Mobilome-driven antimicrobial resistance in a one health context: evidence and lessons from Africa

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent global health threats and is increasingly recognized as a One Health challenge driven by interactions among human, animal, and environmental reservoirs. Central to the emergence and dissemination of AMR across these interfaces are mobile genetic elements (MGEs), which form an interconnected mobilome capable of transferring resistance genes across bacterial taxa and ecological niches. These elements facilitate the accumulation and spread of multidrug resistance determinants and are shaped by co-selective pressures operating at the animal–environment–human interface. Despite their critical role, genomic surveillance of MGEs remains limited, particularly in high-burden regions such as Africa. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from published genomic surveillance studies, primarily whole-genome sequencing–based analyses, to examine the distribution and dynamics of AMR genes and MGEs across One Health interfaces. We highlight animal–environmental systems as major hotspots for mobilome-driven resistance dissemination and also evaluate key advances, methodological approaches, and persistent surveillance challenges and gaps specific across Africa. By integrating findings from diverse genomic studies, and highlighting key lessons and implementation gaps from One Health studies across Africa, this review underscores the need for coordinated One Health surveillance strategies to better capture mobilome dynamics and inform sustainable AMR control efforts.