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Antibiotics
Special Issues
Antibiotic Residues and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in the Environment
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Antibiotic Residues and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in the Environment

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2024) | Viewed by 27150

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mor Nadia Lurie-Weinberger

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Guest Editor
National Institute for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Interests: antibiotic resistance; environmental bacteria; lateral gene transfer; microbial evolution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Dror Avisar

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Guest Editor
Hydro-Chemistry and Water Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Interests: identifying the fate and transport mechanisms of pharmaceuticals and degradation by-products in domestic; industrial and hospital wastewater; effluents and biosolids; industrial fish ponds, effluent irrigated fields, river streams and groundwater; technology development for water treatment and purification via Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for removal of pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater effluent
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotic resistance has become an increasingly critical issue in recent years. Outbreaks of multi-drug resistant pathogens pose a significant risk to human health and life. Antibiotic resistance emerged in bacteria long before the discovery of penicillin and the use of antibiotics against human pathogens. Therefore, antibiotic resistance genes and the mobile genetic elements that contribute to their spread have evolved in the environment over a long period of time and represent a rich reservoir for the emergence of new resistance genes. A better understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to the appearance of new resistance determinants and the paths in which the environmental reservoir in introduces into human pathogens may serve to better our ability to predict and prevent emergence of new antibiotic resistant clones in the hospital setting.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions about antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the environment and lateral gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between environmental and clinically important bacteria. All submission types, such as original research manuscripts, short communications, reviews, and case reports are appreciated.

Dr. Mor Nadia Lurie-Weinberger
Prof. Dr. Dror Avisar
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antibiotics resistance
  • resistome
  • environmental reservoir
  • lateral gene transfer
  • mobile genetic elements
  • antibiotic resistance genes

