Influence of Human Eating Habits on Antimicrobial Resistance Phenomenon: Aspects of Clinical Resistome of Gut Microbiota in Omnivores, Ovolactovegetarians, and Strict Vegetarians.

Suzane Fernandes Da Silva,Alessandra Barbosa Ferreira Machado,Vanessa Cordeiro Dias,Cláudio Galuppo Diniz,Isabela Brito Reis,Vânia Lúcia Da Silva,Melina Gabriela Monteiro

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10030276

Suzane Fernandes Da Silva, Alessandra Barbosa Ferreira Machado + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10030276

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Abstract

The use of xenobiotics in food production and how food intake is carried out in different cultures, along with different eating habits (omnivorism (ON), ovolactovegetarianism (VT), and strict vegetarianism (VG)) seem to have implications for antimicrobial resistance, especially in the human gut microbiota. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate aspects of the clinical resistome of the human gut microbiota among healthy individuals with different eating habits. Volunteers were divided into 3 groups: n = 19 omnivores (ON), n = 20 ovolactovegetarians (VT), and n = 19 strict vegetarians (VG), and nutritional and anthropometric parameters were measured. Metagenomic DNA from fecal samples was used as a template for PCR screening of 37 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) representative of commonly used agents in human medicine. The correlation between eating habits and ARG was evaluated. There were no significant differences in mean caloric intake. Mean protein intake was significantly higher in ON, and fiber and carbohydrate consumption was higher in VG. From the screened ARG, 22 were detected. No clear relationship between diets and the occurrence of ARG was observed. Resistance genes against tetracyclines, β-lactams, and the MLS group (macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramins) were the most frequent, followed by resistance genes against sulfonamides and aminoglycosides. Vegetables and minimally processed foods seem to be the main source of ARG for the human gut microbiota. Although eating habits vary among individuals, the open environment and the widespread ARG from different human activities draw attention to the complexity of the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon which should be addressed by a One Health approach.

Highlights

The clinical resistome is defined as the set of genes related to antimicrobial resistance to drugs commonly used to treat infectious diseases in a particular environment [1,2]
The human gut microbiota is assumed to be an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG), since it is always in contact with environmental microorganisms, which are introduced by oral contamination through food and water ingestion, and by contact with animals and other people
Low processed foods might be considered an important source of ARG for resident microbiota, such as intestinal bacteria, there are several variables that may contribute to human gut resistome content which are still not entirely clear

Summary

Introduction

The clinical resistome is defined as the set of genes related to antimicrobial resistance to drugs commonly used to treat infectious diseases in a particular environment [1,2]. The human gut microbiota is assumed to be an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG), since it is always in contact with environmental microorganisms, which are introduced by oral contamination through food and water ingestion, and by contact with animals and other people. Horizontal transference of ARG may occur in the intestinal environment among commensal microorganisms, including potentially pathogenic ones, and pathogens [3,4]. According to the historic perspective, the One Health concept has focused on local interconnections and interdependencies. As a contemporary point of view, this approach considers global health and includes the comprehension of characteristics that may stimulate the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) [6]

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