A genome-wide scan of wastewater E. coli for genes under positive selection: focusing on mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

ABSTRACT: Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat and consequently, there is a need to understand the mechanisms driving its emergence. Here, we hypothesize that genes and mutations under positive selection may contribute to antibiotic resistance. We explored wastewater E. coli, whose genomes are highly diverse. We subjected 92 genomes to a statistical analysis for positively selected genes. We obtained 75 genes under positive selection and explored their potential for antibiotic resistance. We found that eight genes have functions relating to antibiotic resistance, such as biofilm formation, membrane permeability, and bacterial persistence. Finally, we correlated the presence/absence of non-synonymous mutations in positively selected sites of the genes with a function in resistance against

SUBMITTER: Malekian N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9110714 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature