Antibiotic resistance gene spread due to manure application on agricultural fields

H. Heuer, H. Schmitt, K. Smalla

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    The usage of antibiotics in animal husbandry has promoted the development and abundance of antibiotic resistance in farm environments. Manure has become a reservoir of resistant bacteria and antibiotic compounds, and its application to agricultural soils is assumed to significantly increase antibiotic resistance genes and selection of resistant bacterial populations in soil. The genome location of resistance genes is likely to shift towards mobile genetic elements such as broad-host-range plasmids, integrons, and transposable elements. Horizontal transfer of these elements to bacteria adapted to soil or other habitats supports their environmental transmission independent of the original host. The human exposure to soil-borne resistance has yet to be determined, but is likely to be severely underestimated.
    Original languageUndefined/Unknown
    Pages (from-to)236-243
    Number of pages8
    JournalCurrent Opinion in Microbiology
    Volume14
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011

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