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Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
Published on: October 31, 2019
Protist predation promotes antimicrobial resistance spread through antagonistic microbiome interactions
Chen Liu1, Yijin Wang1, Zeyuan Zhou1
1Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Key Laboratory of Organic-Based Fertilizers of China, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Xuanwu district, Nanjing 210095, People's Republic of China.
Predation by soil protists drives antibiotic resistance spread by favoring bacteria that produce antimicrobial compounds. This cross-kingdom interaction highlights top-down control as a key factor in managing resistance dynamics in the environment.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Genetics
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a significant global health concern.
- Previous research focused on antibiotic resistance gene distribution, overlooking other drivers.
- The role of soil protists in antibiotic resistance dynamics remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of protist predation in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in soil microbiomes.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which protists influence antibiotic resistance.
- To explore the implications of protist-microbiome interactions for managing antibiotic resistance.
Main Methods:
- Metagenomic analysis of soil microbiomes.
- Controlled laboratory experiments to simulate protist predation.
- Assessment of bacterial community composition and antibiotic resistance levels.
Main Results:
- Protist predation was found to increase antibiotic resistance in the soil microbiome.
- This increase is mechanistically linked to enhanced antimicrobial activity.
- Protist predation favors bacteria producing secondary metabolites, which in turn promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Conclusions:
- Protists play a critical role in shaping antibiotic resistance dynamics through top-down control.
- Cross-kingdom interactions between protists and bacteria are pivotal in antibiotic resistance spread.
- Modulating protist communities could be a novel strategy for controlling environmental antibiotic resistance.
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