Meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes
Abstract Background Antibiotic resistance is rendering common bacterial infections untreatable. Wildlife can incorporate and disperse antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment, such as water systems, which in turn serve as reservoirs of resistance genes for human pathogens. Anthropogenic acti...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:5aa43a04c0804ac79904cc39311ad0ab 2023-05-15T13:59:20+02:00 Meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes Vanessa R. Marcelino Michelle Wille Aeron C. Hurt Daniel González-Acuña Marcel Klaassen Timothy E. Schlub John-Sebastian Eden Mang Shi Jonathan R. Iredell Tania C. Sorrell Edward C. Holmes 2019-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-019-0649-1 https://doaj.org/article/5aa43a04c0804ac79904cc39311ad0ab EN eng BMC http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12915-019-0649-1 https://doaj.org/toc/1741-7007 doi:10.1186/s12915-019-0649-1 1741-7007 https://doaj.org/article/5aa43a04c0804ac79904cc39311ad0ab BMC Biology, Vol 17, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2019) Meta-transcriptomics Microbiome Birds Resistome Antimicrobial resistance Wastewater Biology (General) QH301-705.5 article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-019-0649-1 2022-12-31T01:27:52Z Abstract Background Antibiotic resistance is rendering common bacterial infections untreatable. Wildlife can incorporate and disperse antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment, such as water systems, which in turn serve as reservoirs of resistance genes for human pathogens. Anthropogenic activity may contribute to the spread of bacterial resistance cycling through natural environments, including through the release of human waste, as sewage treatment only partially removes antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, empirical data supporting these effects are currently limited. Here we used bulk RNA-sequencing (meta-transcriptomics) to assess the diversity and expression levels of functionally viable resistance genes in the gut microbiome of birds with aquatic habits in diverse locations. Results We found antibiotic resistance genes in birds from all localities, from penguins in Antarctica to ducks in a wastewater treatment plant in Australia. Comparative analysis revealed that birds feeding at the wastewater treatment plant carried the greatest resistance gene burden, including genes typically associated with multidrug resistance plasmids as the aac(6)-Ib-cr gene. Differences in resistance gene burden also reflected aspects of bird ecology, taxonomy, and microbial function. Notably, ducks, which feed by dabbling, carried a higher abundance and diversity of resistance genes than turnstones, avocets, and penguins, which usually prey on more pristine waters. Conclusions These transcriptome data suggest that human waste, even if it undergoes treatment, might contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to the wild. Differences in microbiome functioning across different bird lineages may also play a role in the antibiotic resistance burden carried by wild birds. In summary, we reveal the complex factors explaining the distribution of resistance genes and their exchange routes between humans and wildlife, and show that meta-transcriptomics is a valuable tool to access functional resistance genes in ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles BMC Biology 17 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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English |
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Meta-transcriptomics Microbiome Birds Resistome Antimicrobial resistance Wastewater Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
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Meta-transcriptomics Microbiome Birds Resistome Antimicrobial resistance Wastewater Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Vanessa R. Marcelino Michelle Wille Aeron C. Hurt Daniel González-Acuña Marcel Klaassen Timothy E. Schlub John-Sebastian Eden Mang Shi Jonathan R. Iredell Tania C. Sorrell Edward C. Holmes Meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes |
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Meta-transcriptomics Microbiome Birds Resistome Antimicrobial resistance Wastewater Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
description |
Abstract Background Antibiotic resistance is rendering common bacterial infections untreatable. Wildlife can incorporate and disperse antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment, such as water systems, which in turn serve as reservoirs of resistance genes for human pathogens. Anthropogenic activity may contribute to the spread of bacterial resistance cycling through natural environments, including through the release of human waste, as sewage treatment only partially removes antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, empirical data supporting these effects are currently limited. Here we used bulk RNA-sequencing (meta-transcriptomics) to assess the diversity and expression levels of functionally viable resistance genes in the gut microbiome of birds with aquatic habits in diverse locations. Results We found antibiotic resistance genes in birds from all localities, from penguins in Antarctica to ducks in a wastewater treatment plant in Australia. Comparative analysis revealed that birds feeding at the wastewater treatment plant carried the greatest resistance gene burden, including genes typically associated with multidrug resistance plasmids as the aac(6)-Ib-cr gene. Differences in resistance gene burden also reflected aspects of bird ecology, taxonomy, and microbial function. Notably, ducks, which feed by dabbling, carried a higher abundance and diversity of resistance genes than turnstones, avocets, and penguins, which usually prey on more pristine waters. Conclusions These transcriptome data suggest that human waste, even if it undergoes treatment, might contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to the wild. Differences in microbiome functioning across different bird lineages may also play a role in the antibiotic resistance burden carried by wild birds. In summary, we reveal the complex factors explaining the distribution of resistance genes and their exchange routes between humans and wildlife, and show that meta-transcriptomics is a valuable tool to access functional resistance genes in ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Vanessa R. Marcelino Michelle Wille Aeron C. Hurt Daniel González-Acuña Marcel Klaassen Timothy E. Schlub John-Sebastian Eden Mang Shi Jonathan R. Iredell Tania C. Sorrell Edward C. Holmes |
author_facet |
Vanessa R. Marcelino Michelle Wille Aeron C. Hurt Daniel González-Acuña Marcel Klaassen Timothy E. Schlub John-Sebastian Eden Mang Shi Jonathan R. Iredell Tania C. Sorrell Edward C. Holmes |
author_sort |
Vanessa R. Marcelino |
title |
Meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes |
title_short |
Meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes |
title_full |
Meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes |
title_fullStr |
Meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes |
title_sort |
meta-transcriptomics reveals a diverse antibiotic resistance gene pool in avian microbiomes |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-019-0649-1 https://doaj.org/article/5aa43a04c0804ac79904cc39311ad0ab |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_source |
BMC Biology, Vol 17, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2019) |
op_relation |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12915-019-0649-1 https://doaj.org/toc/1741-7007 doi:10.1186/s12915-019-0649-1 1741-7007 https://doaj.org/article/5aa43a04c0804ac79904cc39311ad0ab |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-019-0649-1 |
container_title |
BMC Biology |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1766267881585115136 |