Metagenomics provides a direct method to analyze the actual composition of bacterial communities and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Toilet waste serves as an ideal model for evaluating infections and AMR situation within a community. While AMR variation can be partially explained by antimicrobial use, it is also influenced by socioeconomic, health, and environmental factors. This study specifically focuses on the income factor as a potential influence on AMR variation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate and compare the abundance and diversity of bacteria and AMR in toilet wastes from three different income areas in Bangkok.
Bangkok, chosen for its diverse socio-economic status, is a suitable location for this study. We categorized income populations into three groups: low, middle, and high, considering factors such as average income, area characteristics, and living style. After collecting toilet waste samples, we conducted genomic extraction and sequencing, followed by sequence assembly, quality checking, and mapping of reads against bacterial databases (such as Genomic) and antimicrobial resistance databases (e.g., ResFinder).
Our initial findings highlight the bacterial composition in toilet waste, primarily Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Notably, a lower abundance of AMR genes was observed in the high-income population compared to the other groups. The identified resistance genes in our study belonged to various types, such as erm, sul, and tet variants.
In summary, our research supports the notion that socioeconomic factors, particularly income, play a significant role in influencing AMR variations in human populations.
Narong Nuanmuang’s presentation
