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The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Study of gut genomes finds how antibiotic resistance can differ between genders
A recent study analysing gut genomes found that trends of antibiotic resistance differ between genders. For instance, in high-income countries, women may have more antibiotic-resistant genes, while in low- and middle-income countries, men may have more. Led by researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, the study analysed over 14,600 gut genomes from across 32 countries, taken from a publicly available dataset. Study findings Antibiotic resistance, in which infection-causing germs become immune to the drugs designed to kill them, is a significant public health challenge and is estimated to claim over 39 million lives in the next 25 years, a study published in The Lancet journal in September 2024 said. Furthermore, differences in antibiotic resistance related to gender were found to emerge in adulthood. "This suggests that lifestyle, biological differences or healthcare-related factors may influence these differences more in adulthood than in childhood," author Katariina Parnanen, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Turku said. "We observed that the association between ARG (antibiotic resistant gene) load and gender was inverted between HICs (high-income countries) and LMICs (low- and middle-income countries): women had higher ARG load in HICs and lower ARG load in LMICs than men," the authors wrote in the study published in the journal npj biofilms and microbiomes. The findings also reveal that in high-income countries, women had an average of nine per cent higher amount of genes related to antibiotic resistance compared to men. Women may be more frequently exposed to antibiotics, bacteria resistant to antibiotics, or are more often carriers of resistant bacteria, the researchers suggested. Additionally, women in these countries were found to have a slightly higher diversity of antibiotic resistance genes compared to men, suggesting a broader variation in resistance in the gut microbiomes, the team said. "Understanding gender differences in antibiotic resistance is key to designing equitable and effective healthcare interventions. Our study will lay the groundwork for further research to reduce health inequalities related to antibiotic resistance," Parnanen said. The researchers also found a strong association between age and country of residence and the number and diversity of genes involved in antibiotic resistance. These were particularly high in infants and the oldest age group, they said. High antibiotic use was associated with higher resistance gene loads and greater diversity. High levels of resistance were also found in low-income countries, which may be explained by factors such as poor hygiene and sanitation, the team said. "Our data-driven analyses shed light on global, gendered antibiotic resistance patterns, which may help guide further research and targeted interventions," the authors wrote. The study used data publicly available from datasets 'Sequence Read Archive' (SRA) and European Nucleotide Archive (ENA).
United News of India
17-06-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Study reveals unequal gender impact of ‘Superbugs' across the globe
New Delhi, June 17 (UNI) As the world grapples with the growing health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a first-of-its kind study has revealed that even Superbugs don't affect everyone equally-- antimicrobial resistance shows gender disparities too. AMR occurs when microorganisms (Superbugs) like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to become less susceptible or completely resistant to antimicrobial medicines, including antibiotics, anti-virals, anti-fungals, and anti-parasitics. Led by Professor Leo Lahti at the University of Turku, the study analysed the DNA of over 14,000 gut metagenomes from 32 countries and it found that women in high-income countries carry, on average, 9% more antibiotic resistance genes than men, suggesting they may be more frequently exposed to antibiotics or resistant bacteria. In contrast, men in low- and middle-income nations showed higher resistance gene loads, though these differences were not statistically significant when factors like age and living conditions were accounted for. The study titled 'Gender Differences in Global Antimicrobial Resistance', published in the latest issue of npj Biofilms and Microbiomes also found that women in wealthier nations had a broader diversity of resistance genes, possibly due to differences in gut microbiota, and that age and country of residence were major factors in resistance levels. The highest resistance was noted in infants and the elderly, while poor sanitation and high antibiotic use in low-income countries also contributed to higher resistance levels. These findings highlight the intricate interaction of gender, socio-economic status, geography, and age in the spread of antibiotic resistance. With AMR already responsible for over 1.3 million deaths annually, researchers argue that understanding these gender differences is crucial for developing equitable and effective healthcare strategies to combat this escalating threat. The study observation is especially critical for India, as it bears the world's highest burden of antibiotic-resistant TB. In 2019 alone, nearly 300,000 people in the country died from AMR-related infections, as per various reports. "By recognising these disparities, we can tailor interventions that address the specific needs of different populations and help reduce health inequalities related to antibiotic resistance," said Katariina Parnanen, one of the study's lead researchers. As per various reports, AMR is predicted to contribute to 39 million deaths by 2050. UNI AJ SSP
