mechanisms such as enzymatic inactivation, efflux pumps, and biofilm formation. Extrinsic drivers span environmental stressors (e.g., antimicrobials, heavy metals, disinfectants), socioeconomic practices, healthcare policies, and climate change, collectively accelerating AMR proliferation. Horizontal gene transfer and ecological pressures further facilitate the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria across ecosystems. The cascading impacts of AMR threaten human health and agricultural productivity, elevate foodborne infection risks, and impose substantial economic burdens, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. To address this complex issue, the review advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration, robust policy implementation (e.g., antimicrobial stewardship), and innovative technologies (e.g., genomic surveillance, predictive modeling) under the One Health paradigm. Such integrated strategies are essential to mitigate AMR transmission, safeguard global health, and ensure sustainable development. | 2025 | 40558133 |
| 3173 | 4 | 0.9867 | Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in marine productive zones of the eastern Arabian Sea: Implications for human and environmental health. The increasing threat of antibiotic resistance is a major global concern affecting human and environmental health. Marine environments, though underexplored, are emerging as significant reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study provides genome-resolved shotgun metagenomic insights into the seasonal and spatial dynamics of ARGs in the chlorophyll maximum zones of the eastern Arabian Sea, focusing on bacterial communities from coastal (30 m) and offshore (600 m) depths. Using a shotgun metagenomic approach, 31 potential ARGs were identified across both non-monsoon and monsoon seasons, with higher abundance observed in offshore stations during the non-monsoon season. Multidrug resistance genes such as blaEFM-1, catB2 and mexK, conferring resistance to carbapenems, chloramphenicol and multiple antibiotics, were prevalent in taxa like Staphylococcus sp., Qipengyuania sp. and Alcanivorax sp. Clinically relevant taxa, including Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp., harbored ARGs, which may raise concerns regarding potential seafood-mediated ARG transmission. The significant enrichment and co-localization of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) with ARGs suggest enhanced horizontal gene transfer among native marine bacteria in the offshore environments. However, the limited distribution of ARGs and the absence of associated MGEs during the monsoon season may result from dilution caused by freshwater influx. Comparative functional analysis revealed stress-related functional enrichment in ARG-carrying metagenomic assembled genomes, suggesting environmental stress may enhance the spread of ARGs within offshore microbial communities. These findings challenge the coastal-centric view of marine antibiotic resistance by identifying offshore waters as underrecognized ARG reservoirs. Establishing a genomic baseline for One Health ARG surveillance, this study underscores the urgent need to integrate offshore regions into global monitoring frameworks to protect marine ecosystems and safeguard public health. | 2025 | 40633655 |
| 6425 | 5 | 0.9865 | Freshwater plastisphere: a review on biodiversity, risks, and biodegradation potential with implications for the aquatic ecosystem health. The plastisphere, a unique microbial biofilm community colonizing plastic debris and microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments, has attracted increasing attention owing to its ecological and public health implications. This review consolidates current state of knowledge on freshwater plastisphere, focussing on its biodiversity, community assembly, and interactions with environmental factors. Current biomolecular approaches revealed a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa associated with plastic surfaces. Despite their ecological importance, the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and mobile genetic elements (i.e., antibiotic resistance genes) raises concerns for ecosystem and human health. However, the extent of these risks and their implications remain unclear. Advanced sequencing technologies are promising for elucidating the functions of plastisphere, particularly in plastic biodegradation processes. Overall, this review emphasizes the need for comprehensive studies to understand plastisphere dynamics in freshwater and to support effective management strategies to mitigate the impact of plastic pollution on freshwater resources. | 2024 | 38699475 |
| 6508 | 6 | 0.9865 | Synergizing Ecotoxicology and Microbiome Data Is Key for Developing Global Indicators of Environmental Antimicrobial Resistance. The One Health concept recognises the interconnectedness of humans, plants, animals and the environment. Recent research strongly supports the idea that the environment serves as a significant reservoir for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, the complexity of natural environments makes efforts at AMR public health risk assessment difficult. We lack sufficient data on key ecological parameters that influence AMR, as well as the primary proxies necessary for evaluating risks to human health. Developing environmental AMR 'early warning systems' requires models with well-defined parameters. This is necessary to support the implementation of clear and targeted interventions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current tools used globally for environmental AMR human health risk assessment and the underlying knowledge gaps. We highlight the urgent need for standardised, cost-effective risk assessment frameworks that are adaptable across different environments and regions to enhance comparability and reliability. These frameworks must also account for previously understudied AMR sources, such as horticulture, and emerging threats like climate change. In addition, integrating traditional ecotoxicology with modern 'omics' approaches will be essential for developing more comprehensive risk models and informing targeted AMR mitigation strategies. | 2024 | 39611949 |
