Bacteriophages: Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Food-Borne Bacteria Prevalent in Agriculture

Through recent decades, the subtherapeutic use of antibiotics within agriculture has led to the widespread development of antimicrobial resistance. This problem not only impacts the productivity and sustainability of current agriculture but also has the potential to transfer antimicrobial resistance to human pathogens via the food supply chain. An increasingly popular alternative to antibiotics is bacteriophages to control bacterial diseases. Their unique bactericidal properties make them an ideal alternative to antibiotics, as many countries begin to restrict the usage of antibiotics in agriculture. This review analyses recent evidence from within the past decade on the efficacy of phage therapy on common foodborne pathogens, namely, Escherica coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Campylobacter jejuni. This paper highlights the benefits and challenges of phage therapy and reveals the potential for phages to control bacterial populations both in food processing and livestock and the possibility for phages to replace subtherapeutic usage of antibiotics in the agriculture sector.

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Inhibition of Bacterial Biofilm Formation by Phytotherapeutics with Focus on Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200212121710 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (24) ◽

pp. 2807-2816 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yun Su Jang ◽

Tímea Mosolygó

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Bacterial Biofilm ◽

Experimental Investigations ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Food Borne ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Scientific Attention

: Bacteria within biofilms are more resistant to antibiotics and chemical agents than planktonic bacteria in suspension. Treatment of biofilm-associated infections inevitably involves high dosages and prolonged courses of antimicrobial agents; therefore, there is a potential risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Due to the high prevalence of AMR and its association with biofilm formation, investigation of more effective anti-biofilm agents is required. : From ancient times, herbs and spices have been used to preserve foods, and their antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing properties are well known. Moreover, phytochemicals exert their anti-biofilm properties at sub-inhibitory concentrations without providing the opportunity for the emergence of resistant bacteria or harming the host microbiota. : With increasing scientific attention to natural phytotherapeutic agents, numerous experimental investigations have been conducted in recent years. The present paper aims to review the articles published in the last decade in order to summarize a) our current understanding of AMR in correlation with biofilm formation and b) the evidence of phytotherapeutic agents against bacterial biofilms and their mechanisms of action. The main focus has been put on herbal anti-biofilm compounds tested to date in association with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and food-borne pathogens (Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli).

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Antimicrobial Resistance and Presence of Class 1 Integrons Among Different Serotypes of Salmonella spp. Recovered From Children with Diarrhea in Tehran, Iran

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871526519666190130171020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 160-166

Author(s):

Seyedeh Hanieh Eshaghi Zadeh ◽

Hossein Fahimi ◽

Fatemeh Fardsanei ◽

Mohammad Mehdi Soltan Dallal

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Class 1 Integron ◽

Class 1 Integrons ◽

Food Borne ◽

Class 1 ◽

Resistance Patterns ◽

C 30

Background: Salmonellosis is a major food-borne disease worldwide. The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella spp. is concerning. Objective: The main objective of this study is to identify class 1 integron genes and to determine antibiotic resistance patterns among Salmonella isolates from children with diarrhea. Methods: A total of 30 Salmonella isolates were recovered from children with diarrhea. The isolates were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility and screened for the presence of class 1 integron genes (i.e. intI1, sulI1, and qacEΔ1). Results: The most prevalent serotype was Enteritidis 36.7%, followed by Paratyphi C (30%), and Typhimurium (16.7%). The highest rates of antibiotic resistance were obtained for nalidixic acid (53.3%), followed by streptomycin (40%), and tetracycline (36.7%). Regarding class 1 integrons, 36.7%, 26.7%, and 33.3% of the isolates carried intI1, SulI, and qacEΔ1, respectively, most of which (81.8%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Statistical analysis revealed that the presence of class 1 integron was significantly associated with resistance to streptomycin and tetracycline (p = 0.042). However, there was no association between class 1 integron and other antibiotics used in this study (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The high frequency of integron class 1 gene in MDR Salmonella strains indicates that these mobile genetic elements are versatile among different Salmonella serotypes, and associated with reduced susceptibility to many antimicrobials.

