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Updated: Oct 31, 2025
08:58
Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
7.0K
Environmental hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes
Shalini Kunhikannan1,2, Colleen J Thomas1, Ashley E Franks1
1Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia.
Microbiologyopen
|June 28, 2021
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat. Environmental hotspots, including soil and water, accelerate the spread of resistance genes, contributing to multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Molecular biology
- Public health
Background:
- Bacterial resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics is a significant global health concern.
- The rapid transmission of antibiotic resistance determinants requires urgent investigation.
- Environmental reservoirs, such as soil and water, harbor diverse microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key drivers facilitating the spread of antibiotic resistance.
- To pinpoint environmental hotspots responsible for the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes.
- To understand the role of horizontal gene transfer in the dissemination of resistance.
Main Methods:
- This review synthesizes existing research on antibiotic resistance.
- It analyzes the contribution of environmental factors and human practices.
- It discusses the mechanisms of gene transfer in microbial communities.
Main Results:
- Overuse of antibiotics and poor sanitation accelerate resistance gene acquisition and dissemination.
- Clinical settings are major hotspots for antibiotic resistance development.
- Environmental hotspots facilitate rapid antibiotic resistance via horizontal gene transfer, promoting multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Conclusions:
- Environmental hotspots play a critical, underestimated role in the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
- Understanding these hotspots is crucial for developing effective strategies against antibiotic resistance.
- Further research into gene transfer mechanisms in the environment is needed.
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