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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Antimicrobial resistance in complex microbiomes: ecological evolution and public health risks
Biocontaminant, Vol.1(1), pp.1-15
11/2025
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Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing threats to global public health, and undermines decades of medical progress. The evolution and transmission of AMR within individual bacterial species are well documented. However, the dynamics become far more complex within diverse microbial communities, such as the human gut and environmental microbiota. These ecosystems, characterized by intricate, dynamic microbial interactions, function as sources and sinks of antibiotic resistance genes. The interplay between microbial interactions and evolutionary responses to antibiotics within these communities often deviates from patterns observed in single-species studies. Herein, current knowledge on the emergence and transmission of AMR within microbial communities is synthesized, exemplified by the spread of resistance in the gut and the environment. The aim is to advance our understanding of how complex microbiota evolve and disseminate resistance by systematically reviewing horizontal gene transfer rates, species-specific acquisition tendencies, the role of free-living protozoan predators, plasmid permissiveness, and the persistence of resistance under selective pressures. The One Health implications of microbial AMR evolution is also evaluated, underscoring the risks to human health. Collectively, this review synthesises the key biological, environmental, and anthropogenic drivers that accelerate AMR transmission, and provides evidence-based insights for developing effective strategies to tackle the AMR spread and safeguard public health.
Details
- Title
- Antimicrobial resistance in complex microbiomes: ecological evolution and public health risks
- Creators
- Zhigang Yu - The University of QueenslandMichael Gillings - Macquarie UniversityNicholas J. Ashbolt - University of South AustraliaJianhua Guo - The University of Queensland
- Publication Details
- Biocontaminant, Vol.1(1), pp.1-15
- Publisher
- Maximum Academic Press
- Grant note
- This work was financially supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP220101526, Jianhua Guo), DECRA Project (DE250100902, Zhigang Yu), and University Research Donation and Gifts (2025001320, Zhigang Yu).
- Identifiers
- 991013343990802368
- Copyright
- © 2025 by the author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article