Cyanobacteria as a critical reservoir of the environmental antimicrobial resistome

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is predicted to cause a worldwide annual toll of 10 million deaths by 2050. This looming public health threat has been linked to antibiotic overuse and pollution, which places selective pressures on AMR maintenance and transfer in and between microbial populations. We...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental microbiology 2023-11, Vol.25 (11), p.2266-2276
Main Authors: Timms, V. J., Hassan, K. A., Pearson, L. A., Neilan, B. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Aminoglycosides
Antimicrobial agents
Antimicrobial resistance
Aquatic habitats
Cyanobacteria
Freshwater
Genes
Genomes
Health risks
Hot springs
Inland water environment
Microorganisms
Pathogens
Pollution
Public health
Reservoirs
Symbionts
Tetracyclines
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Summary:Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is predicted to cause a worldwide annual toll of 10 million deaths by 2050. This looming public health threat has been linked to antibiotic overuse and pollution, which places selective pressures on AMR maintenance and transfer in and between microbial populations. We examined the distribution, diversity and potential mobility of AMR genes in cyanobacteria. While cyanobacteria are not pathogenic, we hypothesised that they could be a major environmental reservoir for AMR genes. Genes encoding AMR to seven antimicrobial drug classes were found in 10% of cyanobacterial genomes. AMR genes were found in 13% of freshwater, 19% of terrestrial, 34% of symbiotic, 2% of thermal spring, and 3% of marine genomes. AMR genes were found in five cyanobacterial orders with 23% of Nostocales and 8% of Oscillatoriales strains containing AMR genes. The most frequently observed alleles were ansamycin resistance genes, which were present in 7% of strains. AMR genes responsible for resistance to broad‐spectrum β‐lactams, chloramphenicols, tetracyclines, macrolides, and aminoglycosides were associated with mobile genetic elements or plasmid replicons or both. These results suggest that cyanobacteria are an extensive reservoir, and potential vector, for AMR genes in diverse terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
ISSN:1462-2912
1462-2920
DOI:10.1111/1462-2920.16453