Az antimikrobiális rezisztenciagének jelenléte állatorvosi vakcinajelölt törzsekben, probiotikumokban és tejtermékekben One Health szemléletű elemzés = Presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in veterinary vaccine candidate strains, probiotics, and dairy products – A One Health-based overview

Kerek, Ádám and Nagy, Zoltán and Jerzsele, Ákos (2026) Az antimikrobiális rezisztenciagének jelenléte állatorvosi vakcinajelölt törzsekben, probiotikumokban és tejtermékekben One Health szemléletű elemzés = Presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in veterinary vaccine candidate strains, probiotics, and dairy products – A One Health-based overview. SCIENTIA ET SECURITAS, 6 (4). pp. 398-413. ISSN 3057-9759

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Abstract

Az antimikrobiális rezisztencia (AMR) terjedése globális kihívás, amelyben egyre hangsúlyosabb az állategészségügyi készítmények és az élelmiszerlánc szerepe. Jelen tanulmány célja vakcinajelölt Escherichia coli törzsek, állatgyógyászati probiotikumok és nyerstej-eredetű élelmiszerek antimikrobiális rezisztenciagénekkel (ARG) való terheltségének vizsgálata volt. A fenotípusos és genetikai vizsgálatok során minden esetben kimutathatók voltak közegészségügyi szempontból fontos ARG-k. Ezek több esetben plazmidon voltak, ami a horizontális génátadás kockázatát is felveti. Az eredmények felhívják a figyelmet az említett termékek lehetséges szerepére a rezisztenciagének terjesztésében. Szükséges a szabályozás felülvizsgálata és az ARG-szűrés beemelése az engedélyezési eljárásokba, a One Health szemlélet jegyében. | The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat. While antibiotic misuse in medicine is a key driver, veterinary products and the food chain are increasingly recognized as antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) sources. This review summarizes a four-year Hungarian study on ARGs in vaccine candidate Escherichia coli strains, probiotics for companion and food animals, and raw milk-based products. Our objectives included identifying the extent and diversity of ARGs in these matrices, characterizing the mobile genetic elements associated with ARGs, and evaluating the potential for horizontal gene transfer, particularly within commensal or industrially used microbial populations. A combination of next-generation sequencing (NGS), in silico resistance gene profiling, and standardized phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (minimum inhibitory concentration – MIC – determination) was applied to all sample groups. The results consistently confirmed the presence of clinically relevant ARGs in all three matrices. Notably, the detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes (e.g., blaCTX-M, blaTEM), tetracycline resistance (tet), macrolide resistance (erm), and vancomycin resistance (van) genes was frequent in both industrial and artisanal samples. The high prevalence of ARGs located on plasmids and other mobile genetic elements such as transposons and integrons underlines the potential for cross-reservoir transmission, especially under favorable ecological conditions. Phenotypic MIC testing validated many of the predicted genotypic resistances, and in several probiotic isolates, multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes were also observed. In raw milk-derived food products, the ARG burden increased throughout the processing chain, likely influenced by the dynamics of fermentation and microbial competition. Probiotic products, although widely perceived as safe, were found to occasionally harbor ARGs potentially transferrable to commensal or pathogenic organisms in the gut microbiome. Alarmingly, the presence of mobile ARGs in vaccine strains and probiotic bacteria challenges current assumptions of biosafety, especially given the lack of mandatory ARG screening in certain regulatory pathways. In conclusion, our findings highlight the necessity for regulatory agencies to incorporate mandatory ARG profiling in pre-market evaluations of veterinary medicinal products, probiotics, and raw milk food items. These findings also support the development of standardized microbiological safety criteria, particularly for products intended for oral administration or consumption without thermal processing. From a One Health perspective, the ARG reservoirs found in veterinary and food-associated microorganisms should not be evaluated in isolation. Instead, integrated surveillance strategies are required to map transmission pathways and develop actionable risk mitigation measures. The study demonstrates the urgent need for harmonized legislative oversight and a broader interpretation of AMR risk factors beyond clinical antibiotic use.

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