Soils with long-term mercury contamination may also have more bacteria that can resist antibiotics, because the same mechanisms that help with mercury resistance might also help with antibiotic resistance.
Scientific Claim
Long-term mercury exposure in contaminated soils may co-select for antibiotic resistance genes in native microbial communities.
Original Statement
“Despite the suitability of such organisms for mercury bioremediation, we provide caution because long-term exposure to heavy metals can also promote recruitment of antimicrobial resistance genes (AMR) in the native microbiota. As an example, in Arthrobacter sp. H-02–3, we identified a suite of genes conferring resistance not only to mercury (e.g., merA, merB) but also to other heavy metals and multiple antibiotics.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The claim describes observed co-occurrence of resistance genes without implying causation. 'May co-select' appropriately describes the potential relationship based on observed evidence.