Antibiotic resistance in probiotic bacteria

Abstract

Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. The main probiotic bacteria are strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, although other representatives, such as Bacillus or Escherichia coli strains, have also been used. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two common inhabitants of the human intestinal microbiota. Also, some species are used in food fermentation processes as starters, or as adjunct cultures in the food industry. With some exceptions, antibiotic resistance in these beneficial microbes does not constitute a safety concern in itself, when mutations or intrinsic resistance mechanisms are responsible for the resistance phenotype. In fact, some probiotic strains with intrinsic antibiotic resistance could be useful for restoring the gut microbiota after antibiotic treatment. However, specific antibiotic resistance determinants carried on mobile genetic elements, such as tetracycline resistance genes, are often detected in the typical probiotic genera, and constitute a reservoir of resistance for potential food or gut pathogens, thus representing a serious safety issue.

Risk of prophylactic antibiotics in livestock and poultry farms; a growing problem for human and animal health

“…(not detected) and AMP (not detected) in livestock effluents in New Mexico. Similar to previous studies (21,29) conducted in different parts of the world, in the present study too, effluent water of livestock farms were recorded as a significant source of antibiotic contamination. In the present study OTC (0.001-0.004 ppm) and TET (0.001-0.006 ppm) were detected at high concentrations while AMX (0.001-0.00 2ppm) was recorded in low concentrations.…”

“…(21,29) These antibiotic resistant bacteria may disturb the microflora of the human intestines and increase the risk of certain infectious diseases as well. (3,26) In the present study different antibiotic resistance bacteria were isolated based on MIC test.…”

CINÉTICA, PRUEBA DE CRECIMIENTO Y EFECTO DE INHIBICIÓN DELactococcus lactisSOBREYersinia pseudotuberculosis

“…Gueimonde et al [20] mencionan que la resistencia a los antibióticos es un peligro potencial cuando se presenta en los microorganismos benéficos, ya que estos podrían convertirse en reservorios que pueden transferir resistencia a microorganismos patógenos y oportunistas. Este fenómeno se debe a la modificación en el ADN bacteriano, producto de una mutación o la transferencia de plásmidos, trasposones o integrones [21].…”

The use of Probiotics in Horses with Gastrointestinal Disease

“…The number of reports on adverse effects in probiotic use in horses has to be observed considering little objective studies done on the topic. Some serious concerns have been raised, supporting the hypothesis that typical probiotic genera can act as potential reservoirs of resistance for food or gut pathogens (Gueimonde et al, 2013;Schoster et al, 2014). Most of the available data on antibiotic resistance are available for lactobacilli, which have been proven to transfer genes to different gram-positive bacteria, but also acquire resistance genes from them (Mater et al, 2008).…”

“…Most of the available data on antibiotic resistance are available for lactobacilli, which have been proven to transfer genes to different gram-positive bacteria, but also acquire resistance genes from them (Mater et al, 2008). Due to their potential pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance for clinically relevant antibiotics and in vitro evidence of enhancing adhesion of enteropathogens, enterococci also represent a serious safety issue and have, therefore, been avoided in studies considering potential probiotics in animals (Lund and Edlund, 2001;Rinkinen et al, 2003;Weese et al, 2004;Cebrian et al, 2012;Gueimonde et al, 2013).…”