Foka Frank Eric Tatsing, Mienie Charlotte, Bezuidenhout Cornelius Carlos, Ateba Collins Njie
Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa.
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Front Microbiol. 2020 Oct 15;11:571958. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.571958. eCollection 2020.
Practices in intensive animal farming such as the extensive use of antimicrobials have significant impacts on the genetic make-up of bacterial communities, especially on that of human/animal commensals. In this report, whole genome sequencing of two vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) isolates from a cattle feedlot in the North West Province, South Africa, was used to highlight the threats that extensive antimicrobial usage in intensive animal rearing represents for environmental microbiomes and the food chain. The genomic DNA of the studied strains was extracted using a DNA extraction kit. Whole-genome sequencing was performed through next-generation sequencing. The genomes of strain NWUTAL1 and strain S52016 consisted of 3,279,618 and 2,374,946 bp, respectively with G + C contents of 40.76 and 43.13%, respectively. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), plasmids and virulence factors (involved in biofilm formation, colonization and copper/silver efflux system), were detected in the genomes of both strains. The presence of these genetic determinants in the studied strains is a cause for concern as they may disseminate and find their way into the food chain via horizontal gene transfer amongst bacteria of the different ecological niches. Issues of this nature cannot be undermined and are relevant as far as food safety is concerned.
集约化动物养殖中的做法，如大量使用抗菌药物，对细菌群落的基因构成有重大影响，尤其是对人类/动物共生菌的基因构成。在本报告中，对从南非西北省一个养牛场分离出的两株耐万古霉素肠球菌（VRE）进行全基因组测序，以突出集约化动物饲养中大量使用抗菌药物对环境微生物群和食物链所构成的威胁。使用DNA提取试剂盒提取所研究菌株的基因组DNA。通过下一代测序进行全基因组测序。菌株NWUTAL1和菌株S52016的基因组分别由3,279,618 bp和2,374,946 bp组成，G + C含量分别为40.76%和43.13%。在两株菌株的基因组中均检测到抗生素抗性基因（ARG）、质粒和毒力因子（参与生物膜形成、定植和铜/银外排系统）。在所研究菌株中存在这些遗传决定因素令人担忧，因为它们可能通过不同生态位细菌之间的水平基因转移进行传播并进入食物链。这种性质的问题不容忽视，并且就食品安全而言具有相关性。
