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Jul 10, 2025
The study revealed that only 11% of Lactobacillus labels were accurate while 33.3% of products were contaminated with opportunistic pathogens carrying virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Bacillus and Enterococcus strains isolated from these products showed wide clonal diversity and geographic distribution. Some Enterococcus strains closely resembled clones linked to human infections with a higher prevalence of ARGs than in Bacillus or Lactobacillus. Notably an oxazolidinone-resistance gene optrA was found on novel transferable plasmids in one E. faecium isolate. In a chicken model this optrA positive E. faecium disrupted gut microbiota and transferred resistance genes to commensal bacteria via the IS1216E transposon.
The study found that only 11% of probiotic products accurately labeled Lactobacillus strains while 33.3% were contaminated with opportunistic pathogens carrying virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Researchers isolated Bacillus and Enterococcus strains revealing diverse clonal types and wide geographic distribution. Some Enterococcus strains were closely related to those causing human infections with a higher load of ARGs compared to Bacillus and Lactobacillus A key finding was the detection of the oxazolidinone-resistance gene optrA on a novel transferable plasmid in one E. faecium strain. In chicken models optrA positive E. faecium disrupted normal intestinal microbiota and increased mobile genetic elements and resistome levels. Metagenomic analysis showed the optrA gene could be transferred to commensal bacteria like E. cecorum E. gallinarum and L. crispatus via transposon IS1216E.
The study warns that multidrug-resistant Enterococcus probiotics can alter gut microbiota and elevate resistance gene levels in chickens. Researchers urge molecular-level screening of probiotic strains for MGEs and transferable AMR genes especially in Enterococcus. They call for standardized guidelines and improved manufacturing practices to ensure probiotic safety consistency and purity. Stronger regulation and quality control are essential to curb antibiotic resistance risks in China’s livestock probiotic industry.