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Background The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among humans and food-producing animals has been widely reported. However, the transmission routes and associated risk factors remain incompletely understood. Methods Here, we used commensal Escherichia coli bacteria strains from faeces of pigs and local citizens [HEG: high exposure group (pig breeders, butchers or restaurant chefs) and LEG: low exposure group (other occupations)] to explore the dynamics of ARB and ARG transmission between animals and humans. Results Most ARGs (96%) present in pigs were shared with humans. Carriage rates of the shared ARGs suggest two transmission patterns among pigs, the HEG and LEG: one pattern was highest in pigs, gradually decreasing in the HEG and LEG (e.g. floR and cmlA1); the other pattern was increasing from pigs to the HEG but then decreasing in the LEG (e.g. mcr-1.1). Carriage rates of the HEG were higher than in the LEG in both patterns, implicating the HEG as a crucial medium in transmitting ARB and ARGs between food-producing animals and humans. Moreover, frequent inter/intragroup transmission via strains, plasmids and/or mobile elements was evident. Carriage of mcr-1.1 on human-gut-prevalent plasmids possibly promoted its enrichment in the HEG. Conclusions The HEG is a crucial factor in transmitting ARB and ARGs between food-producing animals and humans. Rational measures to contain the risks of occupational exposure are urgently needed to keep dissemination of antibiotic resistance in check and safeguard public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrinsic resistance of bacteria to antibiotics plays an increasingly significant role in antibiotic resistance. However, the breadth of intrinsic resistance has not been fully elucidated. Here we identified a novel class of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (type C CAT or CATC) in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and its closely related species V. alginolyticus, V. antiquarius , and V. diabolicus. The catC genes encoding the CATC clade are distributed among the four Vibrio species and are consistently found in the same conserved genomic regions. Based on their prevalence, these genes are considered to be intrinsic in V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, V. antiquarius , and V. diabolicus. We also demonstrated that naturally occurring variants of CATC can confer diverse resistance levels against chloramphenicol in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the enzyme kinetics of CATC variant proteins supported the diversity of their resistance phenotypes. This work provides insights into the distribution and resistance phenotypes of a novel class of intrinsic resistance genes in bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]