Descripción del proyecto
Un análisis más profundo de los bacteriófagos y la resistencia a los antibióticos
La resistencia a los antibióticos puede surgir de fuentes medioambientales, como el suelo, el agua y los alimentos. Son lugares donde las bacterias se exponen a antibióticos o agentes antimicrobianos. En el proyecto PHASTER, que cuenta con el apoyo de las acciones Marie Skłodowska Curie, se explorará la presencia, diversidad y abundancia de bacteriófagos en el medio ambiente para comprender los mecanismos y factores que fomentan la resistencia a los antibióticos. Esta labor llega a tiempo, dado que estudios recientes sugieren que la resistencia a los antibióticos observada en entornos clínicos puede surgir de fuentes ambientales. En concreto, el equipo de PHASTER investigará las fuentes de los genes de resistencia a los antibióticos, su distribución ambiental y cómo afectan los aportes antropogénicos a su propagación. Se emplearán métodos metagenómicos y bioinformáticos y se realizarán experimentos en mesocosmos. Los hallazgos del proyecto servirán de base para las estrategias de salud pública.
Objetivo
Although antibiotic resistance is a major and growing public health concern, surveillance for the expansion of this phenomenon in environmental settings has not been fully explored. However, recent studies suggest that antibiotic resistance found in clinical settings may emerge from environmental sources. In fact, the environment is continually exposed to a wide variety of antimicrobials and their metabolites through wastewater treatment plant discharges, agricultural runoff, and animal feeding operations, which may contribute to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. It is therefore necessary to understand the mechanisms and factors that promote antibiotic resistance. The PHASTER project aims at exploring the presence, diversity, and abundance of bacteriophages in the environment. Particular points of interest will be the study of bacteriophages that lead to the mobilization of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their interaction with antibiotic compounds, even at extremely low concentrations, similar to those found in some aquatic environments. Mesocosm experiments will also be conducted to examine how bacterial communities respond to the presence of bacteriophages harbouring ARGs under stressful conditions, such as exposure to antibiotics. In order to reach these goals, a combination of metagenomics and bioinformatics approaches will be used to investigate the sources of ARGs, their environmental distribution and how anthropogenic inputs affect their spread. A better understanding of the mechanisms and factors that contribute to antibiotic resistance will permit the implementation of appropriate public health strategies, policies, and mitigation programs. Special attention will also be devoted to dissemination so that stakeholders and policy makers can benefit from PHASTER.
Ámbito científico
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic health
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance
- agricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedomestic animalsanimal husbandryanimal feed
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-PF - MSCA-PFCoordinador
17003 Girona
España