Mercury resistance transposons: multidrug resistance smugglers?
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Biosciences
Abstract
Mercury resistance transposons: multidrug resistance smugglers?
Organisations
| Description | Antimicrobial resistance is one of the key issues threatening human and animal health as well as directly impacting the food chain. It is now well known that antimicrobials and estrogenic compounds are being found in water systems around the world due to human use. However, less is known about the impact complex chemical compounds have on antimicrobial resistance within bacteria in these systems. By targeting mercury resistance transposons, capable of jumping between bacteria, such as Tn21 it allows identification of antimicrobial resistance genes which are being readily transferred and taken up by bacteria in the aquatic environment. Bacteria carrying Tn21 are disseminated into the environment when waste water is released from a waste water plant. |
| Exploitation Route | . By having this snapshot of antibiotic resistance genes transferred into Tn21 we are able to see what resistances are being spread from waste water into the wider environment. At present in the UK there is no legislation on removal of bacteria from wastewater before it is re-released to the environment. Gaining an understanding on the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance from humans in sewage waste water could help inform policy making on wastewater treatment. |
| Sectors | Environment |