Antibiotic resistant gene found in Australian soil
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Researchers have identified a gene conferring resistance to last-resort antibiotics in soil samples from rural Australia. The discovery, published in Nature Communications, signals a previously unrecognized reservoir of resistance that could spread to human pathogens.
The Discovery
A team from the University of Queensland found the gene in soil bacteria collected from a remote cattle station in Queensland. The gene encodes an enzyme that degrades carbapenems, a class of antibiotics used when other treatments fail. The study analyzed 640 soil samples, with the resistant gene detected in 12 samples.
Public Health Implications
Carbapenem-resistant infections kill an estimated 1.27 million people annually worldwide. The gene's presence in a pristine environment suggests resistance can emerge without direct antibiotic exposure. Health officials warn that horizontal gene transfer could introduce the resistance into clinical settings.
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