The rise of β-lactam-resistant bacteria from agricultural settings, including food-producing animals and their related food products has become a significant public health concern. Consumption of food contaminated by such bacteria may cause infection as well as the transmission of resistance genes. Here we used a mouse model to assess the impact of different antibiotic treatments on the composition of the gut microbiota and any impact on the transfer of β-lactam resistance genes between donor and recipient bacteria. Mice were inoculated with β-lactam resistant Escherichia coli and an antibiotic-susceptible Salmonella Heidelberg strain. The mice were treated with either streptomycin, ampicillin or both antibiotics. Mouse feces were collected at regular intervals and processed using selective culture techniques to capture potential transfer of resistance genes. Gene transfer was confirmed by whole genome sequencing. DNA extracted from the feces was used for monitoring changes in microbial profiles by 16S rDNA sequencing. In the absence of antibiotic treatment, the inoculated bacteria were only transiently detected and no transconjugants were recovered from the mouse feces. In comparison, antibiotic treatment changed microbial profiles in the mouse gut, enhanced colonization of the bacterial isolates, and facilitated the transfer of the resistance genes into both S. Heidelberg and commensal E. coli recipient strains. The results of this study indicated that the use of multiple antibiotics may enhance infection of opportunistic β-lactam resistant bacterial pathogens relative to single antibiotics and pose a greater risk in terms of antibiotic resistance gene transfer. Such process might occur in clinical settings where patients are under prolonged antibiotic treatments. Information gained through this study together with future work will inform the development of new policies guiding the prudent use of antibiotics.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/41404 |
| Date | 05 November 2020 |
| Creators | Laskey, Alexander |
| Contributors | Lin, Min, Wang, Lisheng |
| Publisher | Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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