Pan-resistome analysis of WHO critical priority bacteria in the soil-plant-water system

Abstract

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria have increased significantly in recent years, a fact that has led to an increase in mortality and morbidity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this problem was intensified, with a significant increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and, mainly, strains producing carbapenemases. Carbapenem-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae resistant to both carbapenems and producing extended-spectrum ²-lactamases (ESBL) are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as critical priority pathogens for research and development of new antimicrobials. The environment and plants have a significant influence on the evolution and dissemination of these microorganisms as a result of anthropogenic actions. In addition, to date there are a limited number of studies investigating the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in different types of soil and ready-to-eat vegetables. Therefore, the objective of this study will be to isolate and characterize bacteria of critical WHO importance from soil, ready-to-eat vegetables and irrigation water, obtained from different cities in the state of São Paulo. Thus, it is expected to characterize antimicrobial-resistant strains and determine the main genes and mobile genetic elements involved in this phenotype. The results obtained will highlight the possible routes of contamination of clinically relevant and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in water, soil and ready-to-eat vegetables and the possible risks to human health. (AU)