"Determination of antimicrobial resistance development from stressed environmental conditions."
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is increasing in nature and threatens the effectiveness of our drug therapies and infection control. However, it remains difficult to distinguish what originates from human activities or what is natural. Therefore, we must extend the scale and depth of monitoring efforts to better understand what is driving the increases in resistance traits.
This project will use cored sediments soils to compare and contrast distributions of AR genes under widely varying pollution conditions. The project will utilise DNA extractions and genetic technology to quantify AR genes in the samples. Sampled layers from cores will be characterised for geochemical character and soil-like properties.
The project will relate specific environmental conditions and factors with observed AR genes levels in cores to identify risk factors associated resistance development and impacts on human and agricultural health.
This project will use cored sediments soils to compare and contrast distributions of AR genes under widely varying pollution conditions. The project will utilise DNA extractions and genetic technology to quantify AR genes in the samples. Sampled layers from cores will be characterised for geochemical character and soil-like properties.
The project will relate specific environmental conditions and factors with observed AR genes levels in cores to identify risk factors associated resistance development and impacts on human and agricultural health.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Charles Knapp (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Rebecca Tonner (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509760/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1904058 | Studentship | EP/N509760/1 | 01/03/2017 | 30/11/2020 | Rebecca Tonner |
| Description | It was shown through this study that gram-negative bacteria isolated from regions of high pollution in the River Clyde, UK are significantly higher in levels of tolerance and resistance to PTEs and antibiotics, respectively. This may reflect pollution legacy as a causative agent for antibiotic resistance spread in potentially pathogenic gram negative pathogenic bacteria. 16S of the bacteria present in the the Clyde River sites also highlights levels of pollution in each of the sites is contributable to shifts in population dynamics.This can be detrimental to public health and aquaculture at the sites chosen. |
| Exploitation Route | Heavy metal contaminants from industrial pollutants can accumulate to critical conditions and lead to the development of antibiotic resistance in resident microorganisms. Resistance mechanisms induced by pollutants from anthropogenic sources must be examined in order to fully access the likelihood that these contaminants have for selecting for multi-drug resistant human pathogens. In order to fully understand and accurately account for the risk of dissemination of resistance in multiple different sampling sites with different pollution values must be taken and high-throughput analysis such as metagenomic analysis has to be conducted for the resident microorganisms. |
| Sectors | Environment,Healthcare |