Open AccessThe human gut resistome: Current concepts & future prospects
Author(s) -
Shreya Singh,
Nipun Verma,
Neelam Taneja
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
indian journal of medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.578
H-Index - 87
ISSN - 0971-5916
DOI - 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_1979_17
Subject(s) - resistome , microbiome , commensalism , biology , antibiotic resistance , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , human health , gut flora , metagenomics , flora (microbiology) , bacteria , genetics , immunology , gene , medicine , environmental health , integron
The human gut is home to a myriad of organisms. While some are harmless commensals, others are transient, pathogenic flora. The gut microbiome is composed of diverse bacterial flora, and apart from playing a major role in protecting from various infectious and non-infectious diseases, it plays an important role in resistance to antimicrobials. The collection of genes or genetic material that confers antimicrobial resistance constitutes the gut resistome, and it may involve the pathogens or commensals of the intestinal tract. The diversity of this gut resistome is influenced by various environmental factors including the diet and antibiotic exposure. This review highlights the recent concepts pertaining to the human gut resistome, factors affecting it, how it impacts human health and diseases, methods to study the resistome and potential therapeutic approaches.