What is it about?
Human contamination of freshwater sources has negative consequences on human health. Here we examined how contamination altered microbial populations in a river that runs close to the city of Bogotá, Colombia. We also detected an increase in the number of genes that confer resistance to antibiotics, especially in effluents from hospitals.
Featured Image
Photo by Cia Gould on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Resistance to antibiotics is a global problem that is predicted to grow and have catastrophic consequences if not deterred. This work provides additional information on how human contamination can promote the spread of resistance genes in the environment, where they can have a negative impact on the population.
Perspectives
Little is known in locations like the Bogotá River in Colombia regarding the additional impacts of contamination on health. With this work, we hope to bring attention to the fact that other risks exist and that they require attention for appropriate (eventual) management.
Maria Mercedes Zambrano
Corporación Corpogen
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Bogotá River anthropogenic contamination alters microbial communities and promotes spread of antibiotic resistance genes, Scientific Reports, August 2019, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48200-6.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
