Biomonitoring of Antimicrobial Resistance in UK Freshwater Ecosystems: An Integrated Microbiological and Genomic Approach
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Biosciences
Abstract
Successful treatment of bacterial infections is paramount in healthcare, veterinary medicine, animal husbandry and agriculture, yet extensive use of antibiotics is driving selection for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
While the AMR mechanisms are a natural phenomenon, spill-over from anthropogenic settings is believed to be leading to the accumulation and global spread of AMR. This can lead to further evolution of AMR strains through vertical transmission or horizontal gene transfer to previous non-AMR strains. This poses a severe threat when strains are mobilised back into healthcare, veterinary or agricultural settings.
Project aims and methods
This project will pursue an integrated microbiological and genomic biomonitoring approach, surveying UK freshwater environments for anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
First, we will conduct broad-target screening to compare the prevalence of live AMR cultures in freshly collected animal guts with that in sediments at the same location. Biomonitoring will be done at three trophic levels: benthic invertebrates, non-migratory fish, otters.
Second, obtained live AMR strains will be tested phenotypically and undergo whole-genome sequencing for phylogenetic and functional analysis. Thirdly, we will develop and apply high-throughput environmental screening approaches (based on the obtained knowledge of UK freshwater AMR strains), testing a larger sample of fresh environmental samples across the UK.
Finally, we will apply these screening methods to archived animal gut samples, exploring trends in freshwater AMR across time and space.
Sampling will focus on being able to determine the impact of AMR deriving from agriculture and animal husbandry, since the other main source for freshwater AMR, human wastewater, has already been studied previously at much greater detail. Specifically, we will investigate areas with runoff from high- and low-intensity livestock farming.
While the AMR mechanisms are a natural phenomenon, spill-over from anthropogenic settings is believed to be leading to the accumulation and global spread of AMR. This can lead to further evolution of AMR strains through vertical transmission or horizontal gene transfer to previous non-AMR strains. This poses a severe threat when strains are mobilised back into healthcare, veterinary or agricultural settings.
Project aims and methods
This project will pursue an integrated microbiological and genomic biomonitoring approach, surveying UK freshwater environments for anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
First, we will conduct broad-target screening to compare the prevalence of live AMR cultures in freshly collected animal guts with that in sediments at the same location. Biomonitoring will be done at three trophic levels: benthic invertebrates, non-migratory fish, otters.
Second, obtained live AMR strains will be tested phenotypically and undergo whole-genome sequencing for phylogenetic and functional analysis. Thirdly, we will develop and apply high-throughput environmental screening approaches (based on the obtained knowledge of UK freshwater AMR strains), testing a larger sample of fresh environmental samples across the UK.
Finally, we will apply these screening methods to archived animal gut samples, exploring trends in freshwater AMR across time and space.
Sampling will focus on being able to determine the impact of AMR deriving from agriculture and animal husbandry, since the other main source for freshwater AMR, human wastewater, has already been studied previously at much greater detail. Specifically, we will investigate areas with runoff from high- and low-intensity livestock farming.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Frank Hailer (Primary Supervisor) | |
| MARY BROWN (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/S01196X/1 | 01/10/2018 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 2109059 | Studentship | NE/S01196X/1 | 01/10/2018 | 26/11/2022 | MARY BROWN |
| NE/R011524/1 | 01/10/2018 | 30/04/2025 | |||
| 2109059 | Studentship | NE/R011524/1 | 01/10/2018 | 26/11/2022 | MARY BROWN |