Cited by 410Antibiotic Resistance in BacteriaGut microbiota and healthPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

Horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in the human gut microbiome

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McInnes, Ross S, McCallum, Gregory E, Lamberte, Lisa E, van Schaik, Willem·2020·Current Opinion in Microbiology

Abstract

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a major threat to public health. The pathogens causing these infections can acquire antibiotic resistance genes in a process termed horizontal gene transfer (HGT). HGT is a common event in the human gut microbiome, that is, the microbial ecosystem of the human intestinal tract. HGT in the gut microbiome can occur via different mechanisms of which transduction and conjugation have been best characterised. Novel bioinformatic tools and experimental approaches have been developed to determine the association of antibiotic resistance genes with their microbial hosts and to quantify the extent of HGT in the gut microbiome. Insights from studies into HGT in the gut microbiome may lead to the development of novel interventions to minimise the spread of antibiotic resistance genes among commensals and opportunistic pathogens.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.mib.2020.02.002

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Authors
McInnes, R. S., McCallum, G. E., Lamberte, L. E., & van Schaik, W.
Affiliations
University of Birmingham (GB)
Corresponding author
Lamberte, Lisa E
Venue
Current Opinion in Microbiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-02
Volume
53
Pages
35-43
ISSN
1369-5274 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3009269518
Cited by
401
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 49 · 2025: 90 · 2024: 79 · 2023: 69 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 14
FWCI
3.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Royal Society
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords
horizontal gene transfer, antibiotic resistance genes, human gut microbiome, transduction, conjugation, antibiotic resistance spread, commensal bacteria, opportunistic pathogens
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Bacterial Proteins, Humans, Gene Transfer, Horizontal, Drug Resistance, Bacterial

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