Transgenerational gut dysbiosis: Unveiling the dynamics of antibiotic resistance through mobile genetic elements from mothers to infants

Abstract

Objectives

The initial microbial colonization of the gut is seeded by microbes transmitted from the mother's gut, skin, and vaginal tract. As the gut microbiome evolves, a few transmitted microbes persist throughout life. Understanding the impact of mother-to-neonate gut microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transmission is crucial for establishing its role in infants' immunity against pathogens.

Methods

This study primarily explores mother-neonate ARG transmission through 125 publicly available fecal metagenomes, isolated from eighteen mother-neonate pairs.

Results

The core ARGs, detected in both mothers and their respective infants at all stages (birth, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th and 12th months) included aminoglycosidases APH(3′)-IIIa, Bifidobacterium adolescentis rpoB mutants conferring resistance to rifampicin, β-lactamases CblA-1, CfxA2, multidrug resistance gene CRP, diaminopyrimidine resistance gene dfrF, fluoroquinolone-resistance gene emrR, macrolide; lincosamide; streptogramin resistance gene ErmB, ErmG, macrolide resistance gene Mef(En2), nucleosidase SAT-4, and tetracycline-resistance genes tet(O), tet(Q), and tet(W). Most of these infants and mothers were not administered any antibiotics. In infants, ARGs were predominantly carried by Bacillota, Pseudomonadota, and Actinomycetota, similar to the mothers. The dominant ARG-carrying opportunistic pathogens were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Streptococcus, found across all infant cohorts. All the core ARGs were associated with mobile genetic elements, signifying the role of horizontal gene transfer(HGT). We detected 132 virulence determinants, mostly E. coli-specific, including pilus chaperones, general secretion pathway proteins, type III secretion system effectors, and heme-binding proteins.

Conclusions

Maternal-neonate transmission of ARGs along with possible nosocomial infections, mode of delivery, breastfeeding versus formula feeding, and gestation period, must be considered for mother-neonate health.