Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Found in Atlantic Ocean Aerosols
A groundbreaking study published in Science of The Total Environmenthttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725023666 investigates the presence and distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in sea surface aerosols across the Atlantic Ocean, shedding light on the ocean’s potential role as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance. Conducted during a 22-day transatlantic cruise from Brest, France, to Woods Hole, USA, in December 2021, the research analyzed aerosol samples collected from a sailing vessel to assess bacterial loads, microbial diversity, and ARGs. The study utilized two sampling methods: 24-hour integrative sampling to capture broad trends and one-hour spot sampling to detect short-term variations. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), researchers monitored 21 ARG subtypes representing major antibiotic resistance families, alongside bacterial diversity assessed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Air mass origins were traced using atmospheric dynamics models to understand their influence on ARG distribution. Findings revealed significant variability in…


