Investigation of sulfonamide and tetracycline resistance genes in the gut microbiota of colorectal cancer patients
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https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9023/23329Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistance genes, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, colorectal cancer, gut microbiota, qPCRAbstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a critical global health challenge, and Vietnam is no exception. The human gut harbors trillions of microorganisms and serves as a reservoir for AMR genes. Alterations in gut microbiota composition have been associated with various diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC), highlighting the need to investigate whether these changes affect the reservoir of AMR genes. Our study aimed to examine the prevalence and distribution of sulfonamide and tetracycline resistance genes in the gut microbiota of CRC patients using real-time quantitative PCR. A total of 112 fecal samples were collected from the 108 Military Central Hospital, comprising 57 CRC patients and 55 healthy controls. DNA was extracted using the DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit and used for the quantification of AMR and 16S rRNA genes. The results revealed a high prevalence of sul1, sul2, tetM, tetX, and tetQ in the gut microbiota, with an average of more than 10¹¹ copies per gram of feces among participants. Notably, gene copy numbers showed considerable inter-individual variation, especially for the tetX gene. A significantly higher level of sul1 was detected in CRC patients compared to the healthy group. In addition to CRC status, several clinical and demographic factors, including gender, BMI, blood pressure, living region, and CRC stage, were found to influence the relative abundance of these genes. Correlation analysis indicated moderate associations between specific bacterial genera and the relative abundance of the studied AMR genes. Overall, our findings highlight the gut microbiota community as a potential source of AMR gene dissemination and emphasize the need for improved monitoring and regulation of antibiotic use in clinical settings, particularly for patients with CRC.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nguyen Thao Hien, Nguyen Bao Linh, Le Thi Thu Hang, Pham Thi Tuyet Nhung, Nguyen Quang Huy, Tran Thi Thanh Tam
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