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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.05.11.724250

Glyphosate as a driver of antimicrobial resistance evolution in bacteria

Tall, T.·Helander, M.·Iranzo, J.·Leino, L.·Rainio, M.·Vesterinen, E.·Saikkonen, K.·Mathew, S.·Puigbo, P.
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Abstract

Glyphosate, the worlds most widely used herbicide, targets the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), which is conserved across plants and many bacteria. While its environmental effects are increasingly recognized, its role on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains incompletely understood. In particular, the link between intrinsic glyphosate sensitivity and AMR gene content or evolutionary dynamics has not been systematically explored. We examined the relationship between bacterial sensitivity to glyphosate, AMR profiles, and the evolution of AMR genes. We analyzed genome datasets from the human gut microbiota and the Alignable Tight Genomic Clusters (ATGC). EPSPS sequences were identified via BLAST and annotations and classified based on the intrinsic sensitivity to glyphosate using the EPSPSClass webserver. AMR genes, including associated drug classes and resistance mechanisms, were annotated using the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD). Across datasets, glyphosate-sensitive bacteria carried a greater diversity of AMR genes and mechanisms. In contrast, probabilistic modeling revealed that glyphosate-resistant bacteria accumulate AMR genes at significantly higher rates. Phylogenetic birth-and-death analyses and stochastic mapping further revealed elevated AMR gene gain, loss, expansion, and reduction in resistant strains. These results indicate a decoupling between AMR gene diversity and evolutionary dynamics: sensitive bacteria maintain more resistance genes, whereas resistant bacteria display accelerated AMR gene turnover. This suggests that glyphosate resistance is linked to increased genome dynamics, potentially enhancing bacterias adaptability under combined herbicide and antimicrobial pressures. Given glyphosates extensive agricultural use and potential human exposure, these findings highlight an underappreciated link between herbicide resistance and the evolution of AMR in bacterial populations.

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Tall, T., Helander, M., Iranzo, J., Leino, L., Rainio, M., Vesterinen, E., Saikkonen, K., Mathew, S., Puigbo, P.. 2026-05-22. Glyphosate as a driver of antimicrobial resistance evolution in bacteria. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.05.11.724250

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