| 6398 | 7 | 0.9864 | The interplay between antimicrobial resistance, heavy metal pollution, and the role of microplastics. Environmental pollution with heavy metals (HMs) and microplastics (MPs) could enhance the global health challenge antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Herein, we explore the complicated mechanics of how HMs, MPs, and AMR are interlinked within microbial ecosystems, as well as the co-selection and cross-resistance mechanisms. Unlike antibiotics, HMs have influenced microbial evolution for billions of years, promoting resistance mechanisms that predate antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). At the same time, this conundrum is further complicated by the pervasive spread of MPs in the aquatic and terrestrial environments, acting as substrates for bacterial pathogenic biofilms and accelerates the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs and heavy metal resistance genes (MRGs). This review highlights that HMs such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) have persistently selected for resistance traits through efflux systems and genetic co-regulation. Together, these interactions are amplified by MPs that create genetic exchange hotspots due to biofilm formation. These dynamics are modulated by organic matter, which serves both as a nutrient source and a mediator of HM bioavailability, directly influencing ARG abundance. Soil and water ecosystems, including riverine systems and landfill leachate, are reservoirs for ARGs and ARG-MRG combinations, with notable contributions originating from anthropogenic activities. This review also emphasizes the urgent need for integrated environmental and public health strategies to mitigate pollutant-driven AMR. This work seeks to approach HMs and MPs as synergistic drivers of AMR such that both HMs and MPs are upstream (causes) levers, a foundation from which future research on sustainable environmental management practices and health policy (One Health Approach), aimed at curbing the spread of resistance determinants can proceed. | 2025 | 40092036 |
| 6506 | 8 | 0.9864 | Mitigating antimicrobial resistance through effective hospital wastewater management in low- and middle-income countries. Hospital wastewater (HWW) is a significant environmental and public health threat, containing high levels of pollutants such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), antibiotics, disinfectants, and heavy metals. This threat is of particular concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where untreated effluents are often used for irrigating vegetables crops, leading to direct and indirect human exposure. Despite being a potential hotspot for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), existing HWW treatment systems in LMICs primarily target conventional pollutants and lack effective standards for monitoring the removal of ARB and ARGs. Consequently, untreated or inadequately treated HWW continues to disseminate ARB and ARGs, exacerbating the risk of AMR proliferation. Addressing this requires targeted interventions, including cost-effective treatment solutions, robust AMR monitoring protocols, and policy-driven strategies tailored to LMICs. This perspective calls for a paradigm shift in HWW management in LMIC, emphasizing the broader implementation of onsite treatment systems, which are currently rare. Key recommendations include developing affordable and contextually adaptable technologies for eliminating ARB and ARGs and enforcing local regulations for AMR monitoring and control in wastewater. Addressing these challenges is essential for protecting public health, preventing the environmental spread of resistance, and contributing to a global effort to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics. Recommendations include integrating scalable onsite technologies, leveraging local knowledge, and implementing comprehensive AMR-focused regulatory frameworks. | 2024 | 39944563 |
| 6939 | 9 | 0.9864 | Field ponding water exacerbates the dissemination of manure-derived antibiotic resistance genes from paddy soil to surrounding waterbodies. Farmlands fertilized with livestock manure-derived amendments have become a hot topic in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Field ponding water connects rice paddies with surrounding water bodies, such as reservoirs, rivers, and lakes. However, there is a knowledge gap in understanding whether and how manure-borne ARGs can be transferred from paddy soil into field ponding water. Our studies suggest that the manure-derived ARGs aadA1, bla1, catA1, cmlA1-01, cmx(A), ermB, mepA and tetPB-01 can easily be transferred into field ponding water from paddy soil. The bacterial phyla Crenarchaeota, Verrucomicrobia, Cyanobacteria, Choloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria are potential hosts of ARGs. Opportunistic pathogens detected in both paddy soil and field ponding water showed robust correlations with ARGs. Network co-occurrence analysis showed that mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were strongly correlated with ARGs. Our findings highlight that manure-borne ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in paddy fields can conveniently disseminate to the surrounding waterbodies through field ponding water, posing a threat to public health. This study provides a new perspective for comprehensively assessing the risk posed by ARGs in paddy ecosystems. | 2023 | 37007487 |
