Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression in Veterinary Probiotics: Two Sides of the Coin

The rapid proliferation of antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the most pressing animal and public health challenges of our time. Probiotics, extensively employed in human and veterinary medicine, are instrumental in maintaining a balanced microbiome and mitigating its disruption during a...

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Main Authors: Ádám Kerek, István Román, Ábel Szabó, Nikolett Palkovicsné Pézsa, Ákos Jerzsele
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/217
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author Ádám Kerek
István Román
Ábel Szabó
Nikolett Palkovicsné Pézsa
Ákos Jerzsele
author_facet Ádám Kerek
István Román
Ábel Szabó
Nikolett Palkovicsné Pézsa
Ákos Jerzsele
author_sort Ádám Kerek
collection DOAJ
description The rapid proliferation of antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the most pressing animal and public health challenges of our time. Probiotics, extensively employed in human and veterinary medicine, are instrumental in maintaining a balanced microbiome and mitigating its disruption during antibiotic therapy. While their numerous benefits are well documented, probiotics also present potential risks, notably the capacity to harbor antimicrobial resistance genes. This genetic reservoir could contribute to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance by facilitating the horizontal transfer of resistance genes to pathogenic bacteria within the gut. This review critically examines the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in commonly used probiotic strains, explores the underlying mechanisms of resistance, and provides a balanced analysis of the benefits and risks associated with their use. By addressing these dual aspects, this paper highlights the need for vigilant evaluation of probiotics to preserve their therapeutic potential while minimizing public health risks.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2306-7381
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Veterinary Sciences
spelling doaj-art-9c77d6310d7e413a89bf4f1abcdfd4dc2025-08-20T02:43:10ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-03-0112321710.3390/vetsci12030217Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression in Veterinary Probiotics: Two Sides of the CoinÁdám Kerek0István Román1Ábel Szabó2Nikolett Palkovicsné Pézsa3Ákos Jerzsele4Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, HungaryThe rapid proliferation of antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the most pressing animal and public health challenges of our time. Probiotics, extensively employed in human and veterinary medicine, are instrumental in maintaining a balanced microbiome and mitigating its disruption during antibiotic therapy. While their numerous benefits are well documented, probiotics also present potential risks, notably the capacity to harbor antimicrobial resistance genes. This genetic reservoir could contribute to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance by facilitating the horizontal transfer of resistance genes to pathogenic bacteria within the gut. This review critically examines the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in commonly used probiotic strains, explores the underlying mechanisms of resistance, and provides a balanced analysis of the benefits and risks associated with their use. By addressing these dual aspects, this paper highlights the need for vigilant evaluation of probiotics to preserve their therapeutic potential while minimizing public health risks.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/217veterinary probioticsbenefitsrisksantibiotic resistance genesARGsantimicrobial resistance
spellingShingle Ádám Kerek
István Román
Ábel Szabó
Nikolett Palkovicsné Pézsa
Ákos Jerzsele
Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression in Veterinary Probiotics: Two Sides of the Coin
Veterinary Sciences
veterinary probiotics
benefits
risks
antibiotic resistance genes
ARGs
antimicrobial resistance
title Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression in Veterinary Probiotics: Two Sides of the Coin
title_full Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression in Veterinary Probiotics: Two Sides of the Coin
title_fullStr Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression in Veterinary Probiotics: Two Sides of the Coin
title_full_unstemmed Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression in Veterinary Probiotics: Two Sides of the Coin
title_short Antibiotic Resistance Gene Expression in Veterinary Probiotics: Two Sides of the Coin
title_sort antibiotic resistance gene expression in veterinary probiotics two sides of the coin
topic veterinary probiotics
benefits
risks
antibiotic resistance genes
ARGs
antimicrobial resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/217
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AT istvanroman antibioticresistancegeneexpressioninveterinaryprobioticstwosidesofthecoin
AT abelszabo antibioticresistancegeneexpressioninveterinaryprobioticstwosidesofthecoin
AT nikolettpalkovicsnepezsa antibioticresistancegeneexpressioninveterinaryprobioticstwosidesofthecoin
AT akosjerzsele antibioticresistancegeneexpressioninveterinaryprobioticstwosidesofthecoin