Genome-centric metagenomes unveiling the hidden resistome in an anchialine cave

Vojvoda Zeljko, Tanja; Kajan, Katarina; Jalžić, Branko; Hu, Anyi; Cukrov, Neven; Marguš, Marija; Cukrov, Nuša; Marković, Tamara; Sabatino, Raffaella; Di Cesare, Andrea; Orlić, Sandi (2024) Genome-centric metagenomes unveiling the hidden resistome in an anchialine cave. Environmental Microbiome, 19 (1). ISSN 2524-6372

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Abstract

Background Antibiotic resistance is a critical global concern, posing significant challenges to human health and medical treatments. Studying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is essential not only in clinical settings but also in diverse environmental contexts. However, ARGs in unique environments such as anchialine caves, which connect both fresh and marine water, remain largely unexplored despite their intriguing ecological characteristics. Results We present the first study that comprehensively explores the occurrence and distribution of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) within an anchialine cave. Utilizing metagenomic sequencing we uncovered a wide array of ARGs with the bacitracin resistance gene, bacA and multidrug resistance genes, being the most dominant. The cave’s microbial community and associated resistome were significantly influenced by the salinity gradient. The discovery of novel β-lactamase variants revealed the cave’s potential as a reservoir for previously undetected resistance genes. ARGs in the cave demonstrated horizontal transfer potential via plasmids, unveiling ecological implications. Conclusions These findings highlight the need for further exploration of the resistome in unique environments like anchialine caves. The interconnected dynamics of ARGs and MGEs within anchialine caves offer valuable insights into potential reservoirs and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in natural ecosystems. This study not only advances our fundamental understanding but also highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address antibiotic resistance in diverse ecological settings.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Antibiotic resistance gene; Resistome; Mobile genetic element; Anchialine cave; Subterranean estuary; Metagenomics
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > Biochemistry and Molecular Biology NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > Microbiology NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > Ecology NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > Genetics, Evolution and Phylogenetics
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research Division of Materials Chemistry
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Znanstveni centar izvrsnosti STIM REI-STIM-REI Damir Kovačić DOK-2018-01-8031 HRZZ
Depositing User:	Tanja Vojvoda Zeljko
Date Deposited:	29 Oct 2024 08:02
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/9194
DOI:	10.1186/s40793-024-00612-2

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