Estrutura da comunidade bacteriana, resistoma clínico e ocorrência de integrons no metagenoma obtido de queijos Minas Frescal industrializados

Abstract

Minas Frescal cheese (QMF) represents one of the most consumed cheeses in the country. Several factors of its processing influence its microbiological characteristics, and, consequently, its quality and properties. Its high moisture content and the risks of contamination during the production chain favor the occurrence of contaminating microorganisms, often presenting antimicrobial resistance. Thus, from the point of view of food safety and the growing phenomenon of bacterial resistance to drugs, it is important to investigate the structure of the bacterial community in Minas Frescal cheese, as well as the evaluation of the occurrence of microbial genetic markers related to drug resistance and its potential for mobilization. In this study 5 samples from the same batch of 7 brands of Minas Frescal cheeses were identified from A to G, totaling 35 samples. After the extraction of total DNA from the samples, DNA fingerprint approaches were used, by the amplification of repetitive extragenic palindromic sequences (rep-PCR) to evaluate the similarity of the global structure of the bacterial community. Afterwards, PCR-DGGE was used to evaluate the profile and richness of the samples in relation to groups of lactic bacteria. Similarity matrices were obtained using the UPGMA clustering method. The results obtained by the rep-PCR technique revealed that the cheese samples were clearly brand-clustered. In addition, similar profiles among samples of different brands were observed, indicating the presence of a common microbial nucleus. The evaluated samples were also separated according to their respective manufacturing brands by the DGGE for lactic acid bacteria. The high similarity among the majority of the samples from the same batch obtained in the fingeprint techniques suggests the reproducibility and applicability of the techniques, and control in the cheese processing along the production chain. For the evaluation of clinical resistance, the presence of resistance markers to different classes of antibiotics was evaluated by PCR reaction. A common core of genetic markers was detected, associated with resistance to beta-lactams, tetracyclines, quinolones and sulfonamides. Other markers, including those related to efflux pumps and aminoglycoside resistance, have also been observed, but not in all brands. Integrons of classes 1 and 2 were detected, respectively, in 77% and 97% of the samples. The different QMF samples could be grouped according to their profile of genetic markers of antimicrobial resistance, which suggests peculiar epidemiology that may be related to the quality and levels of contamination of the cheeses along the production chain. Taken together, the data suggest that although the productive chain of QMF is controlled in the industry, health risks are inherent in the contamination of cheeses by putative antimicrobial resistant bacteria. As a whole, the data point to the need to discuss the parameters of microbiological quality in the production, storage and distribution of QMF. In addition, the detection of class 1 and 2 integrons raises questions about the potential for horizontal transfer of resistance genes to the human microbiota through the consumption of these foods.