| 6799 | 10 | 0.9863 | Geogenic high arsenic elevates the groundwater antibiotic resistomes: A blind spot of resistance in Anthropocene. Metals/metalloids, being ubiquitous in the environment, can function as a co-selective pressure on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) threatening human health. However, the effect of geogenic arsenic (As) on groundwater antibiotic resistomes and their health risks remain largely unknown. Here, we systematically analyzed bacterial communities, pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic resistomes, and in-situ multidrug-resistant isolates with the assessment of the health risk of ARGs and the pathogenicity of their hosts in high As groundwater from the Hetao basin, Northwestern China. We found that long-term geogenic As exposure shifted the assembly of resistomes and resulted in a high abundance and diversity of ARGs in groundwater. Significantly positive associations among As, As cycling genes, ARGs, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) revealed by network and pathway analyses, together with genetic evidence of As-tolerant multidrug-resistant isolates by whole genomic sequencing, robustly indicate the geogenic As-induced co-selection for antibiotic resistance in groundwater. Variance partitioning analysis further confirmed the determinative role of geogenic As in groundwater resistomes, with As species and As cycling genes as the core abiotic and biotic drivers, respectively. More seriously, geogenic As accelerated the prevalence of high-risk ARGs and multidrug-resistant bacteria. Our findings highlight the significance of geogenic As-induced co-selection for antibiotic resistance in groundwater and the hidden role of geogenic metals/metalloids in increasing antibiotic resistance. This study provides a basis for groundwater management of both high As and ARGs for human health. | 2024 | 38941868 |
| 3260 | 11 | 0.9863 | Profiles of phage in global hospital wastewater: Association with microbial hosts, antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, and mobile genetic elements. Hospital wastewater (HWW) is known to host taxonomically diverse microbial communities, yet limited information is available on the phages infecting these microorganisms. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted an in-depth analysis using 377 publicly available HWW metagenomic datasets from 16 countries across 4 continents in the NCBI SRA database to elucidate phage-host dynamics and phage contributions to resistance gene transmission. We first assembled a metagenomic HWW phage catalog comprising 13,812 phage operational taxonomic units (pOTUs). The majority of these pOTUs belonged to the Caudoviricetes order, representing 75.29 % of this catalog. Based on the lifestyle of phages, we found that potentially virulent phages predominated in HWW. Specifically, 583 pOTUs have been predicted to have the capability to lyse 81 potentially pathogenic bacteria, suggesting the promising role of HWW phages as a viable alternative to antibiotics. Among all pOTUs, 1.56 % of pOTUs carry 108 subtypes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), 0.96 % of pOTUs carry 76 subtypes of metal resistance genes (MRGs), and 0.96 % of pOTUs carry 22 subtypes of non-phage mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Predictions indicate that certain phages carrying ARGs, MRGs, and non-phage MGEs could infect bacteria hosts, even potential pathogens. This suggests that phages in HWW may contribute to the dissemination of resistance-associated genes in the environment. This meta-analysis provides the first global catalog of HWW phages, revealing their correlations with microbial hosts and pahge-associated ARGs, MRG, and non-phage MGEs. The insights gained from this research hold promise for advancing the applications of phages in medical and industrial contexts. | 2024 | 38513871 |
| 6533 | 12 | 0.9863 | The Role of the Environment (Water, Air, Soil) in the Emergence and Dissemination of Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Perspective. