Special Issue "Antimicrobial Resistance in Heavy Metal Polluted Areas"

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotic resistance is a continuously growing threat for both people and animals. The inconsistent, abusive, and excessive use of antibiotics has over time led to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in medicine, veterinary medicine, and the environment. Similarly to people and animals, the environment has its own microbiome, including some non-pathogenic but antibiotic-resistant species. Industrial activities are carried out in certain environments, with particular microbiomes, and also where humans and animals bearing antibiotic-resistant bacteria are present. Thus, the degree of pollution with heavy metals, as part of the global pollutants to the environment, could impact the bacteria and their resistome, with severe consequences for inhabitants of the area.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Farming contributing to antibiotic resistance in heavy metal polluted environments;
• Impact of various heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, As, etc.) on antibiotic resistance gene transfer in non-industrial environments;
• Dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in heavy metal polluted areas;
• Potential role of resistance plasmids in heavy metal polluted environments in enhancing the emergence of diseases;
• Prevention and control of antibiotic resistance in heavy metal polluted areas;
• Antibiotic resistance transfer in heavy metal polluted environments.

Other topics are also welcome.

Dr. Marina Spinu
Dr. Pall Emoke
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• antibiotic resistance
• heavy metals
• pollution
• zoonotic bacteria
• survival