Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Metagenomic Study of Indian Tribal Gut

This One Health metagenomic study examined the gut resistome of three Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (Irula, Jenu Kuruba, and Kurumba) in South India to understand antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in populations with minimal antibiotic exposure. Analysis of 103 faecal samples through shotgun metagenomic sequencing revealed strong inter-community variation: the Kurumba group carried the highest AMR burden, while the Irula group showed the greatest diversity of non-antibiotic resistance genes. Drinking water source was identified as a key ecological driver—individuals consuming untreated stream water had significantly higher levels of metal, biocide, and multi-compound resistance genes, while tubewell water users had more antibiotic resistance. The findings demonstrate the ecological plasticity of the human gut resistome and emphasize that environmental exposures—particularly unsafe water—play a major role in shaping AMR even in remote populations, calling for improved water safety, environmental surveillance, and integrated One Health interventions.