Vita Rozman (Author), Petra Mohar Lorbeg (Author), Primož Treven (Author), Tomaž Accetto (Author), Majda Golob (Author), Irena Zdovc (Author), Bojana Bogovič Matijašić (Author)

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria may serve as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance, but the risk posed by strains intentionally introduced into the agro-food chain has not yet been thoroughly investigated. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether probiotics, starter and protective cultures, and feed additives represent a risk to human health. In addition to commercial strains of LAB and bifidobacteria, isolates from human milk or colostrum, intestinal mucosa or feces, and fermented products were analyzed. Phenotypic susceptibility data of 474 strains showed that antimicrobial resistance was more common in intestinal isolates than in commercial strains. Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were characterized in the whole genome sequences of 1114 strains using comparative genomics. Intrinsic ARGs were abundant in enterococci, bifidobacteria, and lactococci but were considered non-risky due to the absence of MGEs. The results revealed that 13.8% of commercial strains contained acquired ARGs, most frequently for tetracycline. We associated 75.5% of the acquired ARGs with known or novel MGEs, and their potential for transmission was assessed by examining metagenomic sequences. We confirmed that ARGs and MGEs were not as abundant or diverse in commercial strains as in human intestinal isolates or isolates from human milk, suggesting that strains intentionally introduced into the agro-food chain do not pose a significant threat. However, attention should be paid especially to individual probiotic strains containing elements that have been shown to have high potential for transferability in the gut microbiota.

Keywords

mikrobiologija;mlečnokislinske bakterije;bifidobakterije;agroživilska veriga;odpornost;genetika;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL BF - Biotechnical Faculty
UDC: 579:575
COBISS: 123511555 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1949-0984
Views: 349
Downloads: 94
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Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: mikrobiologija;mlečnokislinske bakterije;bifidobakterije;agroživilska veriga;odpornost;genetika;
Type (COBISS): Article
Pages: str. 1-17
Volume: ǂno. ǂ1
Issue: ǂart. ǂ2127438
Chronology: 2022
DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2127438
ID: 16716423