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Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens,...
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Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 15655

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yongning Wu

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Guest Editor
China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit (2019RU014), Beijing 100022, China
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; antibiotics resistance gene; one health; drug residues; food safety; risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zhenling Zeng

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Guest Editor
National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
Interests: veterinary pharmacokinetics; veterinary drug residues; animal pathogens; antimicrobial resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The first volume of this Special Issue, “Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens”, was published in March 2023. It was a successful Special Issue, with 16 published papers, and has encouraged us to open a second volume on the same topic.

This Special Issue will celebrate World Antimicrobial Resistance Week (November 18~24), set up bythe FAO/UNEP/WAHO/WHO with a Tertiary Party Joint Action Plan for One Health, and brings together a diverse collection of articles from experts across various disciplines, including microbiology, pharmacy, epidemiology, and environtology. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Antibiotic residues;
  • Antibiotic resistance genes;
  • Antimicrobial resistance;
  • Food safety;
  • Foodborne pathogen;
  • Intervention strategies;
  • One Health.

Prof. Dr. Yongning Wu
Prof. Dr. Zhenling Zeng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antibiotic residues
  • antibiotic resistance genes
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • food safety
  • foodborne pathogen
  • intervention strategies
  • one health

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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14 pages, 6216 KB  
Article
Dietary Bacillus subtilis Group Reduces the General Infection of Salmonella Pullorum in Broiler Chicken
by Yunsheng Chen, Hanqing Li, Xuechun Zhang, Jianfei Zhu, Jijun Kang and Kui Zhu
Antibiotics 2026, 15(4), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15040389 - 10 Apr 2026
Viewed by 436
Abstract
Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum (Salmonella Pullorum) is a specific avian pathogen responsible for Pullorum disease, causing substantial economic losses to the global poultry industry. With the rising restrictions on antibiotic use, probiotics have emerged as promising [...] Read more.
Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum (Salmonella Pullorum) is a specific avian pathogen responsible for Pullorum disease, causing substantial economic losses to the global poultry industry. With the rising restrictions on antibiotic use, probiotics have emerged as promising therapeutic alternatives. The Bacillus subtilis group, including B. amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis, is a collection of closely related species that has been widely used as a probiotic due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and other benefits. However, how the probiotics-derived antibacterial phenotype contributes to infection control is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we used two different antibacterial phenotype strains, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis, to treat S. Pullorum infections. The spores of two strains (107 CFUs) were supplemented daily for 21 days. Results: The reduction in body weight gains and the severity of S. Pullorum-induced symptoms were ameliorated. Compared to B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens exhibited a stronger host protection effect, manifested in a greater reduction in the bacterial load of S. Pullorum in organs throughout the infection. Furthermore, both strains enhanced cecal microbiota diversity, suppressed infection-associated taxa, and promoted beneficial genera. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that probiotic Bacillus can alleviate S. Pullorum infection and improve growth performance in poultry, especially the antimicrobial phenotype contributing to pathogen clearance. This work provides crucial insights for developing effective, probiotic-based strategies against Pullorum disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens, 2nd Edition)
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25 pages, 5544 KB  
Article
Probiotic Potential, Genomic Characterization, and In Silico Insights of Five Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains Isolated from Fermented Cacao Beans Against Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
by Phoomjai Sornsenee, Nawanwat C. Pattaranggoon, Pinkanok Suksabay, Yosita Leepromma, Conny Turni and Chonticha Romyasamit
