Vancomycin gene selection in the microbiome of urban Rattus norvegicus from hospital environment.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Widespread use of antibiotics has resulted in selection pressure on genes that make bacteria non-responsive to antibiotics. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria are currently a major threat to global health. There are various possibilities for the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes. It has been argued that animal vectors such as Rattus norvegicus (R. norvegicus) living in hospital sewage systems are ideal for carrying pathogens responsible for fatal diseases in humans.

Methodology

Using a metagenomic sequencing approach, we investigated faecal samples of R. norvegicus from three major cities for the presence of antibiotic resistance genes.

Results

We show that despite the shared resistome within samples from the same geographic locations,

SUBMITTER: Hansen TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4972940 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature