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Plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonella: serotype-specific mechanisms and ecological implications
Summary
This review examines how different Salmonella serotypes carry and spread antimicrobial resistance through plasmids, with implications for food safety along the farm-to-fork chain. The authors detail how plasmid interactions and recombination events create hybrid resistance elements that combine drug resistance with virulence factors. While not directly focused on microplastics, the study is relevant to understanding how environmental contaminants may interact with antimicrobial resistance spread in food systems.
Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a leading cause of foodborne illness, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains challenging treatment and food safety. Serotype-specific plasmid associations underlie distinct antimicrobial resistance (AMR) risks: IncHI2 plasmids in S. Typhimurium, virulence-plasmid exclusion in S. Enteritidis, pESI megaplasmids in S. Infantis, and multi-plasmid carriage in S. Indiana. These profiles shape persistence in livestock, processing, and retail settings, raising the likelihood of resistance spread along the farm-to-fork continuum. Plasmid interactions, including helper-mediated mobilization, IS26-driven recombination, and fusion events, accelerate the emergence of mosaic or hybrid plasmids that combine resistance and virulence, enhancing adaptability in food-associated environments. Ecological factors such as gut microbiota, biofilms, and exposure to disinfectants or microplastics further promote plasmid transfer and maintenance. Within a One Health framework, integrating food chain surveillance, predictive modeling, and microbiota-targeted or CRISPR-based tools provides opportunities to monitor, predict, and disrupt plasmid dissemination. By combining serotype-specific, evolutionary, and ecological perspectives, this review highlights key mechanisms driving AMR in NTS and identifies actionable intervention points to reduce MDR Salmonella risks in the food chain.