Penguin poo as a source of antibiotic-resistant genes

Scientists have known that penguins in Antarctica play a role as disseminators of pathogens with antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), but a recent study suggests that this might be happening on a bigger scale than previously thought ( Environ. Sci. Technol. 2024, 10.1021/acs.est.4c02732 ). Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China say that penguin guano might be propagating ARG pollution even more than their local human counterparts. Ice and snow melts move guano from penguin colonies into lakes, creating sediments rich in organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus. In this work, the researchers analyzed samples of 16 of these ornithogenic lake sediments (OLS) from around colonies, as well as nonornithogenic lake sediments (NOLS) from around scientific research stations. ARGs were present in greater abundance and diversity in samples of OLS than in those of NOLS. To confirm the presence of penguin poo, the researchers looked for chemicals that the material