Pesticide-driven microbial resistance: Ecological impact and mitigation strategies against the development of multiple drug resistance due to pesticide exposure.

The persistent use of agricultural pesticides is increasingly recognized as an important driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) in environmental microorganisms. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying pesticide-induced MDR, its ecological and evolutionary consequences, advances in resistance surveillance, and emerging mitigation strategies. Chronic pesticide exposure promotes MDR through interconnected genetic mechanisms (mutations and horizontal gene transfer), biochemical mechanisms (detoxification enzymes), physiological adaptations (stress responses and biofilm-associated tolerance), and molecular regulatory processes (efflux pump activation and altered gene expression), resulting in cross-resistance to clinically relevant antimicrobial agents. These mechanisms alter microbial community structure, facilitate the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes, and impair essential ecosystem functions. Recent advances in PCR, whole-genome sequencing, metagenomics, and other omics technologies have improved resistance detection, although important knowledge gaps remain regarding the long-term effects of sub-lethal pesticide exposure and resistance dynamics in environmental microbiomes. By integrating mechanistic, ecological, evolutionary, and surveillance perspectives within a One Health framework, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis of pesticide-induced MDR and identifies key research priorities for developing sustainable resistance mitigation strategies.