Antibiotic resistance genes detected in the marine sponge Petromica citrina from Brazilian coast.
Although antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose a significant threat to human health, the environmental reservoirs of the resistance determinants are still poorly understood. This study reports the detection of resistance genes (ermB, mecA, mupA, qnrA, qnrB and tetL) to antibiotics among certain culturable and unculturable bacteria associated with the marine sponge Petromica citrina. The antimicrobial activities elicited by P. citrina and its associated bacteria are also described. The results indicate that the marine environment could play an important role in the development of antibiotic resistance and the dissemination of resistance genes among bacteria.
Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Département de Biologie des Organismes, Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium. Electronic address: marinella@micro.ufrj.br.
Marinella Silva
MS
Laport
Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Paula Veronesi Marinho
PV
Pontes
Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Daniela Silva
DS
Dos Santos
Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Juliana de Fátima
Jde F
Santos-Gandelman
Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Guilherme
G
Muricy
Département de Biologie des Organismes, Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium.
Mathieu
M
Bauwens
Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Marcia
M
Giambiagi-deMarval
Département de Biologie des Organismes, Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium.
Isabelle
I
George
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000382:microbiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011161:Porifera / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Microbes; Natural hotspots; Porifera; Resistance; Rio de Janeiro