Abstract
Here, we review the possible reasons responsible for the occurrence, maintenance and proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment, as well as the corresponding mechanisms of their development, diffusion and transfer. Additionally, elimination strategies are also discussed. The factors that influence the development of ARGs are selection pressure, including that from antibiotics, metal and multiple other factors, co-resistance and cross-resistance, microbial consortium structure, nutrients in the environment and oxidative stress responses. Process parameters, transport pathways, and elimination strategies to reduce the health risk caused by ARGs are also reviewed in detail. Moreover, knowledge gaps and future opportunities of ARGs are addressed.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51578204) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Project No. 2016YFD0800605) for their partial support of this study.
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Zhang, QQ., Tian, GM. & Jin, RC. The occurrence, maintenance, and proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment: influencing factors, mechanisms, and elimination strategies. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 102, 8261–8274 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9235-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9235-7