Distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in glacier environments.
Environ Microbiol Rep
; 5(1): 127-34, 2013 Feb.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23757141
ABSTRACT
Antibiotic resistance genes are biologically transmitted from microorganism to microorganism in particular micro-environments where dense microbial communities are often exposed to an intensive use of antibiotics, such as intestinal microflora, and the soil microflora of agricultural fields. However, recent studies have detected antibiotic-resistant bacteria and/or antibiotic resistance genes in the natural environment geographically isolated from such areas. Here we sought to examine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in 54 snow and ice samples collected from the Arctic, Antarctic, Central Asia, North and South America and Africa, to evaluate the level of these genes in environments supposedly not affected by anthropogenic factors. We observed a widespread distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in samples from various glaciers in Central Asia, North and South America, Greenland and Africa. In contrast, Antarctic glaciers were virtually free from these genes. Antibiotic resistance genes, of both clinical (i.e. aac(3), blaIMP) and agricultural (i.e. strA and tetW) origin, were detected. Our results show regional geographical distribution of antibiotic resistance genes, with the most plausible modes of transmission through airborne bacteria and migrating birds.
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Bacterias
/
Farmacorresistencia Microbiana
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Cubierta de Hielo
/
Genes Bacterianos
Tipo de estudio:
Risk_factors_studies
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
/
America do norte
/
America do sul
/
Asia
/
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Microbiol Rep
Año:
2013
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Japón