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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Antibiotic and Resistance Gene Pollution in the Environment
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Antibiotic and Resistance Gene Pollution in the Environment

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 9467

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ling Luo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Interests: antibiotic resistance genes; environmental microbiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The excessive use of antibiotics in human and animal health, as well as in agriculture, has led to the release of large quantities of these drugs into the environment. Antibiotics in the environment can select for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, leading to the spread of antibiotic resistance. As a result, antibiotics and their associated resistance genes can be found in various environmental compartments, including soil, water, and air, which pose serious risks to human and environmental health. Due to the significant implications for the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating infections and public health, efforts are urgently being made to mitigate pollution from antibiotics and their resistance genes. These include improving waste management practices, promoting responsible antibiotic use in human and veterinary medicine, and implementing stricter regulations on antibiotic use in agriculture. Additionally, research is being conducted to develop new methods to monitor and remove antibiotics and their resistance genes from the environment. Pollution from antibiotics and their resistance genes in the environment is a growing concern worldwide, which threatens human health, compromises ecosystems, and jeopardizes the effectiveness of antibiotics. In this Special Issue, we focus on addressing this concern, providing a comprehensive understanding of the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their resistance genes to environmental health.

Dr. Ling Luo
Guest Editor

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. Microorganisms 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 2700 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
  • antibiotic-resistant bacteria
  • pollution
  • environmental health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1028 KiB  
Communication
Molecular Detection of blaTEM and blaSHV Genes in ESBL-Producing Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Antarctic Soil
by Clara Pazos, Miguel Gualoto, Tania Oña, Elizabeth Velarde, Karen Portilla, Santiago Cabrera-García, Carlos Banchón, Gabriela Dávila, Fernanda Hernández-Alomia and Carlos Bastidas-Caldes
Microorganisms 2025, 13(3), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13030482 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1714
Abstract
The phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in cold environments, exemplified by the Antarctic, calls into question the assumption that pristine ecosystems lack clinically significant resistance genes. This study examines the molecular basis of AMR in Acinetobacter spp. Isolated from Antarctic soil, focusing on [...] Read more.
The phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in cold environments, exemplified by the Antarctic, calls into question the assumption that pristine ecosystems lack clinically significant resistance genes. This study examines the molecular basis of AMR in Acinetobacter spp. Isolated from Antarctic soil, focusing on the blaTEM and blaSHV genes associated with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production; Soil samples were collected and processed to isolate Antarctic soil bacteria. Molecular detection was then conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the bacteria species by 16S rRNA/rpoB and 10 different beta-lactamase-producing genes. PCR amplicons were sequenced to confirm gene identity and analyze genetic variability. Acinetobacter baumannii were identified by both microbiological and molecular tests. Notably, both the blaTEM and blaSHV genes encoding the enzymes responsible for resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins were identified, indicating the presence of resistance determinants in bacteria from extreme cold ecosystems. The nucleotide sequence analysis indicated the presence of conserved ARGs, which suggest stability and the potential for horizontal gene transfer within microbial communities. These findings emphasize that AMR is not confined to human-impacted environments but can emerge and persist in remote, cold habitats, potentially facilitated by natural reservoirs and global microbial dispersal. Understanding the presence and role of AMR in extreme environments provides insights into its global dissemination and supports the development of strategies to mitigate the spread of resistance genes in both environmental and clinical contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic and Resistance Gene Pollution in the Environment)
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14 pages, 1496 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Assessment of Multidrug-Resistant and Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents
by Ji-Hyun Park, Kyung-Seon Bae, Jihyun Kang, Jeong-Ki Yoon and Soo-Hyung Lee
Microorganisms 2024, 12(6), 1119; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061119 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1729
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli poses a significant threat to public health, contributing to elevated rates of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. This study focused on investigating the antibiotic resistance profiles, resistance and virulence gene distributions, biofilm formation capabilities, and sequence types of E. [...] Read more.
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli poses a significant threat to public health, contributing to elevated rates of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. This study focused on investigating the antibiotic resistance profiles, resistance and virulence gene distributions, biofilm formation capabilities, and sequence types of E. coli strains resistant to six or more antibiotic classes. Among 918 strains isolated from 33 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), 53.6% (492/918) demonstrated resistance, 32.5% (298/918) were MDR, and over 8% (74/918) were resistant to six or more antibiotic classes, exhibiting complete resistance to ampicillin and over 90% to sulfisoxazole, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline. Key resistance genes identified included sul2, blaTEM, tetA, strA, strB, and fimH as the predominant virulence genes linked to cell adhesion but limited biofilm formation; 69% showed no biofilm formation, and approximately 3% were strong producers. Antibiotic residue analysis detected ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim in all 33 WWTPs. Multilocus sequence typing analysis identified 29 genotypes, predominantly ST131, ST1193, ST38, and ST69, as high-risk clones of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. This study provided a comprehensive analysis of antibiotic resistance in MDR E. coli isolated from WWTPs, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance and research to effectively manage antibiotic resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic and Resistance Gene Pollution in the Environment)
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Review

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16 pages, 1771 KiB  
Review
Acinetobacter baumannii, a Multidrug-Resistant Opportunistic Pathogen in New Habitats: A Systematic Review
by Omar E. Ahuatzin-Flores, Eduardo Torres and Edith Chávez-Bravo
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040644 - 23 Mar 2024
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5640
Abstract
In recent years, humanity has begun to face a growing challenge posed by a rise in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This has resulted in an alarming surge in fatalities and the emergence of increasingly hard-to-manage diseases. Acinetobacter baumannii can be seen as [...] Read more.
In recent years, humanity has begun to face a growing challenge posed by a rise in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This has resulted in an alarming surge in fatalities and the emergence of increasingly hard-to-manage diseases. Acinetobacter baumannii can be seen as one of these resilient pathogens due to its increasing prevalence in hospitals, its resistance to treatment, and its association with elevated mortality rates. Despite its clinical significance, the scientific understanding of this pathogen in non-hospital settings remains limited. Knowledge of its virulence factors is also lacking. Therefore, in this review, we seek to shed light on the latest research regarding the ecological niches, microbiological traits, and antibiotic resistance profiles of Acinetobacter baumannii. Recent studies have revealed the presence of this bacterium in a growing range of environmental niches, including rivers, treatment plants, and soils. It has also been discovered in diverse food sources such as meat and vegetables, as well as in farm animals and household pets such as dogs and cats. This broader presence of Acinetobacter baumannii, i.e., outside of hospital environments, indicates a significant risk of environmental contamination. As a result, greater levels of awareness and new preventive measures should be promoted to address this potential threat to public health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic and Resistance Gene Pollution in the Environment)
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