Journal article
Assessing antimicrobial resistance connectivity across One Health sectors
Nature water, Vol.3, pp.1100-1113
29/09/2025
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Abstract
The first therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents initiated their endless arms race with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Although the genes encoding antimicrobial resistance are ancient and ubiquitous in various environmental compartments, including aquatic environments, over eight decades of exposure to selective pressure has changed the way antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) emerge and transmit among the three One Health sectors (that is, the intersected sectors of humans, animals and the environment). The dissemination of ARGs has been facilitated by the widespread use of antimicrobials, along with direct and secondary pollution pathways. Current global consensus dictates that AMR should be addressed under a One Health framework. AMR National Action Plans have frequently been formulated. However, the capacity for implementation is not ready in most countries, especially in low- and middle-income regions. This is in part due to the substantial challenges in documenting and controlling cross-sector AMR connectivity. Here we describe the past and current status of AMR, emphasizing the contribution of connectivity to global AMR burden. We discuss connectivity at ecological, microbial and genetic levels; propose an approach based on genomics and metagenomics to assess connectivity; and finally advocate for cross-sector studies to better understand AMR connectivity and mitigate dissemination. We believe that such harmonized connectivity studies will facilitate coordinated actions and investments across sectors and regions to scale up AMR management globally.
Details
- Title
- Assessing antimicrobial resistance connectivity across One Health sectors
- Creators
- Liguan Li - UOHKBing Li - Tsinghua UniversityXiaole Yin - Nanyang Technol Univ, Sch Civil & Environm Engn, Singapore, SingaporeYu Xia - Southern University of Science and TechnologyYu Yang - Aalborg Univ, Ctr Microbial Communities, Dept Chem & Biosci, Aalborg, DenmarkXiaoqing Xu - UOHKTommy Tsan-Yuk Lam - The University of Hong Kong (China, Hong Kong SAR)Kenneth M. Y. Leung - City University of Hong Kong (China, Hong Kong SAR)Fujie Xu - Duke Kunshan Univ, Global Hlth Program, Kunshan, Jiangsu, Peoples R ChinaXuxiang Zhang - Nanjing Univ, Sch Environm, State Key Lab Pollut Control & Resource Reuse, Nanjing, Peoples R ChinaJianhua Guo - The University of QueenslandHeike Schmitt - National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentGerard D. Wright - McMaster Univ, Michael G DeGroote Inst Infect Dis Res, Hamilton, ON, CanadaJanet Midega - Wellcome Trust Res Labs, London, EnglandCarlos Bezuidenhout - North-West UniversityRenata C. Picao - Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroShaikh Z. Ahammad - Indian Institute of Technology DelhiKornelia Smalla - Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics (Braunschweig, Germany)Steven P. Djordjevic - University of Technology SydneyAmy Pruden - Virginia TechPeter Vikesland - Virginia TechDominic Frigon - McGill UniversityFiona Walsh - Maynooth University (Kildare, Ireland)Thomas U. Berendonk - Technische Universität DresdenGianluca Corno - National Research Council of ItalyDespo Fatta-Kassinos - Univ Cyprus, Nireas Int Water Res Ctr, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Nicosia, CyprusChang-Jun Cha - Chung Ang Univ, Dept Syst Biotechnol, Anseong 17546, South KoreaNicholas Ashbolt - University of South AustraliaGuangguo Ying - South China Normal Univ, Sch Environm, Guangzhou, Peoples R ChinaYi Luo - Nanjing Univ, Sch Environm, State Key Lab Pollut Control & Resource Reuse, Nanjing, Peoples R ChinaYang Wang - China Agr Univ, Coll Vet Med, Natl Key Lab Vet Publ Hlth Secur, Beijing, Peoples R ChinaJianzhong Shen - China Agr Univ, Coll Vet Med, Natl Key Lab Vet Publ Hlth Secur, Beijing, Peoples R ChinaYu Zhang - University of Chinese Academy of SciencesMin Yang - University of Chinese Academy of SciencesXiangdong Li - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (China, Hong Kong SAR)Baolan Hu - Zhejiang UniversityLizhong Zhu - Zhejiang UniversityYongning Wu - Chinese Acad Med Sci, China Natl Ctr Food Safety Risk Assessment, Res Unit Food Safety, NHC Key Lab Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, Peoples R ChinaSong Tang - Chinese Center For Disease Control and PreventionBiao Kan - Chinese Center For Disease Control and PreventionYong-Guan Zhu - Chinese Academy of SciencesBarth F. Smets - Technical University of DenmarkDavid Graham - Durham UniversityRyo Honda - Kanazawa Univ, Fac Geosci & Civil Engn, Kakuma, Kanazawa, JapanEddie Cytryn - Agricultural Research OrganizationErica Donner - University of South AustraliaPer Halkjaer Nielsen - Aalborg UniversityMark van Loosdrecht - Aalborg Univ, Ctr Microbial Communities, Dept Chem & Biosci, Aalborg, DenmarkMichael R. Gillings - ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyWilliam Gaze - Univ Exeter, Med Sch, Environm & Sustainabil Inst, Exeter, EnglandCelia M. Manaia - Universidade Católica PortuguesaPedro J. J. Alvarez - Rice UniversityMartin J. Blaser - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyEdward Topp - INRAE (France, Dijon)Tong Zhang - UOHK
- Publication Details
- Nature water, Vol.3, pp.1100-1113
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- This work is supported by the General Research Fund (17202522), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22193062) and the Theme-based Research Scheme of Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (T21–705/20-N).
- Identifiers
- 991013318906002368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article