Metal and antibiotic-resistance in psychrotrophic bacteria from Antarctic Marine waters

In the wake of the findings that Antarctic krills concentrate heavy metals at ppm level, (Yamamoto et al. 1987), the Antarctic waters from the Indian side were examined for the incidence of metal and antibiotic-resistant bacteria during the austral summer (13th Indian Antarctic expedition) along the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecotoxicology (London) 2006-05, Vol.15 (4), p.379-384
Main Authors: De Souza, Maria-Judith, Nair, Shanta, Loka Bharathi, P A, Chandramohan, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antarctic Regions
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics
Bacteria
Bacteria - drug effects
Bacteria - enzymology
Bacteria - growth & development
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Bioremediation
Cadmium
Chromium
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
Gelatinases - analysis
Heavy metals
Marine pollution
Mercury
Metals, Heavy - pharmacology
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Peptide Hydrolases - analysis
Seasons
Water Microbiology
Water Pollutants, Chemical - pharmacology
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Summary:In the wake of the findings that Antarctic krills concentrate heavy metals at ppm level, (Yamamoto et al. 1987), the Antarctic waters from the Indian side were examined for the incidence of metal and antibiotic-resistant bacteria during the austral summer (13th Indian Antarctic expedition) along the cruise track extending from 50 degrees S and 18 degrees E to 65 degrees S and 30 degrees E. The bacterial isolates from these waters showed varying degrees of resistance to antibiotics (Chloramphenicol, ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and kanamycin) and metals (K(2)CrO(4), CdCl(2), ZnCl(2) and HgCl(2)) tested. Of the isolates screened, about 29% and 16% were resistant to 100 ppm of cadmium and chromium salt respectively. Tolerance to lower concentration (10 ppm) of mercury (Hg) was observed in 68% of the isolates. Depending on the antibiotics the isolates showed different percentage of resistance. Multiple drug and metal-resistance were observed. High incidence of resistance to both antibiotics and metals were common among the pigmented bacterial isolates. Increased resistance decreased the ability of bacteria to express enzymes. The results reiterate previous findings by other researchers that the waters of southern ocean may not be exempt from the spread of metal and antibiotic-resistance.
ISSN:0963-9292
1573-3017
DOI:10.1007/s10646-006-0068-2