PROBING ANTIBIOTIC RESIDUES AND RESISTANC E TRANSFER IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS (PARRTAE)

The project aims to determine pathogens and microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in groundwater, surface water, wastewater, marine water environments in the North Sea and the Atlantic including ports, and aquaculture.

Samples will be collected from sites with high and low load of antibiotic residues Culture-based and sequencing-based methods will be used to identify ARG plasmids in water microbiota with specific emphasis on putative resistant bacteria and/or pathogens.

Transfer of ARG plasmids will be analyzed using the common indicator bacteria E. coli, as well as Vibrio, and Shewanellaas recipients for marine waters. LC -MC will determine levels of different antibiotics and correlated to ARGs detected.

We hypothesize that local water microbiota, presence of antibiotics, and the genetics of bacterial recipients will affect the type of ARG plasmids transferred.

Effects on bacteria by the acquired plasmids will be analyzed in experimental lab systems, influence on fitness and virulence will be addressed by host interactions in a shrimp (Artemia) model and in vitro.

The project will determine common ARG plasmids in Europe and define their inherent properties and putative fitness advantage to recipients as a fundament to prevent their dissemination.