Genetic compatibility and ecological connectivity drive the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes.

ABSTRACT: The dissemination of mobile antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) via horizontal gene transfer is a significant threat to public health globally. The flow of ARGs into and between pathogens, however, remains poorly understood, limiting our ability to develop strategies for managing the antibiotic resistance crisis. Therefore, we aim to identify genetic and ecological factors that are fundamental for successful horizontal ARG transfer. We used a phylogenetic method to identify instances of horizontal ARG transfer in ~1 million bacterial genomes. This data was then integrated with >20,000 metagenomes representing animal, human, soil, water, and wastewater microbiomes to develop random forest models that can reliably predict horizontal ARG transfer between bacteria. Our results suggest that gene

SUBMITTER: Lund D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11911422 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature