Identification of novel antimicrobial resistance genes from microbiota on retail spinach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Drug resistance genes and their mobile genetic elements are frequently identified from environmental saprophytic organisms. It is widely accepted that the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry selects for drug resistant microorganisms, which are then spread from the farm environment to humans through the consumption of contaminated food products. We wished to identify novel drug resistance genes from microbial communities on retail food products. Here, we chose to study the microbial communities on retail spinach because it is commonly eaten raw and has previously been associated with outbreaks of bacterial infections.

Results

We created metagenomic plasmid libraries from microbiota isolated from retail spinach samples. We identified five unique plasmids that inc

SUBMITTER: Berman HF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3890574 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature