Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in a Gut Microbiota as a Reservoir—A Review
The human microbiota is one of the most powerful sites for antibiotic resistance (AR) genes. It is home to thousands of microbes at various stages of development. The complex inner environment has the potential to affect the host’s immunity, metabolism, and genetic makeup. The gut microbiota has an...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Advanced Gut & Microbiome Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/agm3/6574751 |
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| Summary: | The human microbiota is one of the most powerful sites for antibiotic resistance (AR) genes. It is home to thousands of microbes at various stages of development. The complex inner environment has the potential to affect the host’s immunity, metabolism, and genetic makeup. The gut microbiota has an incredibly high level of gene diversity. Its 3.3 million nonredundant genes even outnumber the host’s 150 million total genomes. In the human gut, where 10–100 trillion diversity-enhanced microbe cells reside, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is prevalent and occurs at a rate approximately 25 times higher than in any other ecosystem. AR threatens global health by causing stronger infection rates and higher death tolls. The nonmedical setting that aids in the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the human microbiome. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from commensal, anthropogenic, and environmental microbes make up the antibiotic resistome. The evolutionary force from the use of antibiotics in agriculture and medicine increases AMR. The dynamics of AMR are significantly influenced by the diverse microbial phyla that make up the gut microbiota. Within the human gastrointestinal tract, ARGs are traded and transferred between various bacterial species quite often. This emphasizes how important it is that we understand how the human body functions on the inside as well as the outside sources of infections. ARGs could potentially come from the oral microbiota. Even in the absence of direct selection pressure, genes linked to AR can still be expressed there. The global epidemic of AR claims millions of lives and poses a serious risk to public health and the economy. Bacterial evolution, antibiotic overuse and misuse, genetically modified foods, and the spread of drug-resistant pathogens through international travel are possibly contributing to AMR. Sustaining AMR requires surveillance, which is hampered by inadequate data collection, knowledge gaps, and low public awareness. In addition to raising death rates, AMR also raises healthcare costs, diminishes treatment effectiveness, and promotes the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. Without considering agriculture, a knowledge gap, or the proper use of antibiotics, biological factors have contributed significantly to the escalation of AMR. This research summarizes the current knowledge and gaps on antimicrobial- and antibiotic-resistant genes and the contribution of microbiota to AR. |
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| ISSN: | 2755-1652 |