| Title: |
What goes around comes around:Plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance dissemination at the farm animal-human interface |
| Authors: |
Buffoni, Matteo; MMB-imm; Infection & Immunity; Willems, Rob; De Visser,J. Arjan GM; Paganelli, Fernanda; Schürch, Anita |
| Publisher Information: |
UMC Utrecht; Utrecht University |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Subject Terms: |
Antimicrobial resistance; One Health; Gut microbiome; Plasmids; Horizontal gene transfer; Mobile genetic elements; Livestock; Resistome; Plasmid stability; Cross-species transmission |
| Description: |
The escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), characterized as a "silent pandemic" responsible for an estimated 1.14 million deaths globally in 2021, demands a rigorous One Health framework. This approach acknowledges that AMR dynamics are driven by deep interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental domains. Specifically, the farm animal-human interface represents a critical nexus for the dissemination of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance. This research aims to bridge the gap between broad ecological factors prevalent in agricultural settings and the precise molecular mechanisms governing the movement and establishment of resistance plasmids from livestock reservoirs to human-associated bacteria. Central to this dissemination is the gut microbiome, which acts as a vast biological reservoir for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). These genes are frequently carried on mobile genetic elements (MGEs), particularly plasmids, which facilitate rapid horizontal gene transfer (HGT) via conjugation. To elucidate how agricultural inputs influence this reservoir, this research first examined the impact of diverse farming practices. Investigations revealed contrasting ecological outcomes: while the administration of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) oil in pigs proved ecologically neutral, exerting minimal impact on the fecal microbiome, anticoccidial strategies in chickens imposed strong selective pressures. These pressures significantly reshaped the microbial landscape and co-selected for specific resistome profiles, illustrating how agricultural management can actively modulate the pool of mobile ARGs. Transitioning from ecological observation to molecular dissection, the study focused on the cross-species transmission of the high-priority IncI1-blaCTX-M-1 plasmid. In vitro experiments demonstrated that host origin is not an immediate barrier to HGT; the plasmid transferred efficiently between avian and human Escherichia coli isolates. However, a pivotal distinction emerged between initial ... |
| Document Type: |
doctoral or postdoctoral thesis |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/462129 |
| Availability: |
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/462129 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.5628E158 |
| Database: |
BASE |