Antimicrobial Resistance in Lactic Acid Bacteria

Antimicrobials have been used in agriculture for decades, with recent estimates revealing that 73 per cent of all antibiotics worldwide are used in agriculture. Agricultural dependence on antimicrobials suggests habitual communication patterns, which are socially and culturally ingrained. Moreover, several reports indicate that antimicrobials are used imprudently in agriculture. For example, antimicrobials are frequently misused for growth advancement and preventative purposes. Antimicrobial resistance in agriculture is a valuable industrial resource that addresses multifaceted topics regarding farm, wild, friendly animals, and how the environment plays an active role in the amplification and transmission of resistant genes in the human food chain. This book explores the various aspects of microbials in agriculture and their perceived impact on human health including updated information about all the genera of livestock and associated pathogenic microbes. The valuable information may be exploited by policymakers and various groups of experts including academic and research personnel engaged in clinical and medical microbiology, along with all veterinary and medical practitioners. Researchers, scientists, and healthcare and management practitioners will find this an essential resource on the legal use of antibiotics in animals and humans.

The first chapter, by Phuengjayaem et al., reviews the antimicrobial resistance in lactic acid bacteria. In Chapter 2, Jain and Dey describe the antimicrobial indexing of indigenous pathogens from sanitary landfill leachate. Extensive studies and application of phytoalexins in agriculture discussed by Sheikh et al. in Chapter 3 and in Chapter 4, Kumar and his collaborators highlight that livestock manure application causes the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes in agricultural lands. In Chapter 5, Shedge et al. emphasize antibiotic residues in freshwater: antimicrobial resistance development and bioremediation. In Chapter 6, Jain and Pundir describe production of antimicrobial substances from endophytic microorganisms and potential applications as biocontrol agents, and in Chapter 7, Singh and Singh highlight the antimicrobial efficacy of medicinal plants in reference to present status and future research. In Chapter 8, Tajane et al. highlight the nano-materials as alternative antimicrobial agents in the management of phytopathogens in agricultural systems. Finally, nanotechnologybased antimicrobials in agriculture are more prominently explained in Chapter 9 by Thenmozhi Manivel et al.