Does antifouling paint select for antibiotic
resistance?
There is concern that
heavy metals and biocides contribute to the development of antibiotic
resistance via co-selection. The objectives of this study were to start
investigate if heavy-metal based antifouling paints can pose a risk for
co-selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and, if so, identify the
underlying genetic basis. Bacteria from these communities showed increased
resistance to both heavy metals and tetracycline but not to gentamicin.
Significantly higher abundance of metal and biocide resistance genes was
observed, whereas mobile antibiotic resistance genes were not enriched in these
communities. Although this does not indicate an immediate risk for promotion of
mobile antibiotic resistance, the clear increase of genes involved in
mobilizing DNA provides a foundation for increased opportunities for gene
transfer in such communities, which might also involve yet unknown resistance
mechanisms.
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