Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock

Antibiotic resistance is a global threat, with misuse and overuse of antibiotics as key drivers. Metal exposure has also been hypothesized to promote bacterial resistance through co-selection mechanisms. This study comprehensively investigated the impact of metal exposure on multidrug resistance usi...

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Main Author: Zhou, Weijie
Format: Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/80611/
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author Zhou, Weijie
author_facet Zhou, Weijie
author_sort Zhou, Weijie
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Antibiotic resistance is a global threat, with misuse and overuse of antibiotics as key drivers. Metal exposure has also been hypothesized to promote bacterial resistance through co-selection mechanisms. This study comprehensively investigated the impact of metal exposure on multidrug resistance using Escherichia coli isolates from livestock and wastewater. Zinc supplementation in animal feed significantly increased zinc tolerance in E. coli isolates but no correlation between zinc treatment and multi-drug resistance prevalence was observed in a large-scale analysis of isolates from a pig feed trial. Notably, wastewater E. coli isolates exhibited a unique zinc resistance phenotype, inducible by low zinc concentrations and reversible upon zinc removal. Whole-genome sequencing of mercury resistant E. coli isolates from pig feed trials identified a novel Tn21-like transposon carrying nine resistance genes, revealing the genetic diversity and integrative potential of the Tn21 family. Additionally, the Copper Homeostasis and Silver Resistance Island (CHaSRI) mobile genetic elements were also identified from pig feed trials provided new insights into the horizontal transfer of metal resistance genes, emphasizing the impact of high local accumulations of metal ions on environmental microorganisms, animals, and humans.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T21:04:35Z
format Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
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institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-14T21:04:35Z
publishDate 2025
recordtype eprints
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spelling nottingham-806112025-07-31T04:40:19Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/80611/ Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock Zhou, Weijie Antibiotic resistance is a global threat, with misuse and overuse of antibiotics as key drivers. Metal exposure has also been hypothesized to promote bacterial resistance through co-selection mechanisms. This study comprehensively investigated the impact of metal exposure on multidrug resistance using Escherichia coli isolates from livestock and wastewater. Zinc supplementation in animal feed significantly increased zinc tolerance in E. coli isolates but no correlation between zinc treatment and multi-drug resistance prevalence was observed in a large-scale analysis of isolates from a pig feed trial. Notably, wastewater E. coli isolates exhibited a unique zinc resistance phenotype, inducible by low zinc concentrations and reversible upon zinc removal. Whole-genome sequencing of mercury resistant E. coli isolates from pig feed trials identified a novel Tn21-like transposon carrying nine resistance genes, revealing the genetic diversity and integrative potential of the Tn21 family. Additionally, the Copper Homeostasis and Silver Resistance Island (CHaSRI) mobile genetic elements were also identified from pig feed trials provided new insights into the horizontal transfer of metal resistance genes, emphasizing the impact of high local accumulations of metal ions on environmental microorganisms, animals, and humans. 2025-07-31 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en cc_by https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/80611/1/Zhou%2CWeijie%2C14342014%2Cfinal.pdf Zhou, Weijie (2025) Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. Escherichia coli antibiotic resistance multidrug resistance zinc metal exposure animal feed
spellingShingle Escherichia coli
antibiotic resistance
multidrug resistance
zinc
metal exposure
animal feed
Zhou, Weijie
Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock
title Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock
title_full Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock
title_fullStr Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock
title_full_unstemmed Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock
title_short Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli from Livestock
title_sort antibiotic and antimicrobial metal resistance in escherichia coli from livestock
topic Escherichia coli
antibiotic resistance
multidrug resistance
zinc
metal exposure
animal feed
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/80611/