Unraveling the Role of Metals and Organic Acids in Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has a significant impact on human, animal, and environmental health, being spread in diverse settings. Antibiotic misuse and overuse in the food chain are widely recognized as primary drivers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, other antimicrobials, such as meta...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/9/1474 |
| _version_ | 1797581533473669120 |
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| author | Andreia Rebelo Agostinho Almeida Luísa Peixe Patrícia Antunes Carla Novais |
| author_facet | Andreia Rebelo Agostinho Almeida Luísa Peixe Patrícia Antunes Carla Novais |
| author_sort | Andreia Rebelo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has a significant impact on human, animal, and environmental health, being spread in diverse settings. Antibiotic misuse and overuse in the food chain are widely recognized as primary drivers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, other antimicrobials, such as metals and organic acids, commonly present in agri-food environments (e.g., in feed, biocides, or as long-term pollutants), may also contribute to this global public health problem, although this remains a debatable topic owing to limited data. This review aims to provide insights into the current role of metals (i.e., copper, arsenic, and mercury) and organic acids in the emergence and spread of AMR in the food chain. Based on a thorough literature review, this study adopts a unique integrative approach, analyzing in detail the known antimicrobial mechanisms of metals and organic acids, as well as the molecular adaptive tolerance strategies developed by diverse bacteria to overcome their action. Additionally, the interplay between the tolerance to metals or organic acids and AMR is explored, with particular focus on co-selection events. Through a comprehensive analysis, this review highlights potential silent drivers of AMR within the food chain and the need for further research at molecular and epidemiological levels across different food contexts worldwide. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:06:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd99b43e8f7d4bc7ae87043d4f805d8f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:06:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd99b43e8f7d4bc7ae87043d4f805d8f2023-11-19T09:18:16ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822023-09-01129147410.3390/antibiotics12091474Unraveling the Role of Metals and Organic Acids in Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food ChainAndreia Rebelo0Agostinho Almeida1Luísa Peixe2Patrícia Antunes3Carla Novais4UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalLAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) has a significant impact on human, animal, and environmental health, being spread in diverse settings. Antibiotic misuse and overuse in the food chain are widely recognized as primary drivers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, other antimicrobials, such as metals and organic acids, commonly present in agri-food environments (e.g., in feed, biocides, or as long-term pollutants), may also contribute to this global public health problem, although this remains a debatable topic owing to limited data. This review aims to provide insights into the current role of metals (i.e., copper, arsenic, and mercury) and organic acids in the emergence and spread of AMR in the food chain. Based on a thorough literature review, this study adopts a unique integrative approach, analyzing in detail the known antimicrobial mechanisms of metals and organic acids, as well as the molecular adaptive tolerance strategies developed by diverse bacteria to overcome their action. Additionally, the interplay between the tolerance to metals or organic acids and AMR is explored, with particular focus on co-selection events. Through a comprehensive analysis, this review highlights potential silent drivers of AMR within the food chain and the need for further research at molecular and epidemiological levels across different food contexts worldwide.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/9/1474coppermercuryarsenicorganic acidsantibiotic resistancefood safety |
| spellingShingle | Andreia Rebelo Agostinho Almeida Luísa Peixe Patrícia Antunes Carla Novais Unraveling the Role of Metals and Organic Acids in Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain Antibiotics copper mercury arsenic organic acids antibiotic resistance food safety |
| title | Unraveling the Role of Metals and Organic Acids in Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain |
| title_full | Unraveling the Role of Metals and Organic Acids in Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain |
| title_fullStr | Unraveling the Role of Metals and Organic Acids in Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unraveling the Role of Metals and Organic Acids in Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain |
| title_short | Unraveling the Role of Metals and Organic Acids in Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain |
| title_sort | unraveling the role of metals and organic acids in bacterial antimicrobial resistance in the food chain |
| topic | copper mercury arsenic organic acids antibiotic resistance food safety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/9/1474 |
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