Impacts of anthropogenic activity on the ecology of class 1 integrons and integron-associated genes in the environment.

ABSTRACT: The impact of human activity on the selection for antibiotic resistance in the environment is largely unknown, although considerable amounts of antibiotics are introduced through domestic wastewater and farm animal waste. Selection for resistance may occur by exposure to antibiotic residues or by co-selection for mobile genetic elements (MGEs) which carry genes of varying activity. Class 1 integrons are genetic elements that carry antibiotic and quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) resistance genes that confer resistance to detergents and biocides. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and diversity of class 1 integron and integron-associated QAC resistance genes in bacteria associated with industrial waste, sewage sludge and pig slurry. We show that prevalence of class 1 integrons

SUBMITTER: Gaze WH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3146270 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature