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.
Highlights
Either natural or artificial, microorganisms attach themselves to surfaces, either abiotic or biotic, forming a complex matrix of biopolymers known as biofilm that protect them from environmental hazards (Costerton et al, 1978)
This review focuses on the role of streambed biofilms as reservoirs of antibiotic resistant bacteria and resistance genes, providing a general overview of the causes and consequences of a chronic exposure of biofilm communities to sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics and their role in the spread and persistence of antibiotic resistance
Lesser is known about the role of environmental biofilms as natural reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), their contribution to ARGs spreading among biofilm inhabitants and their transfer to free-living bacteria, increasing the risk for their transmission to aquatic microorganisms and potential human pathogens (Vaz-Moreira et al, 2014 and references therein)
Summary
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. 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. 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
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