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Characterization of Multidrug Resistance Patterns of Emerging Salmonella enterica Serovar Rissen along the Food Chain in China

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics9100660 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 660

Author(s):

Xuebin Xu ◽

Silpak Biswas ◽

Guimin Gu ◽

Mohammed Elbediwi ◽

Yan Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Food Chain ◽

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Animal Husbandry ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Broth Microdilution Method ◽

Resistance Patterns

Salmonella spp. are recognized as important foodborne pathogens globally. Salmonella enterica serovar Rissen is one of the important Salmonella serovars linked with swine products in numerous countries and can transmit to humans by food chain contamination. Worldwide emerging S. Rissen is considered as one of the most common pathogens to cause human salmonellosis. The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance properties and patterns of Salmonella Rissen isolates obtained from humans, animals, animal-derived food products, and the environment in China. Between 2016 and 2019, a total of 311 S. Rissen isolates from different provinces or province-level cities in China were included here. Bacterial isolates were characterized by serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 14 clinically relevant antimicrobials were obtained by broth microdilution method. S. Rissen isolates from humans were found dominant (67%; 208/311). S. Rissen isolates obtained from human patients were mostly found with diarrhea. Other S. Rissen isolates were acquired from food (22%; 69/311), animals (8%; 25/311), and the environment (3%; 9/311). Most of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and ampicillin. The S. Rissen isolates showed susceptibility against ceftriaxone, ceftiofur, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin. In total, 92% of the S. Rissen isolates were multidrug-resistant and ASSuT (27%), ACT (25%), ACSSuT (22%), ACSSuTAmc (11%), and ACSSuTFox (7%) patterns were among the most prevalent antibiotic resistance patterns found in this study. The widespread dissemination of antimicrobial resistance could have emerged from misuse of antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry in China. These findings could be useful for rational antimicrobial usage against Salmonella Rissen infections.

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Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Products Marketed on the Border of Brazil with Argentina and Uruguay

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/jfp-20-176 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 83 (11) ◽

pp. 1941-1946

Author(s):

JULIANO GONÇALVES PEREIRA ◽

VANESSA MENDONÇA SOARES ◽

LEONARDO ERENO TADIELO ◽

TASSIANA RAMIRES ◽

WLADIMIR PADILHA da SILVA

Keyword(s):

Listeria Monocytogenes ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Penicillin G ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Resistance Profile ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Profile ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

ABSTRACT We aimed to perform serotyping and the antimicrobial resistance profile of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from raw meats imported illegally into Brazil along the borders of Argentina and Uruguay. Distinct isolates of Salmonella spp. (n = 6) and L. monocytogenes (n = 25) obtained from 270 of these food products of earlier work were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial resistance by agar disk diffusion method. For strains that were considered phenotypically resistant, antimicrobial resistance genes were investigated: strA, strB, floR, tetA, tetB, blaZ, blaTEM, ermB, ermC, and ereB to Salmonella sp. and blaZ and mecA to L. monocytogenes. All Salmonella isolates were identified as Salmonella Infantis; they were multidrug resistant and harbored the genes blaTEM (n = 6), strA (n = 1), strB (n = 1), floR (n = 1), ermB (n = 1), tetA (n = 3), and tetB (n = 3). L. monocytogenes isolates belonged to serovars 1/2a (n = 1), 1/2b (n = 14), 1/2c (n = 2), and 4b (n = 8), showed resistance only to penicillin G (n = 12), and did not show the blaZ and mecA genes. The results demonstrated that illegal foods that are commercialized in the Brazilian international border with Argentina and Uruguay may harbor foodborne pathogens, and some of them have multidrug resistance characteristics, such as Salmonella, emphasizing the need for greater control of international food transit in Brazil, especially in the region evaluated. HIGHLIGHTS

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Multi-drug Resistant Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producing E. coli and Salmonella on Raw Vegetable Salads Served at Hotels and Restaurants in Bharatpur, Nepal

10.21203/rs.2.11491/v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sanjeep Sapkota ◽

