scholarly journals Host genetic and environmental factors shape the human gut resistome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.I. Le Roy ◽  
R.C. E. Bowyer ◽  
V.R. Carr ◽  
R. Costeira ◽  
J.E. Castillo-Fernandez ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding and controlling the spread of antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine. To this end many efforts focus on characterising the human resistome or the set of antibiotic resistance determinants within the microbiome of an individual. Aside from antibiotic use, other host environmental and genetic factors that may shape the resistome remain relatively underexplored.MethodsUsing gut metagenome data from 250 TwinsUK female twins, we quantified known antibiotic resistance genes to estimate gut microbiome antibiotic resistance potential for 41 types of antibiotics and resistance mechanisms. Using heritability modelling, we assessed the influence of host genetic and environmental factors on the gut resistome. We then explored links between gut resistome, host health and specific environmental exposures using linear mixed effect models adjusted for age, BMI, alpha diversity and family structure.ResultsWe considered gut microbiome antibiotic resistance to 21 classes of antibiotics, for which resistance genes were detected in over 90% of our population sample. Using twin modelling, we estimated that on average about 25% of resistome variability could be attributed to host genetic influences. Greatest heritability estimates were observed for resistance potential to acriflavine (70%), dalfopristin (51%), clindamycin (48%), aminocoumarin (48%) and the total score summing across all antibiotic resistance genes (38%). As expected, the majority of resistome variability was attributed to host environmental factors specific to an individual. We compared antibiotic resistance profiles to multiple environmental exposures, lifestyle and health factors. The strongest associations were observed with alcohol and vegetable consumption, followed by high cholesterol medication and antibiotic usage. Overall, inter-individual variation in host environment showed modest associations with antibiotic resistance profiles, and host health status had relatively minor signals.ConclusionOur results identify host genetic and environmental influences on the human gut resistome. The findings improve our knowledge of human factors that influence the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and may contribute towards helping to attenuate it.

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 35-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross S McInnes ◽  
Gregory E McCallum ◽  
Lisa E Lamberte ◽  
Willem van Schaik

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno G. N. Andrade ◽  
Tobias Goris ◽  
Haithem Afli ◽  
Felipe H. Coutinho ◽  
Alberto M. R. Dávila ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The high incidence of bacterial genes that confer resistance to last-resort antibiotics, such as colistin, caused by mobilized colistin resistance (mcr) genes, poses an unprecedented threat to human health. Understanding the spread, evolution, and distribution of such genes among human populations will help in the development of strategies to diminish their occurrence. To tackle this problem, we investigated the distribution and prevalence of potential mcr genes in the human gut microbiome using a set of bioinformatics tools to screen the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Genome (UHGG) collection for the presence, synteny and phylogeny of putative mcr genes, and co-located antibiotic resistance genes. Results A total of 2079 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were classified as mcr genes in 2046 metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs), distributed across 1596 individuals from 41 countries, of which 215 were identified in plasmidial contigs. The genera that presented the largest number of mcr-like genes were Suterella and Parasuterella. Other potential pathogens carrying mcr genes belonged to the genus Vibrio, Escherichia and Campylobacter. Finally, we identified a total of 22,746 ARGs belonging to 21 different classes in the same 2046 MAGs, suggesting multi-resistance potential in the corresponding bacterial strains, increasing the concern of ARGs impact in the clinical settings. Conclusion This study uncovers the diversity of mcr-like genes in the human gut microbiome. We demonstrated the cosmopolitan distribution of these genes in individuals worldwide and the co-presence of other antibiotic resistance genes, including Extended-spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL). Also, we described mcr-like genes fused to a PAP2-like domain in S. wadsworthensis. These novel sequences increase our knowledge about the diversity and evolution of mcr-like genes. Future research should focus on activity, genetic mobility and a potential colistin resistance in the corresponding strains to experimentally validate those findings.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bálint Kintses ◽  
Orsolya Méhi ◽  
Eszter Ari ◽  
Mónika Számel ◽  
Ádám Györkei ◽  
...  

