Assessment of bacterial antibiotic resistance transfer in the gut

Abstract

We assessed horizontal gene transfer between bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. During the last decades, the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains and treatment failures of bacterial infections have increased the public awareness of antibiotic usage. The use of broad spectrum antibiotics creates a selective pressure on the bacterial flora, thus increasing the emergence of multiresistant bacteria, which results in a vicious circle of treatments and emergence of new antibiotic resistant bacteria. The human gastrointestinal tract is a massive reservoir of bacteria with a potential for both receiving and transferring antibiotic resistance genes. The increased use of fermented food products and probiotics, as food supplements and health promoting products containing massive amounts of bacteria acting as either donors and/or recipients of antibiotic resistance genes in the human GI tract, also contributes to the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains. This paper deals with the assessment of antibiotic resistance gene transfer occurring in the gut.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the complexity of selection/development of antibiotic resistant bacteria in different known reservoirs. The possible routes of transmission throughout the environment of these resistant bacteria are suggested. The reservoirs where antibiotics are applied are also suggested as hot spots for horizontal gene transfer. AN: antibiotic treatment/pest control, adapted from [83].