Changes of antibiotic resistance genes and gut microbiota after the ingestion of goat milk

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance genes, as newly emerging contaminants, have become a serious challenge to public health through the food chain. The gut of humans and animals is an important reservoir for the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes because of the great abundance and diversity of intestinal microbiota. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of goat milk on the diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and gut microbial communities, especially pathogenic bacteria. Male mice were used, 12 for each of the 2 groups: a control group that received sterile distilled water and a treated group that received goat milk, and gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes were compared in these groups using metagenomic analysis. The results revealed that ingestion of goat milk decreased the diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in the mice gut. The relative abundance of fluoroquinolone, peptide, macrolide, and β-lactam resistance genes in the total microbial genes significantly decreased after the intervention. Goat milk intake also significantly reduced the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium bolteae, Clostridium symbiosum, Helicobacter cinaedi, and Helicobacter bilis. Therefore, goat milk intake might decrease the transfer potential of antibiotic resistance gene to pathogenic bacteria in the gut. In addition, bacteria with multiple resistance mechanisms accounted for approximately 4.5% of total microbial communities in the control group, whereas it was not detectable in the goat milk group, indicating the total inhibition by goat milk intake. This study highlights the influence of goat milk on antibiotic resistome and microbial communities in the gut, and provides a new insight into the function of goat milk for further study.

Helicobacter bilis Contributes to the Occurrence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Inducing Host Immune Disorders

“…Antibiotics are effective in subsets of patients with IBD, and most rodent colitis models suggest that inflammation does not occur in sterile environments [ 73 , 74 ]. However, the gut of humans is an important reservoir for the development of antibiotic resistance genes because of the great abundance and diversity of gut microbiota [ 75 ]. A study performed by Gao and Fan conducted an antibiotic resistance analysis of H. pylori in 365 Chinese people and found that the resistance rates to clarithromycin, amoxicillin, fluoroquinolone, and tetracycline were 65.06%, 7.54%, 61.39%, and 20.37%, respectively [ 76 ].…”

“…A study performed by Gao and Fan conducted an antibiotic resistance analysis of H. pylori in 365 Chinese people and found that the resistance rates to clarithromycin, amoxicillin, fluoroquinolone, and tetracycline were 65.06%, 7.54%, 61.39%, and 20.37%, respectively [ 76 ]. Interestingly, Liu and Zhang found that goat milk intake might decrease the transfer potential of antibiotic resistance gene to pathogenic bacteria in the gut, thus reducing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, such as H. bilis [ 75 ]. Therefore, changes in diet may have some therapeutic effect on the antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria.…”