Metals are overlooked in the evolution of antibiotic resistance

doi:10.1007/s42832-024-0244-4

Soil Ecology Letters

2024, Vol. 6

Issue (4) : 240244 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42832-024-0244-4

Metals are overlooked in the evolution of antibiotic resistance

Yi Zhao^1,²(

), Rui Xu^1,², Siobhan F. Cox³, Min Qiao⁴, Huaming Guo^1,²

¹. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
². Key Laboratory of Groundwater Conservation of MWR & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
³. School of Natural and Built Environment, Queenʼs University of Belfast, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 6AX, United Kingdom
⁴. Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China

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Abstract

● Metals are increasingly important risk factors for the evolution of antibiotic resistance in environments.

The rapid development of antibiotic resistance is occurring at a global scale. We therefore stride into the post-antibiotic era and have to battle antibiotic resistance in the Anthropocene. Metals are widely used and their pollution is widespread worldwide. More importantly, metal-induced co-selection greatly expands the environmental resistomes and increases the health risk of antibiotic resistance in environments. Here, we reviewed the metal-induced co-selection and their increasingly important roles in the development of antibiotic resistance. In particular, we highlight the metal-rich environments that maintain reservoirs for high-risk antibiotic resistance genes with horizontally transferable potentials. We also call for considerations and further investigations of other co-selective agents and the efficacy of metal-based interventions to better manage and combat the global antibiotic resistance crisis within the One Health framework.

Keywords antibiotic resistance metals co-selection mobile genetic elements One Health

Corresponding Author(s): Yi Zhao

Issue Date: 10 April 2024

Cite this article:

Yi Zhao,Rui Xu,Siobhan F. Cox, et al. Metals are overlooked in the evolution of antibiotic resistance[J]. Soil Ecology Letters, 2024, 6(4): 240244.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/sel/EN/10.1007/s42832-024-0244-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/sel/EN/Y2024/V6/I4/240244

Fig.1 Molecular mechanisms of metal-induced co-selection.

Tab.1 Selected previous studies that provide potential evidence of metal-induced co-selection for antibiotic resistance in soils, water, and animal microbiomes.

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