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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
Biodegradation of antibiotics: The new resistance determinants - part II
Ana C Reis1, Boris A Kolvenbach2, Olga C Nunes3
1Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Hofackerstrasse 30, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland; LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
Abstract:
Antibiotic residues are widespread in the environment and their presence is known to contribute to the propagation of antibiotic resistance. Nevertheless, knowledge on processes involved in their degradation is scattered. This second part of a two part review aims at compiling knowledge on the (bio-) degradation of antibiotics, focusing on β-lactams, macrolides, quinolones and ionophores, as well as some less common classes. Detailed metabolic and molecular aspects are discussed, as well as the role of antibiotic degraders in natural microbial communities. This exercise led to the conclusion that among the classes analyzed, the majority of antibiotics are prone to microbial cleavage or transformation.
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