Antibiotic resistance in vancomycin‐resistant lactic acid bacteria (VRLAB) isolated from foods of animal origin

Abstract

In this study, antibiotic resistance in 47 vancomycin‐resistant lactic acid bacteria (VRLAB), isolated from 340 foods of animal origin obtained in Turkey, were investigated. VRLAB isolates were molecularly identified as Enterococcus gallinarum (44.68%), Pediococcus pentosaceus (25.53%), P. acidilactici (12.77%), E. casseliflavus (6.38%), E. casseliflavus/E. gallinarum (4.26%), Weissella cibaria (2.13%), W. confusa (2.13%), and W. minor (2.13%). The disk diffusion test results showed that 57.45%, 53.19%, 44.68%, and 44.68% of VRLAB were resistant to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, teicoplanin, and vancomycin, respectively. It was found that all the Pediococcus and Weissella isolates and 53.85% of the Enterococcus isolates had multiple antibiotic resistance. Various transferable antibiotic resistance genes were found in the VRLAB using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The most common antibiotic resistance genes in the VRLAB isolates were vanC1 (46.81%), tetM (23.4%), and ermB (19.15%). Practical applications Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a key role in food fermentations. However, antibiotic resistance in LAB is a concern because these bacteria can, potentially, be a reservoir that facilitates the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to pathogenic bacteria. Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is used as a last resort in the cure of multidrug‐resistant enterococci. In this study, vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus, Pediococcus, and Weissella strains were isolated from foods of animal origin. Several transferable antibiotic resistance genes were detected in these isolates. The results of this study indicated that VRLAB strains isolated from foods of animal origin may be the reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes. Our findings suggest that antibiotic resistance profiles and resistance genes, in addition to industrial characteristics, should be investigated when selecting LAB from foods of animal origin to be used as starter cultures.

Antimicrobial activity and safety features assessment of Weissella spp. from environmental sources

“…According to earlier research, the possibility of high natural resistance of Weissella species to quinolones (nalidixic acid), glycopeptides (vancomycin and teicoplanin), and aminoglycosides (except high‐level resistance encoded by aminoglycosides plasmidic modifying enzymes) can be found in different LAB species with a restricted horizontal transfer to other bacterial species (Ammor et al., 2007 ; Danielsen & Wind, 2003 ; Flórez et al., 2016 ; Imperial & Ibana, 2016 ; Jeong & Lee, 2015 ; Mathur & Singh, 2005 ; Toomey et al., 2010 ). Results of susceptibility and resistance for the tested antibiotics on the Weissella strains were consistent with previous studies (Akpınar Kankaya & Tuncer, 2020 ; Lee et al., 2012 ; Patel et al., 2012 ). The disk diffusion method can be applied for fast screening of strains, whereas the MIC assessment is the commonly accepted antibiotic resistance determination method for LAB.…”

“…Until today, the investigation of antibacterial resistance profiles of the genus Weissella is limited to few published reports (Akpınar Kankaya & Tuncer, 2020 ; Ayeni et al., 2011 ; Fhoula et al., 2018 ; Jeong & Lee, 2015 ; Lee et al., 2012 ; Muñoz‐Atienza et al., 2013 ; Patel et al., 2014 ). In this context, antimicrobial susceptibility testing can be used as required selection criterion for probiotic cultures as well as a useful guide for precise antibiotic therapy.…”

“…( 2015 ), resistance to high concentrations of vancomycin appears to be a widespread trait in the genera Weissella and Leuconostoc . Weissellas are recognized as intrinsically resistant to antibiotics inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis (glycopeptides) like vancomycin, comparable to other Lactobacillus , Pediococcus , and Leuconostoc species (Akpınar Kankaya & Tuncer, 2020 ; Ammor et al., 2007 ; Danielsen & Wind, 2003 ; Gueimonde et al., 2013 ; Muñoz‐Atienza et al., 2013 ). Therefore, this resistance cannot be associated with acquired resistance genes (Abriouel et al., 2015 ).…”

Detection of virulence factors, biofilm formation, and biogenic amine production in vancomycin‐resistant lactic acid bacteria (VRLAB) isolated from foods of animal origin

“…The data of this study showed that vancomycin‐resistant all Enterococcus and 13 Pediococcus isolates carry one or more virulence genes and the most of them strong or moderate biofilm producer. In addition, our previous study (Akpınar Kankaya & Tuncer, 2020) exhibited that these VRLAB strains contain several transferable antibiotic resistance genes. Although LAB accepted generally recognized as safe, the risk should not be ignored that virulence factors and transferable antibiotic resistance genes containing LAB isolates may directly or indirectly threat consumer health.…”

“…A total of 47 VRLAB were isolated from 340 foods of animal origin (85 raw milk and dairy products, 85 red meat and meat products, 85 chicken and chicken products, 85 sea fish) and they were molecularly identified as 26 Enterococcus (21 Enterococcus gallinarum , 3 Enterococcus casseliflavus , 2 Enterococcus casseliflavus/Enterococcus gallinarum ), 18 Pediococcus (12 Pediococcus pentosaceus , 6 Pediococcus acidilactici ), and 3 Weissella (1 Weissella cibaria , 1 Weissella confusa , 1 Weissella minor ) previously by Akpınar Kankaya and Tuncer (2020). Bacterial cultures were grown in de Man Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) broth (LAB M Ltd.) at 37°C for 18 hr.…”