AREFLH is a partner of the project NOVASOIL project focuses on “Innovative on Innovative business models for soil health”. In the framework of the project, we have the new output of “Innovative Business Models for Soil Health.
Soil is an intricate ecosystem teeming with life, including those bacteria that can influence some of the most critical public health challenges of our time. Recent research led by Jingqiu Liao has shown light on an unsettling reality: the soil is a significant reservoir of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs). One, if transferred to harmful bacteria, could compromise the effectiveness of the antibiotics we rely on to treat infections.
A world hidden from sight
So, we already know that soil is full of many microorganisms, including bacteria that have adopted natural antibiotic resistance mechanisms, essential in competitive ecosystems. Although this could be just another adaptation, it is not so innocent. These types of resistance characteristics can also be transferred to other bacteria that affect human diseases.
For example, Listeria monocytogenes. This soil-dwelling bacteria infects food and causes listeriosis, an extreme disease that is more deadly for those with a weak immune system. More worryingly, Listeria has a certain natural ability to be resistant to antibiotics and can develop new genes at an ever-increasing rate, making it dangerous for people’s health.
How Resistance Genes Travel
Environmental conditions play a crucial role in this process. For instance, soils with high levels of aluminum tend to support a greater variety of resistance genes. It’s thought that the stress aluminum causes in bacteria makes them more likely to retain and exchange resistance traits. On the flip side, soils rich in magnesium seem to suppress this diversity, possibly by fostering less competitive microbial communities.
The Human Factor
Soil bacteria are, however, sensitive to human activities in a way that affects the dynamics of the bacteria. Urbanization, pollution, and agriculture all have roles in manipulating the development of soil ecosystems, and these roles frequently enhance the distribution of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. For example, the liberals use antibiotics for fattening the livestock, and the chemicals get deposited into the soil through excreta, making specific regions to act as a screen for resistant genes. While steel and plastics regularly contain resistance genes from previous users, forests also contain resistance genes brought in by wildlife, as even the natural world is not immune. Still, when it comes to the development of resistance, antibiotic-using agricultural fields with disturbed microbial structure as well as chemical additives are the most suitable environments for resistant bacteria.
What Can We Do?
While the idea of resistance genes lurking in the soil might sound concerning, there are steps we can take to minimize risks:
- Proper waste disposal: Do not pollute soil with toxic metals, chemicals, or residues of pharmaceutical products.
- Hygiene matters: Wash your hands frequently after gardening or after coming into contact with soil since they contain certain pathogenic bacteria.
- Support sustainable practices: Promote policies and farming practices that maintain the integrity of the soil and microbial communities.
Conclusions
The soil plays a far greater role in our lives than we often consider. It is not just an environmental resource but a vital ecosystem connected to public health.
And how human activities, such as pollution and mad agricultural management, are accelerating the spread of these resistance genes, posing a threat to the effectiveness of antibiotics that we rely on to treat infections.
You can read a more detailes article on Novasoil website
Know more about Novasoil
- www.novasoil-project.eu
- Have a look at a selection of articles written by AREFLH about the project.
This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement n°101091268