The ionophore resistance genes narA and narB are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibiotics
ABSTRACT Ionophores are a class of antibiotics used widely in animal production as anti-coccidials and for growth promotion. Since ionophores are not used in human medicine, it has largely been assumed that they do not contribute to medically important antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Nonetheless, th...
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American Society for Microbiology
2025-07-01
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| Series: | mSphere |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00243-25 |
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| author | Asalia Ibrahim Jason Au Alex Wong |
| author_facet | Asalia Ibrahim Jason Au Alex Wong |
| author_sort | Asalia Ibrahim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Ionophores are a class of antibiotics used widely in animal production as anti-coccidials and for growth promotion. Since ionophores are not used in human medicine, it has largely been assumed that they do not contribute to medically important antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Nonetheless, there is increasing concern that ionophore usage could co-select for clinically relevant AMR, since the ionophore resistance genes narA and narB have been found in linkage with multiple AMR genes. We investigated the global distribution and AMR linkage of narA and narB using publicly available data. These ionophore resistance genes can be found worldwide, with >2,400 narAB-bearing isolates reported from 51 countries. Isolates were derived from a range of host species, including poultry, cattle, and humans. narAB was linked with an average of over 10 resistance determinants for AMR, including many medically important antibiotics. These observations indicate that we cannot assume that ionophore use is risk-free, with clear potential for co-selection for clinically relevant AMR.IMPORTANCEIonophores are a type of antibiotic used to promote growth in cattle and pigs and to treat parasitic infections in poultry. It has been assumed that ionophore use in animals does not pose a risk for humans. However, growing evidence suggests that ionophore use may select for medically relevant antibiotic resistance. Using analyses of public data, we found that ionophore resistance is widespread and that it is usually linked to resistance genes for medically relevant drugs. There is thus clear potential for ionophore use to impact the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the food supply. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da01fc269d754f47b439af3fd9defe94 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2379-5042 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
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| spelling | doaj-art-da01fc269d754f47b439af3fd9defe942025-08-20T03:58:45ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymSphere2379-50422025-07-0110710.1128/msphere.00243-25The ionophore resistance genes narA and narB are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibioticsAsalia Ibrahim0Jason Au1Alex Wong2Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaABSTRACT Ionophores are a class of antibiotics used widely in animal production as anti-coccidials and for growth promotion. Since ionophores are not used in human medicine, it has largely been assumed that they do not contribute to medically important antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Nonetheless, there is increasing concern that ionophore usage could co-select for clinically relevant AMR, since the ionophore resistance genes narA and narB have been found in linkage with multiple AMR genes. We investigated the global distribution and AMR linkage of narA and narB using publicly available data. These ionophore resistance genes can be found worldwide, with >2,400 narAB-bearing isolates reported from 51 countries. Isolates were derived from a range of host species, including poultry, cattle, and humans. narAB was linked with an average of over 10 resistance determinants for AMR, including many medically important antibiotics. These observations indicate that we cannot assume that ionophore use is risk-free, with clear potential for co-selection for clinically relevant AMR.IMPORTANCEIonophores are a type of antibiotic used to promote growth in cattle and pigs and to treat parasitic infections in poultry. It has been assumed that ionophore use in animals does not pose a risk for humans. However, growing evidence suggests that ionophore use may select for medically relevant antibiotic resistance. Using analyses of public data, we found that ionophore resistance is widespread and that it is usually linked to resistance genes for medically relevant drugs. There is thus clear potential for ionophore use to impact the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the food supply.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00243-25antimicrobial resistanceionophoreOne Healthagriculture |
| spellingShingle | Asalia Ibrahim Jason Au Alex Wong The ionophore resistance genes narA and narB are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibiotics mSphere antimicrobial resistance ionophore One Health agriculture |
| title | The ionophore resistance genes narA and narB are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibiotics |
| title_full | The ionophore resistance genes narA and narB are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibiotics |
| title_fullStr | The ionophore resistance genes narA and narB are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibiotics |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ionophore resistance genes narA and narB are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibiotics |
| title_short | The ionophore resistance genes narA and narB are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibiotics |
| title_sort | ionophore resistance genes nara and narb are geographically widespread and linked to resistance to medically important antibiotics |
| topic | antimicrobial resistance ionophore One Health agriculture |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00243-25 |
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