AbstractThe human gut microbiota has adapted to the presence of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are ancient components of immune defence. Despite important medical relevance, it has remained unclear whether AMP resistance genes in the gut microbiome are available for genetic exchange between bacterial species. Here we show that AMP- and antibiotic-resistance genes differ in their mobilization patterns and functional compatibilities with new bacterial hosts. First, whereas AMP resistance genes are widespread in the gut microbiome, their rate of horizontal transfer is lower than that of antibiotic resistance genes. Second, gut microbiota culturing and functional metagenomics revealed that AMP resistance genes originating from phylogenetically distant bacteria only have a limited potential to confer resistance inEscherichia coli, an intrinsically susceptible species. Third, the phenotypic impact of acquired AMP resistance genes heavily depends on the genetic background of the recipient bacteria. Taken together, functional compatibility with the new bacterial host emerges as a key factor limiting the genetic exchange of AMP resistance genes. Finally, our results suggest that AMPs induce highly specific changes in the composition of the human microbiota with implications for disease risks.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Yan ◽  
A. Brantley Hall ◽  
Xiaofang Jiang

AbstractAntibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) regulated by invertible promoters can mitigate the fitness cost of maintaining ARGs in the absence of antibiotics and could potentially prolong the persistence of ARGs in bacterial populations. However, the origin, prevalence, and distribution of these ARGs regulated by invertible promoters remains poorly understood. Here, we sought to assess the threat posed by ARGs regulated by invertible promoters by systematically searching for ARGs regulated by invertible promoters in the human gut microbiome and examining their origin, prevalence, and distribution. Through metagenomic assembly of 2227 human gut metagenomes and genomic analysis of the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Genome (UHGG) collection, we identified ARGs regulated by invertible promoters and categorized them into three classes based on the invertase-regulating phase variation. In the human gut microbiome, ARGs regulated by invertible promoters are exclusively found in Bacteroidales species. Through genomic analysis, we observed that ARGs regulated by invertible promoters have convergently originated from ARG insertions into glycan-synthesis loci that were regulated by invertible promoters at least three times. Moreover, all three classes of invertible promoters regulating ARGs are located within integrative conjugative elements (ICEs). Therefore, horizontal transfer via ICEs could explain the wide taxonomic distribution of ARGs regulated by invertible promoters. Overall, these findings reveal that glycan-synthesis loci regulated by invertible promoters in Bacteroidales species are an important hotspot for the emergence of clinically-relevant ARGs regulated by invertible promoters.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Yan ◽  
A. Brantley Hall ◽  
Xiangfang Jiang

ABSTRACTPhase-variable antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can mitigate the fitness cost of maintaining ARGs in the absence of antibiotics and could potentially prolong the persistence of ARGs in bacterial populations. However, the origin, prevalence, and distribution of phase-variable ARGs remains poorly understood. Here, we sought to assess the threat posed by phase-variable ARGs by systematically searching for phase-variable ARGs in the human gut microbiome and examining their origin, prevalence, and distribution. Through metagenomic assembly of 2227 human gut metagenomes and genomic analysis of the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Genome (UHGG) collection, we identified phase-variable ARGs and categorized them into three classes based on the invertase regulating phase variation. In the human gut microbiome, phase-variable ARGs are commonly and exclusively distributed in Bacteroidales species. Through genomic analysis, we observed that phase-variable ARGs have convergently originated from ARG insertions into phase-variable capsule polysaccharide biosynthesis (CPS) loci at least three times. Moreover, all identified phase-variable ARGs are located within integrative conjugative elements (ICEs). Therefore, horizontal transfer via ICEs could explain the wide taxonomic distribution of phase-variable ARGs. Overall, these findings reveal that phase-variable CPS loci in Bacteroidales species are an important hotspot for the emergence of clinically-relevant phase-variable ARGs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Cheng ◽  
Yitong Lu ◽  
Yanzhen Song ◽  
Ruifang Zhang ◽  
Xinyan ShangGuan ◽  
...  

The excessive use of antibiotics speeds up the dissemination and aggregation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. The ARGs have been regarded as a contaminant of serious environmental threats on a global scale. The constant increase in aquaculture production has led to extensive use of antibiotics as a means to prevent and treat bacterial infections; there is a universal concern about the environmental risk of ARGs in the aquaculture environment. In this study, a survey was conducted to evaluate the abundance and distributions of 10 ARGs, bacterial community, and environmental factors in sediment samples from aquatic farms distributed in Anhui (AP1, AP2, and AP3), Fujian (FP1, FP2, and FP3), Guangxi (GP1, GP2, and GP3), Hainan (HP1, HP2, and HP3), and Shaanxi (SP1, SP2, and SP3) Province in China. The results showed that the relative abundance of total ARGs was higher in AP1, AP2, AP3, FP3, GP3, HP1, HP2, and HP3 than that in FP1, FP2, GP1, GP2, SP1, SP2, and SP3. The sul1 and tetW genes of all sediment samples had the highest abundance. The class 1 integron (intl1) was detected in all samples, and the result of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the intl1 has a positive correlation with the sul1, sul2, sul3, blaOXA, qnrS, tetM, tetQ, and tetW genes. Correlation analysis of the bacterial community diversity and environmental factors showed that the Ca2+ concentration has a negative correlation with richness and diversity of the bacterial community in these samples. Of the identified bacterial community, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidota were the predominant phyla in these samples. Redundancy analysis showed that environmental factors (TN, TP, Cl–, and Ca2+) have a positive correlation with the bacterial community (AP1, GP1, GP2, GP3, SP1, SP2, and SP3), and the abundance of ARGs (sul1, tetW, qnrS, and intl1) has a positive correlation with the bacterial community (AP2, AP3, HP1, HP2, and HP3). Based on the network analysis, the ARGs (sul1, sul2, blaCMY, blaOXA, qnrS, tetW, tetQ, tetM, and intl1) were found to co-occur with bacterial taxa from the phyla Chloroflexi, Euryarchaeota, Firmicutes, Halobacterota, and Proteobacteria. In conclusion, this study provides an important reference for understanding the environmental risk associated with aquaculture activities in China.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia B. Naumova ◽  
Helen N. Ruchko ◽  
Oleg A. Savenkov ◽  
Valentina I. Pleshakova

