土壤噬菌体及其介导的抗生素抗性基因水平转移研究进展

土壤中抗生素耐药性的扩散对全球的公共卫生和食品安全造成威胁,严重挑战人类感染类疾病的预防与治疗。噬菌体介导的抗生素抗性基因(ARGs)的水平转移是环境中抗性基因扩散的重要机制。但是,噬菌体对土壤环境中抗性基因传播的贡献尚未见报道。本文综述了土壤环境中噬菌体的分布特征与影响因子,总结了纯化和富集土壤噬菌体的主要研究方法;同时阐述了土壤环境中噬菌体介导抗性基因水平转移的作用机制等相关研究进展,并提出了土壤噬菌体研究领域尚未解决的一些科学问题。本综述将有助于进一步深入理解噬菌体在抗性基因水平传播中的重要生态角色,为制定相关管理政策以减缓抗生素抗性基因污染问题提供基础。

Soil phage and their mediation on the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes: A review

The spread of antibiotic resistance in soil is a global threat to public health and food safety, challenging the prevention and treatment of human infectious disease. The horizontal transfer of ARGs mediated by bacteriophages (phages) is an important pathway for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the knowledge on the contribution of phages to ARGs transmission in soil is elusive. Here, we reviewed the distribution characteristics of phages in soil and its driving factors. We summarized the main methods for purification and enrichment of soil phage, reviewed recent achievements in the mechanism of phage-mediated horizontal transfer of ARGs in soil and proposed some outstanding questions. This review would contribute to understanding the important ecological role of phages in driving the horizontal transfer of ARGs, and provide a basis for developing management strategies to mitigate ARGs pollution.