Antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial community on the surfaces of five cultivars of fresh tomatoes

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance genes and bacteria (ARGs and ARB) in vegetable or fruit pose risks to ecological environment health. However, the assessment of ARGs and ARB from one popular vegetable, fresh tomato, has not been carried out before. In this study, high-throughput quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing technology were used to explore the antibiotic resistance characteristics of bacteria on five common cultivars of fresh tomatoes from supermarket. A total of 191 ARGs and 10 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected on the tomato surfaces. The distribution profile of ARGs and MGEs was different among samples, with the organic tomatoes showing more ARGs and MGEs number and relative abundance. Aminoglycoside resistance genes strA and strB, sulfonamide resistance gene sul1, and multidrug resistance gene qacΔ1-01 were the predominant ARGs. Dominant MGEs were transposase genes, which might promote horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs. Network analysis indicated that fifteen bacterial families might be the potential hosts of ARGs, and the detected MGEs might have positive correlation with ARGs. These results revealed the bacterial ARGs and MGEs from fresh tomato, which might help guide human to pay more attention to ecological environment impacts of ARGs and ARB on the surfaces of vegetable or fruit.Keywords Fresh tomato • Antibiotic resistance genes • Mobile genetic elements • Bacterial community Highlights• Diverse ARGs and MGEs were found on tomato surfaces.• Organic tomatoes showed more abundant ARGs and MGEs.• Shared ARGs and MGEs were revealed on tomato surfaces.• Network analysis displayed significant correlation among ARGs, MGEs and bacteria.

Characteristics of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Full-Scale Drinking Water Treatment System Using Metagenomics and Culturing

“…Additionally, these ARG subtypes might be transmitted to human living areas; for example, when people use water to wash food, such as fruit and vegetables, the ARGs will contaminate the fruit and vegetable surfaces and affect health through the food chain. Recently, scholars have discovered that ARGs in vegetables or fruit pose risks to ecological environment health ( Sun et al, 2021 ). Furthermore, when people use the water to take a bath, the ARG subtypes might also remain on the skin ( Nielsen and Jiang, 2019 ).…”

Predicting plasmid persistence in microbial communities by coarse‐grained modeling

“…[ 70 ] Similarly, high‐throughput qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing have also been used to study the presences of ARGs and bacteria on the surface of five cultivars of fresh tomatoes. [ 71 ] In another approach, epicPCR (emulsion, paired isolation and concatenation PCR) has been used in combination with 16S rRNA sequencing to study resistance‐genes in parallel with host species in wastewater treatment plants. [ 64 ] The epicPCR protocol is based on encapsulating cells into hydrogel beads and linking the genes of interest to the 16S rRNA gene of the host by concatenating PCR.…”

Antimicrobial Multiresistant Phenotypes of Genetically Diverse Pseudomonas spp. Isolates Associated with Tomato Plants in Chilean Orchards

“…Moreover, several studies support the idea that environmental bacteria, including those associated to edible plants, play a role as vector of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), mainly via their mobilization trough the food chain [20]. An example of this is the presence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in fresh fruits and vegetables (including tomato) for human consumption [21][22][23]. Members of genera such as Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Burkholderia, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas, and Bacillus often associated with crops, may harbor antibiotic-resistance genes [24].…”

“…Members of genera such as Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Burkholderia, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas, and Bacillus often associated with crops, may harbor antibiotic-resistance genes [24]. Moreover, the study of Sun et al (2021) in fresh tomatoes ready for human consumption in the Chinese market, detected a total of 191 ARGs and 10 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) on fresh tomato surfaces [23]. Their results indicated that fifteen bacterial families might be the potential hosts of ARGs.…”