Antibiotics 2026, 15(4), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15040334 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 727
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Severe and recurrent infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa necessitate alternative antimicrobial strategies. Fermented cacao beans represent a niche microbial ecosystem with the potential to harbor beneficial lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This study aimed to isolate and characterize LAB strains from [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Severe and recurrent infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa necessitate alternative antimicrobial strategies. Fermented cacao beans represent a niche microbial ecosystem with the potential to harbor beneficial lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This study aimed to isolate and characterize LAB strains from fermented cacao beans in southern Thailand and to evaluate their probiotic potential and antimicrobial activity against MDR P. aeruginosa. Methods and Results: Five Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolates were identified via MALDI-TOF MS and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). All strains demonstrated antimicrobial activity against 17 clinical MDR P. aeruginosa isolates and CR14 exhibited the largest inhibition zone. The isolates displayed robust probiotic traits, including survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Acid tolerance (pH 2.0) reached 61.15 ± 7.75%, while resistance to pepsin, pancreatin, and bile salts exceeded 88%, 91%, and 92%, respectively. Strong adhesion was confirmed via auto-aggregation (55.02 ± 1.75%), hydrophobicity (45.58 ± 0.96%) and Caco-2 cell attachment (up to 98.11 ± 3.28%). WGS revealed multiple plantaricin-encoding clusters. Coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations showed that two-peptide plantaricins (plnJ/K and plnNC8-αβ) self-assembled and formed stable pores in bacterial membrane models, confirming a pore-forming antimicrobial mechanism. The strains lacked acquired resistance genes and virulence factors, confirmed by in silico safety assessments. Conclusions: Thus, these L. plantarum strains are promising probiotics for managing MDR P. aeruginosa via functional foods or adjunct therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens, 2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 2361 KB  
Article
Milk Disposition Kinetics, Residue and Efficacy of Rifaximin After Intramammary Administration in Lactating Cow
by Na Yu, Yaoxin Tang, Weifeng Zhao, Junhao Xiang, Jing Qu, Hao Wu and Yiming Liu
Antibiotics 2025, 14(12), 1203; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14121203 - 1 Dec 2025
Viewed by 783
Abstract
Background: Rifaximin is a non-aminoglycoside antibiotic utilized for the treatment of mastitis in cows, but its milk disposition kinetics, residue, and bacteriological status in lactating cow milk have hardly been reported. This study aimed to assess the milk disposition kinetics and residue of [...] Read more.
Background: Rifaximin is a non-aminoglycoside antibiotic utilized for the treatment of mastitis in cows, but its milk disposition kinetics, residue, and bacteriological status in lactating cow milk have hardly been reported. This study aimed to assess the milk disposition kinetics and residue of rifaximin in milk and to evaluate the bacteriological status in milk after intramammary treatment with rifaximin. Methods: An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) approach was developed to assess rifaximin concentrations in milk. Milk disposition kinetics parameters of rifaximin in cow milk were obtained by non-compartment model analysis. Rifaximin residues in milk were analyzed up to 108 h post-administration to estimate the withdrawal period. Clinically, the efficacy of Rifaximin Intramammary Infusion (Lactating Cow) was evaluated in mastitis cases caused by various pathogens and compared with lincomycin as the control drug, including clinical cure rate, bacteriological cure rate, and somatic cell count (SCC) at D21 post-treatment. Results: The Cmax of rifaximin in milk was 54,273.3 ± 12,421.32 ng/mL, the area under the curve (AUC) was 340,731.8 ± 43,968.82 h⋅ng/mL, the T1/2 was 5.57 ± 0.68 h, the mean resident time (MRT) was 7.3927 ± 1.34 h, and the area under the moment curve (AUMC) was 2,475,745 ± 230,305.1 h⋅h⋅ng/mL. Based on rifaximin residues in milk, the withdrawal period for cow milk was calculated to be 95.1 h. Clinically, Rifaximin Intramammary Infusion (Lactating Cow) demonstrated a clinical cure rate of 83.33% and a bacteriological cure rate of 76.67% in mastitis cases caused by various pathogens, with both rates being 10% higher than those of lincomycin. At D21 post-treatment, the rifaximin group had a significantly lower SCC than the lincomycin group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Rifaximin exhibits favorable milk disposition kinetics, an acceptable withdrawal period of 95.1 h, and good clinical and bacteriological cure rates in bovine mastitis. These findings support rifaximin as a useful intramammary option and contribute to rational antimicrobial use and milk safety in dairy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens, 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 3851 KB  
