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Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
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Presence of specific antibiotic (tet) resistance genes in infant faecal microbiota

Miguel Gueimonde1, Seppo Salminen, Erika Isolauri

  • 1Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. mgueimonde@ipla.csic.es

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
|September 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic resistance genes are common in the gut microbiota of healthy breast-fed infants and their mothers. Even without direct antibiotic exposure, these genes, particularly tet M, are prevalent, highlighting environmental reservoirs of resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern.
  • While pathogen resistance is well-studied, the gut microbiota's role as a resistance reservoir is increasingly recognized.
  • Antibiotics impact both pathogens and commensal gut bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes (tet) in the gut microbiota of healthy breast-fed infants and their mothers.
  • To characterize the gut microbiota composition in relation to antibiotic resistance genes.
  • To assess the potential for environmental transmission of resistance genes.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to detect specific tetracycline resistance genes (tet M, tet W, tet O, tet S, tet T, tet B).
  • Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) was employed to characterize the gut microbiota composition.
  • Stool samples from exclusively breast-fed infants and their mothers were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • The tet M gene was detected in all infants and mothers.
  • tet O was found in all mothers but only 35% of infants.
  • tet W was present in 85% of mothers and 13% of infants; other tet genes were not detected.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotic resistance genes are widespread in the gut microbiota, even in healthy individuals with no history of antibiotic exposure.
  • The mother-infant dyad appears to be a significant factor in the transmission of these resistance genes.
  • The gut microbiota serves as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes, emphasizing the need for broader strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance.

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