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a planetary health emergency, driven not only by the clinical misuse of antibiotics but also by diverse environmental dissemination pathways. This review critically examines the role of environmental compartments-water, soil, and air-as dynamic reservoirs and transmission routes for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs). Recent metagenomic, epidemiological, and mechanistic evidence demonstrates that anthropogenic pressures-including pharmaceutical effluents, agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and airborne emissions-amplify resistance evolution and interspecies gene transfer via horizontal gene transfer mechanisms, biofilms, and mobile genetic elements. Importantly, it is not only highly polluted rivers such as the Ganges that contribute to the spread of AMR; even low concentrations of antibiotics and their metabolites, formed during or after treatment, can significantly promote the selection and dissemination of resistance. Environmental hotspots such as European agricultural soils and airborne particulate zones near wastewater treatment plants further illustrate the complexity and global scope of pollution-driven AMR. The synergistic roles of co-selective agents, including heavy metals, disinfectants, and microplastics, are highlighted for their impact in exacerbating resistance gene propagation across ecological and geographical boundaries. The efficacy and limitations of current mitigation strategies, including advanced wastewater treatments, thermophilic composting, biosensor-based surveillance, and emerging regulatory frameworks, are evaluated. By integrating a One Health perspective, this review underscores the imperative of including environmental considerations in global AMR containment policies and proposes a multidisciplinary roadmap to mitigate resistance spread across interconnected human, animal, and environmental domains. | 2025 | 40867959 |
| 6397 | 13 | 0.9863 | Microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes as rising threats: Their interaction represents an urgent environmental concern. Microplastics (MPs) have been reported to be emerging contaminant of different environmental niches like air, soil, and water. When exposed to these environments, MPs interact with already existing antibiotics to create combined pollution that can harm organisms. MPs have garnered significant attention in academic circles due to their ability to adsorb antibiotics. This review article explores different dimensions of MPs, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and the interplay between MPs, antibiotics, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), emphasizing their interconnection with soil and water pollution. It also summarizes the mechanisms behind the interaction between antibiotics and MPs, detailing various physical and chemical interactions. Additionally, it outlines the pathways through which MPs and ARGs complexes spread, offering insights for future research and solutions to tackle compound pollution. The article concludes by providing targeted strategies to mitigate the environmental and public health risks posed by MP-associated ARG transmission, highlighting the need for integrated pollution control, advanced monitoring techniques, and stricter regulatory policies. | 2025 | 40756460 |
| 6447 | 14 | 0.9863 | Climate warming fuels the global antibiotic resistome by altering soil bacterial traits. Understanding the implications of global warming on the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factor genes (VFGs) within soil ecosystems is crucial for safeguarding human well-being and sustaining ecosystem health. However, there is currently a lack of large-scale, systematic underpinning data needed to examine this issue. Here, using an integrative approach that combines field experiments, extensive global metagenomic data and microbial culturing, we show that warming enriches bacteria with ARGs and VFGs, increases metabolic complexity and adaptability in bacteria, and accelerates genetic alterations related to ARG and VFGs development. Our validation experiments confirm that the warming effect is more pronounced in colder regions. Machine learning predictions further suggest that warming will increase the soil ARG abundance, especially in some areas that rely heavily on fossil fuels. These results suggest another major negative consequence of global warming, highlighting the importance of developing and implementing sustainability policies that simultaneously combat climate change and antibiotic resistance. | 2025 | 40468041 |
| 6656 | 15 | 0.9863 | Understanding the Evolution and Transmission Dynamics of Antibiotic Resistance Genes: A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotic resistance poses a formidable challenge to global public health, necessitating comprehensive understanding and strategic interventions. This review explores the evolution and transmission dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes, with a focus on Bangladesh. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics, compounded by substandard formulations and clinical misdiagnosis, fuels the emergence and spread of resistance in the country. Studies reveal high resistance rates among common pathogens, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions and rational antibiotic use. Molecular assessments uncover a diverse array of antibiotic resistance genes in environmental reservoirs, highlighting the complex interplay between human activities and resistance dissemination. Horizontal gene transfer mechanisms, particularly plasmid-mediated conjugation, facilitate the exchange of resistance determinants among bacterial populations, driving the evolution of multidrug-resistant strains. The review discusses clinical implications, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental and clinical settings in resistance dynamics. Furthermore, bioinformatic and experimental evidence elucidates novel mechanisms of resistance gene transfer, underscoring the dynamic nature of resistance evolution. In conclusion, combating antibiotic resistance requires a multifaceted approach, integrating surveillance, stewardship, and innovative research to preserve the efficacy of antimicrobial agents and safeguard public health. | 2024 | 39113256 |