Sanjib Adhikari ◽

Asmita Pandey ◽

Sujan Khadka ◽

Madhuri Adhikari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

Food Borne ◽

Microbiological Techniques ◽

Materials Used

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance among bacteria present in ready-to-eat foods like vegetable salads is an emerging concern today. The current study was undertaken to investigate the presence of multi-drug resistant extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli and Salmonella spp. in raw vegetable salads served at hotels and restaurants in Bharatpur. A total of 216 salad samples were collected from three different grades of hotels/restaurants and examined for the presence of E. coli and Salmonella spp. in Microbiology laboratory of Birendra Multiple Campus by conventional microbiological techniques. Out of 216 samples, 66 samples (35.2%) showed presence of Salmonella spp. whereas E. coli was recovered from 29(13.4%) samples of which 3 samples harbored E. coli O157: H7. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that 9(13.6%) Salmonella and 4(13.8%) E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant. Total ESBL producers reported were 5(7.57%) Salmonella and 4(13.8%) E. coli . The study also assessed a significant association between occurrence of E. coli and Salmonella with grades of hotels/restaurants, personal hygiene and literacy rate of chefs and with type of cleaning materials used to wash knives and chopping boards (p<0.05). The findings suggest immediate need of attention by concerned authorities to prevent emergence and transmission of food-borne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.

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Intensive animal farming operations and outbreaks of zoonotic bacterial diseases in Ukraine

Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems ◽

10.15421/022166 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 479-489

Author(s):

T. Tsarenko ◽

L. Korniienko

Keyword(s):

Human Population ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Animal Health ◽

Farm Animals ◽

Continuous Control ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Bacterial Diseases ◽

Food Borne ◽

Livestock Farms ◽

Campylobacter Spp

In Ukraine zoonoses are a permanent threat to human health, some of them are bacterial diseases associated with farm animals. Complete avoidance of outbreaks of bacterial zoonoses is not possible but it is appropriate to study them to reduce the risks of transmission of zoonosis pathogens from industrial farms to the human population and the environment. The article highlights the results of a literature review on the potential role of industrial livestock farms in the spread of major bacterial zoonoses in Ukraine. About half of all of the country’s farmed animals are kept on farms using industrial technology; more than half of the establishments are classified as medium and large. The technology of keeping animals on such farms contributes to the development of diseases of obligate hosts caused by fecal bacteria. The systematic search and selection of literary sources, which are relevant to the topic of the study were carried out. The vast majority of analyzed publications are published in Ukrainian in local peer-reviewed scientific journals. An analysis of open-access official statistics from the state authorities of Ukraine was also conducted. The authors analyzed statistics and scientific papers published over the last 10–15 years discussing the outbreaks of food-borne zoonoses among humans and the studying their pathogens (Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli (STEC strains), Listeria spp.) on industrial livestock farms. The main source of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. distribution are industrial poultry, including broilers and chickens, respectively. The STEC strains E. coli carriers are various types of farm animals, including cattle and pigs. The majority of infections documented in Ukraine are cases of salmonellosis in humans and animals. Despite reports of a significant prevalence of campylobacteriosis, colibacillosis and listeriosis in livestock farms, their association with outbreaks of food-borne zoonoses in humans remains poorly understood. The concept of an industrial livestock farm involves a permanent presence of a risk of outbreaks of bacterial zoonoses and their rapid spreading to the human population. This is due to concentrated maintenance of animals, standardized feeding, the priority of achieving the highest productivity of animals and economic indicators. Under such conditions, disturbance of hygienic norms and technologies significantly increases the risk of bacterial zoonoses on industrial farms. It is important to enforce the continuous control of the level of microbial pollution of farms, animal health, hygiene of milk production and processing, meat, eggs, etc. Farms have a negative impact on the ecological welfare of the surrounding territories. The problem of spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacterial zoonoses is a very serious one. Efforts for the formation of a national system of epidemiological supervision over bacterial zoonoses, comprising epidemiological, epizootological, ecological, microbiological, serological and molecular genetic monitoring, as well as the development on this basis of effective prophylactic and anti-epidemic measures are relevant and necessary.

