Martínez José L
Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC), Darwin 3, Campus UAM, Cantoblanco, 28049-Madrid, and CIBERESP, Spain.
Science. 2008 Jul 18;321(5887):365-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1159483.
The large majority of antibiotics currently used for treating infections and the antibiotic resistance genes acquired by human pathogens each have an environmental origin. Recent work indicates that the function of these elements in their environmental reservoirs may be very distinct from the "weapon-shield" role they play in clinical settings. Changes in natural ecosystems, including the release of large amounts of antimicrobials, might alter the population dynamics of microorganisms, including selection of resistance, with consequences for human health that are difficult to predict.
目前用于治疗感染的绝大多数抗生素以及人类病原体获得的抗生素抗性基因均源于环境。近期研究表明，这些元素在其环境储存库中的功能可能与它们在临床环境中所起的“武器-盾牌”作用截然不同。自然生态系统的变化，包括大量抗菌剂的释放，可能会改变微生物的种群动态，包括抗性选择，对人类健康产生难以预测的影响。
