| Abstract [eng] |
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an increasingly serious public health problem. This problem is detected not only in the healthcare sector but also in other ecosystems. Mutations in bacterial genes and horizontal gene transfer can play a role in the acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Other factors, such as heavy metals, may also contribute to the growing problem due to the induction of cross-resistance. Heavy metal resistance genes and antibiotic resistance genes have been observed to be located in the same clusters. Bacteria with innate heavy metal resistance genes are better adapted to survive in the environment, reproduce faster, and can acquire antibiotic resistance genes. This work aimed to determine the prevalence of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes in the microbiota from Lithuanian landfills. The resistance genes of the most common antibiotic classes (betalactams, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, florfenicol, quinolones, and glycopeptides) were analyzed in 26 different soil samples. Soil samples were also tested for heavy metal resistance genes (arsenic, copper, nickel, lead, chromium) and integrons. Genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines and florfenicol were found to be the most abundant in Lithuanian landfills. Samples from the Kariotiškės landfill, which is closed now, showed the highest antibiotic resistance profile. Integrons were also detected in most samples, indicating the potential mobility of antibiotic-resistance genes between species. Heavy metal resistance genes were identified in the tested samples, with the highest resistance observed for arsenic and copper. |