Article
Novel Isolate of Halobacteriovorax Capable of Killing Multi-Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella
by Stefania Di Lullo, Silvia Pieralisi, Giulia Talevi, Gabriele Angelico, Elena Rocchegiani, Francesca Leoni, Maira Napoleoni, Diego Maiolatesi, Francesca Barchiesi, Sara Nardi, Annalisa Petruzzelli, Claudia Gabucci, Angela Conti, Gianluigi Cardinali and Donatella Ottaviani
Antibiotics 2025, 14(11), 1133; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14111133 - 8 Nov 2025
Viewed by 859
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Due to the rising problem of antimicrobial resistance, there is increasing attention in the scientific community towards alternative approaches to combat Antimicrobial-Resistant (AMR) pathogens that do not involve the use of antibiotics. In this regard, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Due to the rising problem of antimicrobial resistance, there is increasing attention in the scientific community towards alternative approaches to combat Antimicrobial-Resistant (AMR) pathogens that do not involve the use of antibiotics. In this regard, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have promoted experimentation with predatory bacteria to fight antibiotic resistance. With the aim of identifying predatory bacteria suitable for the control of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, in this work we isolated a strain of Halobacteriovorax from an estuarine aquatic environment using a CTX-M-producing E. coli strain as prey and characterized it with respect to optimal physico-chemical parameters for growth and predation. Furthermore, we studied its predatory capacity against other E. coli strains and Multi-Drug-Resistant (MDR) Salmonella. Finally, we conducted challenge experiments to evaluate the growth of predator and prey over time. Methods: The Halobacteriovorax strain, designated HE7, was identified by 16S rRNA analysis. To isolate Halobacteriovorax and to evaluate its predatory ability towards different preys, the double-layer agar plating technique was applied. Results: HE7 showed in vitro predatory activity against all MDR strains of E. coli and Salmonella tested. In the 107 predator/103 prey and 107 predator/107 prey challenges, HE7 after 6 h achieved the total killing and a reduction of about 6 logs in the prey, respectively, maintaining this effect for up to 24 h. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight that HE7, but more generally Halobacteriovorax, could find application both alone and in an integrated context of antimicrobial strategies as an alternative to antibiotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens, 2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 3606 KB  
Article
Antibiotic Residues in Milk and Milk-Based Products Served in Kuwait Hospitals: Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment
by Maha S. Alenezi, Yasmine H. Tartor, Mohammed El-Sherbini, Elena Pet, Mirela Ahmadi and Adel Abdelkhalek
Antibiotics 2024, 13(11), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13111073 - 11 Nov 2024
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 8469
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health challenge affecting food safety and development. Residues of antibiotics in food from animal sources, particularly milk, contribute to the development and spread of AMR, alter intestinal microbiota, and potentially lead to allergies, serious health conditions, [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health challenge affecting food safety and development. Residues of antibiotics in food from animal sources, particularly milk, contribute to the development and spread of AMR, alter intestinal microbiota, and potentially lead to allergies, serious health conditions, and environmental and technological problems within the dairy industry. Therefore, this study investigated the residue levels of veterinary drugs from β-lactam antibiotics and tetracyclines in milk and milk products and assessed human health risks. Two hundred milk and milk product samples (pasteurized milk, sterile milk, soft white cheese, and processed cheese, 50 each) were collected from different hospitals in the State of Kuwait and screened for antibiotic residues using a microbial inhibition assay (Delvotest SP-NT) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Delvotest SP-NT and HPLC analyses showed that 30, 28, 26, and 24% of the pasteurized milk, sterilized milk, white soft cheese, and processed cheese samples tested positive for antibiotic residues. Forty-eight milk and cheese samples were