Potential influence of antimicrobial resistance gene content in probiotic bacteria on the gut resistome ecosystems

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat.
• The gut microbiome acts as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), contributing to AMR emergence.
• Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) facilitate the spread of AMR traits within and between bacterial species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of commercial probiotic products and common probiotic species on the gut microbiome and resistome.
• To assess the contribution of probiotics to the dissemination of ARGs in the gastrointestinal tract.
• To highlight the need for improved methods in studying probiotic effects on the gut resistome.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on ARGs in probiotic products.
• Analysis of research on the effects of probiotic species on the human gut resistome.
• Examination of current sampling and profiling techniques for gut microbiome research.

Main Results:

• Commercial probiotic products and common probiotic species contain ARGs.
• Probiotics may play a role in the spread of ARGs within the gut.
• Existing methods for studying the gut microbiome may not fully capture probiotic impacts on the resistome.

Conclusions:

• The contribution of probiotics to ARG dissemination warrants further investigation.
• Probiotics' impact on the gut resistome requires more comprehensive study.
• Refined microbiome sampling and profiling are essential for understanding probiotic-ARG interactions.