Selection for antibiotic resistance in the presence of a microbial community. SARCOM

To explore the potential effects of community context on AMR selection, we competed isogenic Escherichia coli MG1655 strains, differing exclusively in a single chromosomal resistance determinant, in presence and absence of a natural community across a gradient of two different aminoglycoside antibiotics, kanamycin and gentamicin, commonly used in agricultural contexts. We embedded the E. coli within a pig fecal community in experimental anaerobic digesters in an attempt to partially mimic a gut environment.