One Health and Distribution of AMR related plasmids

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global public health threat. In 2019, the deaths of 1.27 million people worldwide were directly attributable to bacterial antimicrobial resistance. Horizontal gene transfer of plasmids is the main cause of the wide spread dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Plasmids carrying resistance genes can spread via conjugation between environmental, animal and human ecosystems. Therefore a One Health approach is important to tackle the antimicrobial resistance crisis as it recognizes that the health of humans, animals and the environment are interconnected.

Fluoroquinolone and polymyxins (in particular colistin) are important antibiotic classes in human and animal health. Resistance genes to both antibiotics are found on plasmids. Understanding their molecular epidemiology is important to implement effective control strategies. 

I will determine the molecular epidemiology of fluoroquinolone resistance in broilers and colistin resistance in the One Health continuum by applying hybrid sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Conjugation is a major driver of the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance, however there is a poor understanding on the affect the gut microbiome has on conjugation rate. Using the results from the molecular epidemiological studies I will select plasmid types and resistance genes variants commonly found in the chicken cecum. I will use an in vitro system that mimics the microbiome of the gut to investigate the rate of conjugation of these plasmids within a complex community.