The aim of the study. The aim of the study was to review publication about microbiome of chicken manure, chicken manure compost, as well as soil and crop microbiome after compost addition to soil as a fertilizer. Methodology. A search in the bibliographical data bases PubMed and elibrary.ru was performed using the keywords pertaining to the topic of the article. Main results. The results about the chicken manure microbiome, obtained by high throughput sequencing, showed that the chicken gut microbiome is dominated by bacteria of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla; some regional chicken populations were found to have Clostridium, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium, Bacteroides, Escherichia coli, Prevotella, Selenomonas, Streptococcus, Megasphaera, Fusobacterium и Bifidobacterium as the main representatives of the gut microbiome. However, chicken manure can contain bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes, as antibiotics are increasingly used in the poultry industry to stimulate production. In general manure composting can be regarded as environmentally safe method for transforming various organic wastes into organic fertilizers. As increasing output of the poultry industry, which inevitably includes manure, increased the interest to its composting, and recent years have seen unprecedented number of research, dealing with various details of manure composting, such as duration, hydrothermal conditions, added bulking materials, microbiological preparations, abundance of the antibiotic resistance genes, and so on. However, the studies of soil and crop microbiome after soil fertilization with chicken manure compost have so far been rather scarce, resulting in ambiguous conclusions, i.e. about positive or no effect of the compost addition. The effect is determined by species, breed, age, rearing and manure composting technology, as well as by crop and its cultivar, agricultural practices and soil specifics. Conclusions. Chicken manure contains taxonomically diverse microbiome that can be changed during composting. Microbiota of chicken manure and its compost with their great microbial species richness can contain bacteria, carrying antibiotic resistance genes. Dispersal of such components of the compost resistome in environment via compost addition to agricultural soils should be regarded as a growing biological hazard, threatening the efficient use of antibiotics for treating bacterial infections in in veterinary and medicine. Therefore increasing poultry production urges for assessing the risks and evaluating the scope of the threat, as well as estimating and establishing permissible limits of pathomicrobiotic load of the poultry litter manure and compost, using up-to-date metagenomic techniques. The greatest concern is about spreading antibiotic resistance genes into the marketable crop components, consumed raw; consequently, alongside with studying microbiota of the compost-receiving agricultural soil as a source of dust, microbiome research should be also focused crop phytobiome where crops are produced under addition of composts, obtained with manure of the antibiotic-treated poultry during industrial production.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e2928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Rose ◽  
Alexander G. Shaw ◽  
Kathleen Sim ◽  
David J. Wooldridge ◽  
Ming-Shi Li ◽  
...  

Background Few studies have investigated the gut microbiome of infants, fewer still preterm infants. In this study we sought to quantify and interrogate the resistome within a cohort of premature infants using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We describe the gut microbiomes from preterm but healthy infants, characterising the taxonomic diversity identified and frequency of antibiotic resistance genes detected. Results Dominant clinically important species identified within the microbiomes included C. perfringens, K. pneumoniae and members of the Staphylococci and Enterobacter genera. Screening at the gene level we identified an average of 13 antimicrobial resistance genes per preterm infant, ranging across eight different antibiotic classes, including aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. Some antibiotic resistance genes were associated with clinically relevant bacteria, including the identification of mecA and high levels of Staphylococci within some infants. We were able to demonstrate that in a third of the infants the S. aureus identified was unrelated using MLST or metagenome assembly, but low abundance prevented such analysis within the remaining samples. Conclusions We found that the healthy preterm infant gut microbiomes in this study harboured a significant diversity of antibiotic resistance genes. This broad picture of resistances and the wider taxonomic diversity identified raises further caution to the use of antibiotics without consideration of the resident microbial communities.


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