Conjugal Transfer of Antibiotic Resistances in Lactobacillus spp.

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a heterogeneous group of bacteria which are Gram-positive, facultative anaerobes and nonmotile, non-spore forming, with varied shapes from cocci to coccobacilli and bacilli. Lactobacillus is the largest and most widely used bacterial species amongst LAB in fermented foods and beverages. The genus is a common member of human gut microbiome. Several species are known to provide benefits to the human gut via synergistic interactions with the gut microbiome and their ability to survive the gut environment. This ability to confer positive health effects provide them a status of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) microorganisms. Due to their various beneficial characteristics, other factors such as their resistance acquisition were overlooked. Overuse of antibiotics has made certain bacteria develop resistance against these drugs. Antibiotic resistance was found to be acquired mainly through conjugation which is a type of lateral gene transfer. Several in vitro methods of conjugation have been discussed previously depending on their success to transfer resistance. In this review, we have addressed methods that are employed to study the transfer of resistance genes using the conjugation phenomenon in lactobacilli.

Serbian Traditional Goat Cheese: Physico-Chemical, Sensory, Hygienic and Safety Characteristics

“…In fact, the association between the uncontrolled use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine and the selection of multidrug-resistant bacteria in humans and cattle has been previously reported [66]. Even though antimicrobial-resistant determinants may be associated with non-pathogenic bacteria, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events can lead to their transference to pathogenic microorganisms, such as several members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, increasing the prevalence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance along the food chain [12,68,69]. The likelihood of HGT is even greater if resistance genes are located in mobile genetic elements [70].…”

Advantages and disadvantages of non‐starter lactic acid bacteria from traditional fermented foods: Potential use as starters or probiotics

“…In fact, previous studies have indicated that AMR genes detected in food-LAB can be transferred to commensal bacteria or pathogenic bacteria through HGT, which may pose a serious threat to food safety and public health. The most frequently occurring transfer is that of tetracycline-and macrolideresistance determinants (Flórez et al, 2016;Ojha et al, 2021;Thumu & Halami, 2019;Zarzecka et al, 2020Zarzecka et al, , 2022, but the transference of other resistance genes (aminoglycosides, quinolones) has also been reported (Anisimova & Yarullina, 2020;Jaimee & Halami, 2016). In a recent study by Yasir et al (2020), a total of 36 ARGs and the transposase, integrase, and recombinase genes were detected in LAB isolated from pasteurized and unpasteurized Arabian laban.…”

“…Previous reports have described LAB AMR profiles in detail (Anisimova & Yarullina, 2020; Das et al., 2020; Dušková et al., 2020; Flórez et al., 2016; Guo et al., 2017; Jaimee & Halami, 2016; Moračanin et al., 2017; Ojha et al., 2021; Thumu & Halami, 2019; Yasir et al., 2020; Zarzecka et al., 2020; 2022). There is a wide collection of data reporting intrinsic resistances toward different classes of antimicrobials, namely beta‐lactams, tetracyclines, macrolides, quinolones, aminoglycosides, and glycopeptides (Moračanin et al., 2017).…”

“…There is a wide collection of data reporting intrinsic resistances toward different classes of antimicrobials, namely beta‐lactams, tetracyclines, macrolides, quinolones, aminoglycosides, and glycopeptides (Moračanin et al., 2017). Regarding acquired AMR determinants, some of the most frequently identified correspond to tetracycline (encoded mainly as tetM , tetS , tetW , tetK , and tetO ), macrolides (encoded as ermA , ermB , and ermC ), and chloramphenicol (encoded as cat ) (Das et al., 2020; Dušková et al., 2020; Ojha et al., 2021). Furthermore, Anisimova and Yarullina (2020) have indicated that resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol be the most closely monitored, due to the frequent association with specific MGEs, namely with the Tn916‐Tn1545/Tn917 transposon family, which is responsible for the widespread occurrence of those traits (Thumu & Halami, 2019).…”

Anti-cancer Substances and Safety of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Clinical Treatment

“…Researchers have found that the antibiotic resistance gene of LAB could be transferred so that the pathogens developed antibiotic resistance. Researchers have found that antibiotic resistance genes could transfer resistance genes to pathogens through mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, transposons, insertion sequences, and introns and through conjugation pilus, allowing pathogens to acquire antibiotic resistance ( Ojha et al, 2021 ). Conjugation, which is a type of lateral gene transfer, may make pathogens resistant to antibiotics and thus they cannot be eradicated.…”