Co-selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by exposure to rare earth elements: An unexpected consequence of sustainable mining practices?

Antibiotic resistance (AR) has become a severe global threat to human health. Both the evolution and transmission of resistance is driven by selection from antibiotics. However, even in the absence of antibiotics, co-selection of AR by several metals is possible.

Rare-earth elements (REE), which despite their name are not rare at all, are critical metals for the transition of Europe to a green and digital economy.

The global exploitation of REE, including mining in Sweden, is expected to increase environmental exposure to REE and subsequent risks for co-selection. The overarching aim of this project is to enable a sound assessment of risks for co-selection of AR by REE.

This research project therefore has the following specific objectives: 1) To investigate the ability of REE to affect growth of bacteria and generate exposure concentrations that are unlikely to co-select for antibiotic resistance, 2) to identify and characterise REE resistance mechanisms through functional metagenomics and determine cross-resistance, 3) to investigate genetic mechanisms that could enable REE to co-select for antibiotic resistance through co-resistance mechanisms, to predict mobility potential and host range of resistance genes to REE to assess risks for their transfer to clinically important bacterial pathogens.

Understanding the potential risks of AR development and spread through co-selection by REE is important to guide sustainable management of REE throughout their life cycle.