About this Research Topic
Antimicrobial resistance presents one of the major public health challenges that will require a systems framework for the development of sustainable solutions. In order to develop effective antimicrobial resistance mitigation strategies, a better understanding of factors driving its evolution, enrichment and transmission are needed.
Extensive research has been conducted to further our understanding of the evolution of genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic resistance in microbial species of interest, particularly human pathogens. It provided information about spatial and temporal diversity in the prevalence of target pathogens in different study systems. It also allowed for the assessment of short- and long-term effects of antimicrobial resistance management factors tested in the environment, animals and/or humans (e.g., food supply chain, hospital environment). While the research focused on single microbial species provided important new knowledge about antimicrobial resistance (as highlighted in a Research Topic Evolution of Genetic Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance), it failed to fully explain the resistance phenomena observed in complex natural systems.
Complex systems, including natural and agricultural environments in addition to living hosts, typically consist of diverse microbiomes. The role of these microbiomes in evolution and transmission of antimicrobial resistance, however, remains underexplored. Recent advances in sequencing technologies and data analyses paved a path for exploration of the role of biotic and abiotic factors in evolution, enrichment, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance in complex microbial communities.
The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight scientific work focused on advancing our understanding of the role of microbiomes in evolution, enrichment, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance in environmental, plant, animal and human systems. The research focused on investigating the associations or causal relationships between biotic, abiotic factors, microbiome, and resistome diversity are welcome.
Extensive research has been conducted to further our understanding of the evolution of genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic resistance in microbial species of interest, particularly human pathogens. It provided information about spatial and temporal diversity in the prevalence of target pathogens in different study systems. It also allowed for the assessment of short- and long-term effects of antimicrobial resistance management factors tested in the environment, animals and/or humans (e.g., food supply chain, hospital environment). While the research focused on single microbial species provided important new knowledge about antimicrobial resistance (as highlighted in a Research Topic Evolution of Genetic Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance), it failed to fully explain the resistance phenomena observed in complex natural systems.
Complex systems, including natural and agricultural environments in addition to living hosts, typically consist of diverse microbiomes. The role of these microbiomes in evolution and transmission of antimicrobial resistance, however, remains underexplored. Recent advances in sequencing technologies and data analyses paved a path for exploration of the role of biotic and abiotic factors in evolution, enrichment, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance in complex microbial communities.
The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight scientific work focused on advancing our understanding of the role of microbiomes in evolution, enrichment, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance in environmental, plant, animal and human systems. The research focused on investigating the associations or causal relationships between biotic, abiotic factors, microbiome, and resistome diversity are welcome.
Keywords: Resistome, microbiome, antimicrobial resistance, evolution, metagenomics
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