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Molecular surveillance of zoonotic bacterial pathogens in farm dwelling peridomestic rodents across the upper Midwest, USA

10.1101/2021.07.28.454187 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nusrat A. Jahan ◽

Laramie L. Lindsey ◽

Evan J. Kipp ◽

Bradley J Heins ◽

Amy M. Runck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Effective Control ◽

Human Pathogens ◽

Blarina Brevicauda ◽

Food Borne ◽

16S Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Oxford Nanopore ◽

Animal Farms ◽

The Usa

The effective control of rodent populations on farms is a critical component of food-safety, as rodents are reservoirs and vectors for many foodborne pathogens in addition to several zoonotic pathogens. The functional role of rodents in the amplification and transmission of pathogens is likely underappreciated. Clear links have been identified between rodents and outbreaks of pathogens throughout Europe and Asia, however, comparatively little research has been devoted to studying this rodent-agricultural interface in the USA, particularly across the Midwest. Here, we address this existing knowledge gap by characterizing the metagenomic communities of rodent pests collected from Minnesota and Wisconsin food animal farms. We leveraged the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencer to provide a rapid real-time survey of the putative zoonotic food-borne and other human pathogens. Rodents (mice and rats) were live trapped from three dairy and mixed animal farms. Tissues and fecal samples were collected from all rodents. DNA extraction was performed on 90 rodent colons along with 2 shrew colons included as outgroups in the study. Full-length 16S amplicon sequencing was performed with the MinION. Our data suggests the presence of putative foodborne pathogens including Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium spp., along with many important mastitis pathogens. A critically important observation is that we discovered these pathogens within all five species of rodents (Microtus pennsylvanicus, Mus musculus, Peromyscus leucopus, Peromyscus maniculatus, and Rattus norvegicus) and shrew (Blarina brevicauda) in varying abundances. Interestingly, we observed a higher abundance of enteric pathogens (e.g. Salmonella) in shrew feces compared to the rodents analyzed in our study, however more data is required to establish that connection. Knowledge gained from our research efforts will directly inform and improve upon farm-level biosecurity efforts and public health interventions to reduce future outbreaks of foodborne and zoonotic disease.

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Towards a better understanding of antimicrobial resistance dissemination: what can be learnt from studying model conjugative plasmids?

Military Medical Research ◽

10.1186/s40779-021-00362-z ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zhen Shen ◽

Christoph M. Tang ◽

Guang-Yu Liu

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Rational Design ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Human Pathogens ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Conjugative Plasmids ◽

Defense Systems ◽

Metabolic Properties ◽

Gram Negative Organisms

AbstractBacteria can evolve rapidly by acquiring new traits such as virulence, metabolic properties, and most importantly, antimicrobial resistance, through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Multidrug resistance in bacteria, especially in Gram-negative organisms, has become a global public health threat often through the spread of mobile genetic elements. Conjugation represents a major form of HGT and involves the transfer of DNA from a donor bacterium to a recipient by direct contact. Conjugative plasmids, a major vehicle for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance, are selfish elements capable of mediating their own transmission through conjugation. To spread to and survive in a new bacterial host, conjugative plasmids have evolved mechanisms to circumvent both host defense systems and compete with co-resident plasmids. Such mechanisms have mostly been studied in model plasmids such as the F plasmid, rather than in conjugative plasmids that confer antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in important human pathogens. A better understanding of these mechanisms is crucial for predicting the flow of antimicrobial resistance-conferring conjugative plasmids among bacterial populations and guiding the rational design of strategies to halt the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we review mechanisms employed by conjugative plasmids that promote their transmission and establishment in Gram-negative bacteria, by following the life cycle of conjugative plasmids.

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Bacterial Endophytes and Their Interactions with Hosts

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-19-0827 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 827-837 ◽

Cited By ~ 758

Author(s):

Mónica Rosenblueth ◽

Esperanza Martínez-Romero

Keyword(s):

Defense Responses ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Human Pathogens ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Process Plant ◽

Bacterial Mutants ◽

Plant Genes ◽

Colonization Process ◽

Promote Plant Growth

Recent molecular studies on endophytic bacterial diversity have revealed a large richness of species. Endophytes promote plant growth and yield, suppress pathogens, may help to remove contaminants, solubilize phosphate, or contribute assimilable nitrogen to plants. Some endophytes are seed-borne, but others have mechanisms to colonize the plants that are being studied. Bacterial mutants unable to produce secreted proteins are impaired in the colonization process. Plant genes expressed in the presence of endophytes provide clues as to the effects of endophytes in plants. Molecular analysis showed that plant defense responses limit bacterial populations inside plants. Some human pathogens, such as Salmonella spp., have been found as endophytes, and these bacteria are not removed by disinfection procedures that eliminate superficially occurring bacteria. Delivery of endo-phytes to the environment or agricultural fields should be carefully evaluated to avoid introducing pathogens.

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