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3420 KiB  
Article
Occurrence, Typing, and Resistance Genes of ESBL/AmpC-Producing Enterobacterales in Fresh Vegetables Purchased in Central Israel
by Hadas Kon, Mor Lurie-Weinberger, Adi Cohen, Liat Metsamber, Alona Keren-Paz, David Schwartz, Yehuda Carmeli and Vered Schechner
Antibiotics 2023, 12(10), 1528; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12101528 - 11 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2543
Abstract
Beta-lactam resistance can lead to increased mortality, higher healthcare expenses, and limited therapeutic options. The primary mechanism of beta-lactam resistance is the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and AmpC beta-lactamases. The spread of beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales via the food chain may create a resistance [...] Read more.
Beta-lactam resistance can lead to increased mortality, higher healthcare expenses, and limited therapeutic options. The primary mechanism of beta-lactam resistance is the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and AmpC beta-lactamases. The spread of beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales via the food chain may create a resistance reservoir. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacterales in vegetables, to examine the association between EBSL/AmpC-producing bacteria and types of vegetables, packaging, and markets, and to investigate the genetic features of ESBL-producing isolates. The antibiotic susceptibilities were determined using VITEK. Phenotypic ESBL/AmpC production was confirmed using disk diffusion. ESBL-producing isolates were subjected to Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and to whole genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology. Of the 301 vegetable samples, 20 (6.6%) were positive for ESBL producers (16 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 4 Escherichia coli), and 63 (20.9%) were positive for AmpC producers (56 Enterobacter cloacae complex, 4 Enterobacter aerogenes/cancerogenus, and 3 Pantoea spp., Aeromonas hydrophila, and Citrobacter braakii). The blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes were most common among ESBL-producing isolates. The beta-lactamase genes of the ESBL producers were mainly carried on plasmids. Multilocus sequence typing and FT-IR typing revealed high diversity among the ESBL producers. AmpC producers were significantly more common in leafy greens and ESBL producers were significantly less common in climbing vegetables. The presence of ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacterales in raw vegetables may contribute to the dissemination of resistance genes in the community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in the Environment)
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16 pages, 1882 KiB  
Article
Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Cyanobacterial Biofilms
by Maria João Romeu, João Morais, Vítor Vasconcelos and Filipe Mergulhão
Antibiotics 2023, 12(9), 1450; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12091450 - 16 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2113
Abstract
Although a range of disinfecting formulations is commercially available, hydrogen peroxide is one of the safest chemical agents used for disinfection in aquatic environments. However, its effect on cyanobacterial biofilms is poorly investigated. In this work, biofilm formation by two filamentous cyanobacterial strains [...] Read more.
Although a range of disinfecting formulations is commercially available, hydrogen peroxide is one of the safest chemical agents used for disinfection in aquatic environments. However, its effect on cyanobacterial biofilms is poorly investigated. In this work, biofilm formation by two filamentous cyanobacterial strains was evaluated over seven weeks on two surfaces commonly used in marine environments: glass and silicone-based paint (Sil-Ref) under controlled hydrodynamic conditions. After seven weeks, the biofilms were treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to assess if disinfection could affect long-term biofilm development. The cyanobacterial biofilms appeared to be tolerant to H2O2 treatment, and two weeks after treatment, the biofilms that developed on glass by one of the strains presented higher biomass amounts than the untreated biofilms. This result emphasizes the need to correctly evaluate the efficiency of disinfection in cyanobacterial biofilms, including assessing the possible consequences of inefficient disinfection on the regrowth of these biofilms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in the Environment)
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13 pages, 2955 KiB  
Article
Drivers of Antibiotic Resistance Gene Abundance in an Urban River
by Joseph C. Morina and Rima B. Franklin
Antibiotics 2023, 12(8), 1270; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12081270 - 1 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2227
Abstract
In this study, we sought to profile the abundances and drivers of antibiotic resistance genes in an urban river impacted by combined sewage overflow (CSO) events. Water samples were collected weekly during the summer for two years; then, quantitative PCR was applied to [...] Read more.
In this study, we sought to profile the abundances and drivers of antibiotic resistance genes in an urban river impacted by combined sewage overflow (CSO) events. Water samples were collected weekly during the summer for two years; then, quantitative PCR was applied to determine the abundance of resistance genes associated with tetracycline, quinolones, and β-lactam antibiotics. In addition to sampling a CSO-impacted site near the city center, we also sampled a less urban site ~12 km upstream with no proximal sewage inputs. The tetracycline genes tetO and tetW were rarely found upstream, but were common at the CSO-impacted site, suggesting that the primary source was untreated sewage. In contrast, ampC was detected in all samples indicating a more consistent and diffuse source. The two other genes, qnrA and blaTEM, were present in only 40–50% of samples and showed more nuanced spatiotemporal patterns consistent with upstream agricultural inputs. The results of this study highlight the complex sources of ARGs in urban riverine ecosystems, and that interdisciplinary collaborations across diverse groups of stakeholders are necessary to combat the emerging threat of antibiotic resistance through anthropogenic pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in the Environment)
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17 pages, 752 KiB  
Article
Molecular Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Profiles of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Vibrio spp. Isolated from Coastal Seawater for Aquaculture
by Saharuetai Jeamsripong, Varangkana Thaotumpitak, Saran Anuntawirun, Nawaphorn Roongrojmongkhon, Edward R. Atwill and Woranich Hinthong
Antibiotics 2022, 11(12), 1688; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11121688 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3218
Abstract
The occurrence of waterborne antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria in areas of high-density oyster cultivation is an ongoing environmental and public health threat given the popularity of shellfish consumption, water-related human recreation throughout coastal Thailand, and the geographical expansion of Thailand’s shellfish industry. This study [...] Read more.
The occurrence of waterborne antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria in areas of high-density oyster cultivation is an ongoing environmental and public health threat given the popularity of shellfish consumption, water-related human recreation throughout coastal Thailand, and the geographical expansion of Thailand’s shellfish industry. This study characterized the association of phenotypic and genotypic AMR, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production, and virulence genes isolated from waterborne Escherichia coli (E. coli) (n = 84), Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) subsp. enterica (n = 12), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) (n = 249), and Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) (n = 39) from Thailand’s coastal aquaculture regions. All Salmonella (100.0%) and half of V. cholerae (51.3%) isolates harbored their unique virulence gene, invA and ompW, respectively. The majority of isolates of V. parahaemolyticus and E. coli, ~25% of S. enterica subsp. enterica, and ~12% of V. cholerae, exhibited phenotypic AMR to multiple antimicrobials, with 8.9% of all coastal water isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR). Taken together, we recommend that coastal water quality surveillance programs include monitoring for bacterial AMR for food safety and recreational water exposure to water for Thailand’s coastal water resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in the Environment)
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Review

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31 pages, 2145 KiB  
Review
Horizontal Gene Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Biofilms
by Claudia Michaelis and Elisabeth Grohmann
Antibiotics 2023, 12(2), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12020328 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 121 | Viewed by 16213
Abstract
Most bacteria attach to biotic or abiotic surfaces and are embedded in a complex matrix which is known as biofilm. Biofilm formation is especially worrisome in clinical settings as it hinders the treatment of infections with antibiotics due to the facilitated acquisition of [...] Read more.
Most bacteria attach to biotic or abiotic surfaces and are embedded in a complex matrix which is known as biofilm. Biofilm formation is especially worrisome in clinical settings as it hinders the treatment of infections with antibiotics due to the facilitated acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Environmental settings are now considered as pivotal for driving biofilm formation, biofilm-mediated antibiotic resistance development and dissemination. Several studies have demonstrated that environmental biofilms can be hotspots for the dissemination of ARGs. These genes can be encoded on mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as conjugative and mobilizable plasmids or integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). ARGs can be rapidly transferred through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) which has been shown to occur more frequently in biofilms than in planktonic cultures. Biofilm models are promising tools to mimic natural biofilms to study the dissemination of ARGs via HGT. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art of biofilm studies and the techniques that visualize the three main HGT mechanisms in biofilms: transformation, transduction, and conjugation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in the Environment)
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