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Supermarket produce harbors antibiotic-resistance genes

Date:
November 6, 2018
Source:
American Society for Microbiology
Summary:
Researchers have found that produce is a reservoir for transferable antibiotic resistance genes that often escape traditional molecular detection methods. These antibiotic resistance genes might escape cultivation-independent detection, but could still be transferred to human pathogens or commensals. The results highlight the importance of the rare microbiome of produce as a source of antibiotic resistance genes.
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朱利叶斯·库恩研究所研究人员,德国have found that produce is a reservoir for transferable antibiotic resistance genes that often escape traditional molecular detection methods. These antibiotic resistance genes might escape cultivation-independent detection, but could still be transferred to human pathogens or commensals. The results, which highlight the importance of the rare microbiome of produce as a source of antibiotic resistance genes, are published November 6 in the open-access journal,mBio.

Produce is increasingly recognized as a source of pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes. This study aimed to explore methods to characterize the transferable resistome -- the collection of antibiotic resistance genes present in bacteria -- associated with produce. The researchers analyzed mixed salad, arugula, and cilantro purchased from supermarkets in Germany by cultivation and DNA-based methods.

These results confirmed that cultivation-independent DNA-based methods are not always sufficiently sensitive to detect the transferable resistome in the rare microbiome, such as that of produce.

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Materials provided byAmerican Society for Microbiology.Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Khald Blau, Antje Bettermann, Sven Jechalke, Eva Fornefeld, Yann Vanrobaeys, Thibault Stalder, Eva M. Top, Kornelia Smalla.The Transferable Resistome of Produce.mBio, 2018; 9 (6) DOI:10.1128/mBio.01300-18

Cite This Page:

American Society for Microbiology. "Supermarket produce harbors antibiotic-resistance genes." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 November 2018. /releases/2018/11/181106073230.htm>.
American Society for Microbiology. (2018, November 6). Supermarket produce harbors antibiotic-resistance genes.ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 6, 2023 from www.koonmotors.com/releases/2018/11/181106073230.htm
American Society for Microbiology. "Supermarket produce harbors antibiotic-resistance genes." ScienceDaily. www.koonmotors.com/releases/2018/11/181106073230.htm (accessed September 6, 2023).

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