Plasmid-Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance in The Human‎Microbiome: A Scoping Review of Horizontal GeneTransfer ‎During Antibiotic Exposure

Qudus Bayonle  Olayiwola; Toheeb Adetoyese  Hassan; Ogooluwa Joshua  Agboola; Mukhtar Abimbola  Ibrahim; Godwin Samuel  Amoo; Mubarak Ademola  Egbinola; Hazanah Adebola  Suleiman; Zainab Moyosore  Ayanwale; Maryam Kikelomo  Tijani; Gbamigbola Nurudeen  Ajadi; Waliu Gbolahan  Igbayilola

doi:10.14419/wvvnq381

Authors

Qudus Bayonle Olayiwola Department of Public Health/Community Health Nursing, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4254-4161 (unauthenticated)
Toheeb Adetoyese Hassan Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, ‎Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5668-2944 (unauthenticated)
Ogooluwa Joshua Agboola Department of Public Health/Community Health Nursing, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9869-5631 (unauthenticated)
Mukhtar Abimbola Ibrahim Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3616-845X (unauthenticated)
Godwin Samuel Amoo Department of Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9089-5302 (unauthenticated)
Mubarak Ademola Egbinola Department of Public Health/Community Health Nursing, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1726-5863 (unauthenticated)
Hazanah Adebola Suleiman Department of Public Health/Community Health Nursing, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8275-1740 (unauthenticated)
Zainab Moyosore Ayanwale Department of Public Health/Community Health Nursing, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5120-762X (unauthenticated)
Maryam Kikelomo Tijani Fountain University, Osogbo, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2735-3773 (unauthenticated)
Gbamigbola Nurudeen Ajadi College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2482-9181 (unauthenticated)
Waliu Gbolahan Igbayilola Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, ‎Ogbomoso, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7411-1862 (unauthenticated)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14419/wvvnq381

Published

20-05-2026

Keywords:

Antimicrobial Resistance; Plasmid Persistence; Horizontal Gene Transfer; Human Microbiome; ‎Mobilome; Antibiotic Exposure

Abstract

Background: AMR remains a critical global health threat, yet pathogen-focused surveillance ‎underestimates the commensal human microbiome as a resistance gene reservoir. Evidence linking ‎plasmid persistence, stress-associated mobilization, and clinical relevance remains fragmented.‎

Objective: This scoping review synthesized evidence on plasmid persistence mechanisms, ‎antibiotic- and stressor-associated horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and clinical or translational ‎implications of microbiome-associated AMR.‎

Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, five databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web ‎of Science, Scopus, and Global Health) were searched for English-language studies published ‎between January 2010 and December 2025. From 1,200 records identified, 223 unique records ‎were screened after duplicate removal, and 35 met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted on ‎plasmid maintenance, mobilization pathways, clinical relevance, and translational approaches.‎

Results: Sixteen studies on plasmid persistence showed that maintenance may be supported by ‎host–plasmid co-adaptation, compensatory evolution, regulatory remodeling, epistatic interactions, ‎and stability systems. Eight studies on stressor-associated mobilization indicated that HGT may be ‎influenced by SOS responses, metabolic disruption, redox imbalance, antibiotic-specific regulatory ‎effects, and selection-driven genetic exchange. Eleven clinical or translational studies highlighted ‎underdetection of plasmid-mediated AMR transmission and early evidence for microbiome-based ‎and anti-plasmid strategies, including fecal microbiota transplantation, CRISPR-based targeting, ‎conjugation inhibition, and RecA-targeted approaches.‎

Conclusion: Plasmid-mediated AMR in the human microbiome is shaped by persistence dynamics, ‎stress-associated mobilization, and clinical selective pressures. Plasmid-resolved surveillance, ‎standardized HGT detection, longitudinal studies, and validated microbiome-informed ‎interventions are needed to strengthen AMR mitigation‎.

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How to Cite

Olayiwola, Q. B. ., Hassan, T. A. ., Agboola, O. J. ., Ibrahim, M. A. ., Amoo , G. S. ., Egbinola, M. A. ., Suleiman, H. A. ., Ayanwale, Z. M. ., Tijani, M. K. ., Ajadi, G. N. ., & Igbayilola, W. G. . (2026). Plasmid-Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance in The Human‎Microbiome: A Scoping Review of Horizontal GeneTransfer ‎During Antibiotic Exposure. International Journal of Biological Research, 13(1), 8-20. https://doi.org/10.14419/wvvnq381

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