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Background <p>The spread of colistin resistance in marine environments is an emerging concern, particularly due to the role of mobile colistin resistance genes (<i>mcr</i>) in conferring resistance to this last-resort antibiotic. Marine ecosystems, influenced by anthropogenic activities, may act as hotspots of <i>mcr</i>-positive bacteria, yet their distribution remains poorly understood. This study investigated the presence and diversity of <i>mcr</i> variants in bacterial strains isolated from water, floating plastic litter, and marine sponges across distinct Brazilian marine environments, ranging from heavily polluted to preserved sites.</p> Results <p>Our findings confirmed the presence of <i>mcr</i> variants across all sampled environments, with prevalence ranging from 12% in water-isolated strains from the pristine Fernando de Noronha Archipelago to 44% in bacteria from floating plastic in the polluted Bom Jesus Cove (Rio de Janeiro city). Notably, over one-third of strains from Arraial do Cabo, Ilha Grande Bay, and the Cagarras Islands also harbored <i>mcr</i> genes. Of all 101 <i>mcr</i>-positive strains, 46.5% also carried other antimicrobial resistance genes, mainly those encoding resistance to sulfonamides, beta-lactams, as well as integron-integrases.</p> Conclusions <p>This study provides novel insights into the spread of <i>mcr</i> variants in Brazilian marine ecosystems, emphasizing the role of human activity and pollution in colistin resistance spread. The detection of <i>mcr</i>-positive strains in floating plastic underscores the role of plastic debris as a potential vector and reservoir for antimicrobial resistance in marine ecosystems. Moreover, the presence of <i>mcr</i> genes in these ecosystems highlights the urgency of global surveillance and conservation strategies to mitigate the spread of antimicrobial resistance in marine environments.</p> Graphical Abstract <p>Widespread occurrence of mobile colistin resistance genes (<i>mcr</i>) in Brazilian marine environments. The charts illustrate the distribution of <i>mcr</i> gene variants in bacteria isolated from sponges, seawater, and floating plastic across Rio de Janeiro and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. Co-occurrence with other antimicrobial resistance genes is also depicted</p> <p></p>

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Widespread occurrence of mobile colistin resistance genes in Brazilian marine environments

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月18日

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  • Raphael Conegundes Brunelli,
  • Thalysson Vinícius de Jesus Carvalho Baptista,
  • Matheus de Oliveira Nithack Marques,
  • Gabrielle da Silva Oliveira Alves,
  • Beatriz Balthazar Abdon,
  • Marianne Pataro Mello,
  • Rodolfo Paranhos,
  • Marcos N. Gallo,
  • Susana Beatriz Vinzon,
  • Anaira Lage,
  • Joana Sandes,
  • Guilherme Muricy,
  • Michelle Klautau,
  • Matheus Vieira Lopes,
  • Gabriel Rodrigues Dias,
  • Anna Luiza Bauer Canellas,
  • Marinella Silva Laport

摘要

Background

The spread of colistin resistance in marine environments is an emerging concern, particularly due to the role of mobile colistin resistance genes (mcr) in conferring resistance to this last-resort antibiotic. Marine ecosystems, influenced by anthropogenic activities, may act as hotspots of mcr-positive bacteria, yet their distribution remains poorly understood. This study investigated the presence and diversity of mcr variants in bacterial strains isolated from water, floating plastic litter, and marine sponges across distinct Brazilian marine environments, ranging from heavily polluted to preserved sites.

Results

Our findings confirmed the presence of mcr variants across all sampled environments, with prevalence ranging from 12% in water-isolated strains from the pristine Fernando de Noronha Archipelago to 44% in bacteria from floating plastic in the polluted Bom Jesus Cove (Rio de Janeiro city). Notably, over one-third of strains from Arraial do Cabo, Ilha Grande Bay, and the Cagarras Islands also harbored mcr genes. Of all 101 mcr-positive strains, 46.5% also carried other antimicrobial resistance genes, mainly those encoding resistance to sulfonamides, beta-lactams, as well as integron-integrases.

Conclusions

This study provides novel insights into the spread of mcr variants in Brazilian marine ecosystems, emphasizing the role of human activity and pollution in colistin resistance spread. The detection of mcr-positive strains in floating plastic underscores the role of plastic debris as a potential vector and reservoir for antimicrobial resistance in marine ecosystems. Moreover, the presence of mcr genes in these ecosystems highlights the urgency of global surveillance and conservation strategies to mitigate the spread of antimicrobial resistance in marine environments.

Graphical Abstract

Widespread occurrence of mobile colistin resistance genes (mcr) in Brazilian marine environments. The charts illustrate the distribution of mcr gene variants in bacteria isolated from sponges, seawater, and floating plastic across Rio de Janeiro and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. Co-occurrence with other antimicrobial resistance genes is also depicted