Increasing evidence has shown that the evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment contribute to the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in clinical settings. This suggests an urgent need to understand the environmental reservoir of antibiotic resistance in order to minimize the public health risks due to the environmental exposure of antibiotic resistance. Urban agricultural environment is a potential reservoir of antibiotic resistance as many soil bacteria can produce antibiotic substances and are antibiotic resistant. However, the nature and extent of this antibiotic resistance reservoir is yet to be determined. This study examined antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes, soil bacterial composition, and the potential of horizontal gene transfer associated with urban agriculture using traditional microbiological methods and metagenomic tools. The data demonstrated that urban agricultural soil receiving no animal wastes or wastewater has a diverse population of antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes. Soil microorganisms had the potential to spread antibiotic resistance to bacteria of common food safety concern. Metagenomic data revealed the prevalence and abundance of genes encoding resistance to quinolones, β-lactams, and tetracyclines, as well as efflux pump genes in the soil. The positive correlation between antibiotic resistance genes and metal resistance genes provided indirect evidence of possible co-selection of antibiotic resistance by heavy metals. This study added substantial information to the environmental database of antibiotic resistance, and opened a new venue to understanding the anthropogenic impact on antibiotic resistance in the food production environment.<br/>

Understanding antibiotic resistance in the context of urban agriculture

2019 Spring National Meeting

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