| 6800 | 16 | 0.9862 | Shotgun Metagenomics-Guided Prediction Reveals the Metal Tolerance and Antibiotic Resistance of Microbes in Poly-Extreme Environments in the Danakil Depression, Afar Region. The occurrence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental microorganisms, particularly in poly-extremophilic bacteria, remain underexplored and have received limited attention. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ARGs and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in shotgun metagenome sequences obtained from water and salt crust samples collected from Lake Afdera and the Assale salt plain in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia. Potential ARGs were characterized by the comprehensive antibiotic research database (CARD), while MRGs were identified by using BacMetScan V.1.0. A total of 81 ARGs and 39 MRGs were identified at the sampling sites. We found a copA resistance gene for copper and the β-lactam encoding resistance genes were the most abundant the MRG and ARG in the study area. The abundance of MRGs is positively correlated with mercury (Hg) concentration, highlighting the importance of Hg in the selection of MRGs. Significant correlations also exist between heavy metals, Zn and Cd, and ARGs, which suggests that MRGs and ARGs can be co-selected in the environment contaminated by heavy metals. A network analysis revealed that MRGs formed a complex network with ARGs, primarily associated with β-lactams, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines. This suggests potential co-selection mechanisms, posing concerns for both public health and ecological balance. | 2023 | 38136731 |
| 3168 | 17 | 0.9862 | Mangrove Ecosystems as Reservoirs of Antibiotic Resistance Genes: A Narrative Review. Background: Mangrove ecosystems are critical coastal environments providing ecological services and acting as buffers between terrestrial and marine systems. Rising antibiotic use in aquaculture and coastal agriculture has led to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in these habitats. Aim: This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge on the prevalence, diversity, and environmental drivers of ARGs in mangrove ecosystems, highlighting their role as reservoirs and the potential for horizontal gene transfer. Methods: Studies published up to September 2024 were identified through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria focused on ARGs and ARB in mangrove sediments, water, and associated biota. Data on ARG prevalence, microbial community composition, detection methods, and environmental factors were extracted and narratively synthesized. Results: Seventeen studies from Asia, South America, and Africa were included. ARGs conferring resistance to tetracyclines, sulfonamides, β-lactams, and multidrug resistance were found to be widespread, particularly near aquaculture and urban-influenced areas. Metagenomic analyses revealed diverse resistomes with frequent mobile genetic elements, indicating high potential for horizontal gene transfer. Environmental factors, including sediment type, organic matter, and salinity, influenced ARG abundance and distribution. Conclusions: Mangrove ecosystems act as both reservoirs and natural buffers for ARGs. Sustainable aquaculture practices, continuous environmental monitoring, and integrated One Health approaches are essential to mitigate ARG dissemination in these sensitive coastal habitats. | 2025 | 41148714 |
| 6534 | 18 | 0.9861 | 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 |
| 6829 | 19 | 0.9860 | Metagenomic insights into the characteristics and co-migration of antibiotic resistome and metal(loid) resistance genes in urban landfill soil and groundwater. The heavy metals and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in landfills showed a significant correlation; however, the relationship between metal(loid) resistance genes (MRGs) and ARGs in contaminated environments, as well as whether they co-migrate with human pathogenic bacteria (HPB), remains unclear. This study is the first to report the characteristics and co-migration of ARGs and MRGs in the soil and groundwater of aged urban landfill sites. Our findings indicated that quinolone, efflux, and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin represented the most abundant ARGs identified. Notably, ARG abundance was higher in groundwater compared to soil, with subtype diversity reflecting a similar trend; however, microbial diversity in soil was greater. Metagenome-assembled genomes data indicated a higher risk of antibiotic-resistant HPB in groundwater. It is imperative to focus on HPB that co-carry ARGs and MRGs alongside mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as Ralstonia pickettii and Pseudomonas stutzeri. Genes conferring resistance to copper and mercury, as well as MGEs such as qacEdelta and intI1, played a critical role in promoting horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance. MRG may promote ARG migration by affecting the permeability of the cell membrane. Procrustes analysis revealed a strong similarity (87 %) between heavy metals and MRG structures. Variance partitioning analyses demonstrated that both heavy metals and biological factors jointly governed landfill ARGs (96.2 %), exerting a more substantial influence in groundwater than in soil. This study serves as a reference for managing landfill, while emphasizing the importance of addressing the co-migration of MRGs and ARGs in pathogens when controlling the spread of risks. | 2025 | 40614847 |