TY - JOUR
T1 - The Human Health Implications of Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Isolates from Two Nebraska Watersheds
AU - Donner, Linsey
AU - Staley, Zachery R.
AU - Petali, Jonathan
AU - Sangster, Jodi
AU - Li, Xu
AU - Mathews, Wayne
AU - Snow, Daniel
AU - Howe, Adina
AU - Soupir, Michelle
AU - Bartelt-Hunt, Shannon
N1 - Funding Information:
The whole-genome sequencing in this study was performed by the UNMC DNA Sequencing Core Facility. The UNMC DNA Sequencing Core Facility receives partial support from the Nebraska Research Network in Functional Genomics NE-INBRE P20GM103427-14, The Molecular Biology of Neurosensory Systems CoBRE P30GM110768, The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center P30CA036727, The Center for Root and Rhizobiome Innovation (CRRI) 36-5150-2085-20, and the Nebraska Research Initiative. Assistance with sampling provided by Keith Kontor and Scott Seelhoff at the Fremont Wastewater Treatment Plant (Fremont, NE USA).
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Donner et al.
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - One Health field-based approaches are needed to connect the occurrence of antibiotics present in the environment with the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Gram-negative bacteria that confer resistance to antibiotics important in for both veterinary and human health. Water samples from two Nebraska watersheds influenced by wastewater effluent and agricultural runoff were tested for the presence of antibiotics used in veterinary and human medicine. The water samples were also cultured to identify the bacteria present. Of those bacteria isolated, the Gram-negative rods capable of causing human infections had antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) performed to identify ARGs present. Of the 211 bacterial isolates identified, 37 belonged to pathogenic genera known to cause human infections. Genes conferring resistance to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fosfomycins, and quinolones were the most frequently detected ARGs associated with horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the watersheds. WGS also suggest recent HGT events involving ARGs transferred between watershed isolates and bacteria of human and animal origins. The results of this study demonstrate the linkage of antibiotics and bacterial ARGs present in the environment with potential human and/or veterinary health impacts. IMPORTANCE One health is a transdisciplinary approach to achieve optimal health for humans, animals, plants and their shared environment, recognizing the interconnected nature of health in these domains. Field based research is needed to connect the occurrence of antibiotics used in veterinary medicine and human health with the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, the presence of antibiotics, bacteria and ARGs was determined in two watersheds in Nebraska, one with agricultural inputs and the other with both agricultural and wastewater inputs. The results presented in this study provide evidence of transfer of highly mobile ARG between environment, clinical, and animal-associated bacteria.
AB - One Health field-based approaches are needed to connect the occurrence of antibiotics present in the environment with the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Gram-negative bacteria that confer resistance to antibiotics important in for both veterinary and human health. Water samples from two Nebraska watersheds influenced by wastewater effluent and agricultural runoff were tested for the presence of antibiotics used in veterinary and human medicine. The water samples were also cultured to identify the bacteria present. Of those bacteria isolated, the Gram-negative rods capable of causing human infections had antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) performed to identify ARGs present. Of the 211 bacterial isolates identified, 37 belonged to pathogenic genera known to cause human infections. Genes conferring resistance to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fosfomycins, and quinolones were the most frequently detected ARGs associated with horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the watersheds. WGS also suggest recent HGT events involving ARGs transferred between watershed isolates and bacteria of human and animal origins. The results of this study demonstrate the linkage of antibiotics and bacterial ARGs present in the environment with potential human and/or veterinary health impacts. IMPORTANCE One health is a transdisciplinary approach to achieve optimal health for humans, animals, plants and their shared environment, recognizing the interconnected nature of health in these domains. Field based research is needed to connect the occurrence of antibiotics used in veterinary medicine and human health with the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, the presence of antibiotics, bacteria and ARGs was determined in two watersheds in Nebraska, one with agricultural inputs and the other with both agricultural and wastewater inputs. The results presented in this study provide evidence of transfer of highly mobile ARG between environment, clinical, and animal-associated bacteria.
KW - antibiotic resistance
KW - antibiotics
KW - watersheds
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U2 - 10.1128/spectrum.02082-21
DO - 10.1128/spectrum.02082-21
M3 - Article
C2 - 35311538
AN - SCOPUS:85129298712
SN - 2165-0497
VL - 10
JO - Microbiology spectrum
JF - Microbiology spectrum
IS - 2
ER -