Investigating the resistome of haemolytic bacteria in Arctic soils

Microorganisms inhabiting hostile Arctic environments express a variety of functional phenotypes, some of clinical interest, such as haemolytic ability and antimicrobial resistance. We studied haemolytic bacterial isolates from Arctic habitats, assessing their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against antimicrobials. We then performed whole genome sequencing and analysed them for features conferring antimicrobial resistance. MIC data showed that Micromonospora spp. belong to 33% non-wild type (NWT) for erythromycin and penicillin and 22% NWT for tetracycline. Both Pseudomonas spp. belong to 43% NWT for nalidixic acid and streptomycin and 29% NWT for colistin. Finally, the Pedobacter isolate was in 80% NWT for antimicrobials tested. Whole-genome sequencing analyses revealed that fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, macrolides and penams were the most frequent drug classes against which genotypic resistance was found. Additionally, resistance genes to heavy metals and disinfectants were identified. Our research demonstrates the presence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from Arctic habitats and highlights the importance of conservation efforts in these environments, where anthropogenic influence is becoming more evident. Furthermore, our data suggest the possible presence of novel resistance mechanisms, which could pose a threat if the responsible genes are transferable between species or become widespread due to environmental stress and alterations brought about by climate change.