title: Influence of humans on evolution and mobilization of environmental antibiotic resistome.
abstract: The clinical failure of antimicrobial drugs that were previously effective in controlling infectious disease is a tragedy of increasing magnitude that gravely affects human health. This resistance by pathogens is often the endpoint of an evolutionary process that began billions of years ago in non-disease-causing microorganisms. This environmental resistome, its mobilization, and the conditions that facilitate its entry into human pathogens are at the heart of the current public health crisis in antibiotic resistance. Understanding the origins, evolution, and mechanisms of transfer of resistance elements is vital to our ability to adequately address this public health issue.
authors.affiliation: Exeter University, Truro, UK.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gaze
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Krone
authors.forename: D G Joakim
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Xian-Zhi
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simonet
authors.forename: Kornelia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smalla
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Timinouni
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Topp
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wellington
authors.forename: Gerard D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Yong-Guan
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004785:Environmental Pollutants
keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; bacteria; environment; evolution; horizontal gene transfer; plasmid; sewage; soil; water