The role of biofilms as environmental reservoirs of antibiotic resistance

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has become a significant and growing threat to public and environmental health. To face this problem both at local and global scales, a better understanding of the sources and mechanisms that contribute to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance is required. Recent studies demonstrate that aquatic ecosystems are reservoirs of resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes as well as potential conduits for their transmission to human pathogens. Despite the wealth of information about antibiotic pollution and its effect on the aquatic microbial resistome, the contribution of environmental biofilms to the acquisition and spread of antibiotic resistance has not been fully explored in aquatic systems. Biofilms are structured multicellular communities embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix that acts as a barrier to antibiotic diffusion. High population densities and proximity of cells in biofilms also increases the chances for genetic exchange among bacterial species converting biofilms in hot spots of antibiotic resistance. This review focuses on the potential effect of antibiotic pollution on biofilm microbial communities, with special emphasis on ecological and evolutionary processes underlying acquired resistance to these compounds.

Predation Efficacy of <i>Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus</i> on Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens and Their Corresponding Biofilms

“…Increases in morbidity, length of hospitalization, healthcare cost, and mortality have been attributed to infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensive drug resistant (XDR) superbugs, which respond poorly to antimicrobial agents (2). Unfortunately, this situation has been further exacerbated since many chronic human diseases are biofilm-associated, and bacteria in biofilms are naturally more resistant to antibiotic treatments (3). Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop innovative strategies to control antibiotic-resistant organisms in hospitals.…”

The occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in tap water – a review

“…To date, there is a plethora of data concerning the presence of ARB in tap water [36,37], but due to the development of molecular biology, insight into ARGs, omitting the cultivation of ARB, becomes a trend [27,38].…”

“…Together with ARGs, MGEs searching is often implemented, as this approach may indicate the prevalence and distribution of genes among the microorganisms [4,27]. Predominantly, the MGEs investigations are focused on the intI gene encoding the class 1 integronase [11,13].…”

“…In view of the fact, that drinking water is one of the main sources of potable water, its highest quality should be provided regardless of other factors. This means that the occurrence of ARGs should be investigated in water supply systems, as the intake of potable water containing these genes could lead to the transfer of resistance to human pathogenic strains [23][24][25][26][27]. Figueira et al claimed that Enterobacteriaceae are 'vehicles' of resistance in drinking water [28].…”

Application of NGS for studying the antibiotic resistant microbiome in Wrocław tap water

“…The cultivation of biofilms formed by ARB allow detecting the part of bacteria, which could act as opportunistic pathogens, outside of just being resistant. The aerobic, heterotrophic, mesophilic ARB, which proliferate more advantageous than other bacteria could, in some circumstances, be regarded as health threatening [3]. The presence of these bacteria in tap water was evaluated in simple experiments of biofilm cultivation on bullion media supplemented with antibiotics.…”