Characterization of Antibiotic Resistance in <i>Shewanella</i> Species: An Emerging Pathogen in Clinical and Environmental Settings
Antibiotic resistance is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, in large part due to their misuse and improper disposal. Antibiotics administered to treat human and animal diseases, including feed supplements for the treatment or prevention of disease in farm animals, have contributed greatly to...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1115 |
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| Summary: | Antibiotic resistance is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, in large part due to their misuse and improper disposal. Antibiotics administered to treat human and animal diseases, including feed supplements for the treatment or prevention of disease in farm animals, have contributed greatly to the emergence of a multitude of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. <i>Shewanella</i> is one of many bacteria that have developed antibiotic resistance, and in some species, multiple-antibiotic resistance (MAR). <i>Shewanella</i> is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative, oxidase-positive, and H<sub>2</sub>S-producing bacterium that is naturally found in the marine environment. In humans, <i>Shewanella</i> spp. can cause skin and soft tissue infections, septicemia, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, and ear and wound infections. Some <i>Shewanella</i> have been shown to be resistant to a variety of antibiotics, including beta-lactams, aminoglycoside, quinolones, third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins, and carbapenems, due to the presence of genes such as the <i>bla<sub>OXA</sub></i>-class D beta-lactamase-encoding gene, <i>bla<sub>AmpC</sub></i>-class-C beta-lactamase-encoding gene, and the <i>qnr</i> gene. Bacteria can acquire and transmit these genes through different horizontal gene-transmission mechanisms such as transformation, transduction, and conjugation. The genes for antibiotic resistance are present on <i>Shewanella</i> chromosomes and plasmids. Apart from this, heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and chromium can also increase antibiotic resistance in <i>Shewanella</i> due to co-selection processes such as co-resistance, cross resistance, and co-regulation mechanisms. Antibiotics and drugs enter <i>Shewanella</i> spp. through pores or gates in their cell wall and may be ejected from the bacteria by efflux pumps, which are the first line of bacterial defense against antibiotics. Multiple-drug resistant <i>Shewanella</i> can be particularly difficult to control. This review focuses on the phenotypic and genomic characteristics of <i>Shewanella</i> that are involved in the increase in antimicrobial resistance in this bacterium. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-2607 |