International research team led by scientist from Freie Universität Berlin proposes that elevated levels of antibiotic resistance genes be considered a new factor of global change.

Human-caused global change is a complex phenomenon comprising many factors such as climate change, environmental contamination with chemicals, microplastics, light pollution, and invasive plants. One of the main tasks of global change biology is to investigate the effects of these factors, as well as to identify potential new ones. The Rillig Lab at Freie Universität Berlin, led by biology professor Matthias Rillig, has been investigating factors of global change such as microplastics. In a new study, titled “Elevated Levels of Antibiotic Resistance Genes as a Factor of Human-Caused Global Environmental Change” and published in the scientific journal Global Change Biology, Rillig and his colleagues propose recognizing increased levels of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment as a new, standalone factor of global change.