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Antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes, associated with urban agriculture in Low and Middle Income Countries: Ecological and medical perspectives

Objective

About 20 million hectares of arable lands are irrigated with wastewaters in the world and almost
nothing is known about the presence, evolution and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic
resistance genes in these fields, and their possible transmission to humans and animals via the food chain. The
proposed project will address that scientific question by using analytical chemistry, flow cytometry, molecular
biology, metagenomic approaches, and computational biology, in order to characterise antibiotic resistant bacterial
community structures and antibiotic resistance genes in untreated wastewaters and the corresponding irrigated
agricultural sites compared to control sites in low and middle income countries, as well as the influence of abiotic
factors. The new scientific data arising from this project will help to determine the factors that drive resistance and
can be minimized by developing strategies to prevent further spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic
resistance genes worldwide. The fellow, with a strong background in Microbial ecology and Biochemistry, will
conduct this project under the supervision of Prof Piddock, a medical microbiologist and expert in antibiotic
resistance, at the University of Birmingham.

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Net EU contribution
€ 195 454,80
Address
Edgbaston
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom

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Region
West Midlands (England) West Midlands Birmingham
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 195 454,80