confirmed as positive by both methods, and six samples initially found to be negative by Delvotest SP-NT were confirmed as positive by HPLC. Multi-antibiotic residues were detected in five samples by using HPLC. The kappa coefficient (0.921; p < 0.0001) revealed complete concordance between the HPLC and Delvotest SP-NT results. Ampicillin was the most abundant residue in the positive samples (31.48%), ranging from 2.44 to 3.89 μg/L, with an overall mean concentration of 3.492 ± 0.094 μg/L, followed by tetracycline and oxytetracycline (27.78% each), ranging from 54.13 to 220.3 μg/L and from 41.55 to 160.7 μg/L, with mean concentrations of 129.477 ± 14.22 and 91.86 ± 9.92 μg/L, respectively. The amoxicillin levels in the samples (12/54; 22.22%) ranged from 3.11 to 5.5 μg/L, with an overall mean concentration of 3.685 ± 0.186 μg/L. The maximum concentrations of ampicillin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline were detected in processed cheese with mean concentrations of 3.89 ± 0.28 µg/L, 3.95 ± 0.15 µg/L, and 170.3 ± 0.27 µg/L, respectively. Pasteurized milk contained the maximum concentrations of oxytetracycline, with a mean concentration of 120.45 ± 0.25 µg/L. The tetracycline residues exceeded the standard maximum residue limits (MRLs; 100 µg/L) in 6% of both pasteurized and sterilized milk samples, and in 4% of processed cheese. Additionally, the oxytetracycline levels in pasteurized milk (6%) and amoxicillin levels in processed cheese (2%) were higher than the permitted MRLs (100 µg/L and 4 µg/L, respectively). Furthermore, the antibiotic residues detected in 12.5% (25/200) of the samples were close to standard permissible MRL limits for ampicillin (5%), amoxicillin and oxytetracycline (3% each), and tetracycline (1.5%). Hazard quotients, which compare the standard acceptable daily intake (ADI) to the estimated daily exposure (EDI), indicated that the overall risk associated with antibiotic residues in these dairy products is low. The EDI was lower than the ADI for the tested antibiotics, indicating an elevated safety margin. While the overall hazard quotients are low, the potential for the development of antibiotic resistance due to long-term exposure to low levels of antibiotics should be considered. Hence, strict regulations and enforcement are necessary to prevent excessive residue levels and to promote responsible antibiotic use in dairy production. Regular monitoring of antibiotic residues in dairy products is essential for ensuring consumer safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens, 2nd Edition)
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9 pages, 1459 KB  
Brief Report
Characterization of Salmonella Phage P1-CTX and the Potential Mechanism Underlying the Acquisition of the blaCTX-M-27 Gene
by Qiu-Yun Zhao, Run-Mao Cai, Ping Cai, Lin Zhang, Hong-Xia Jiang and Zhen-Ling Zeng
Antibiotics 2024, 13(5), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13050446 - 14 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2889
Abstract
The P1 phage has garnered attention as a carrier of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Enterobacteriaceae. However, the transferability of ARGs by P1-like phages carrying ARGs, in addition to the mechanism underlying ARG acquisition, remain largely unknown. In this study, we elucidated the [...] Read more.
The P1 phage has garnered attention as a carrier of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Enterobacteriaceae. However, the transferability of ARGs by P1-like phages carrying ARGs, in addition to the mechanism underlying ARG acquisition, remain largely unknown. In this study, we elucidated the biological characteristics, the induction and transmission abilities, and the acquisition mechanism of the blaCTX-M-27 gene in the P1 phage. The P1-CTX phage exhibited distinct lytic plaques and possessed a complete head and tail structure. Additionally, the P1-CTX phage was induced successfully under various conditions, including UV exposure, heat treatment at 42 °C, and subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibiotics. Moreover, the P1-CTX phage could mobilize the blaCTX-M-27 gene into three strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the following seven different serotypes of Salmonella: Rissen, Derby, Kentucky, Typhimurium, Cerro, Senftenberg, and Muenster. The mechanism underlying ARG acquisition by the P1-CTX phage involved Tn1721 transposition-mediated movement of blaCTX-M-27 into the ref and mat genes within its genome. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the dynamic processes of ARG acquisition by a phage. Furthermore, this study enriches the research on the mechanism underlying the phage acquisition of drug resistance genes and provides a basis for determining the risk of drug resistance during phage transmission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance and Intervention Strategies of Foodborne Pathogens, 2nd Edition)
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