Investigating the Multi-scale Dynamics and Drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance in One Health Systems of China and the UK

The proposed research addresses the urgent public health crisis of bacterial pathogens that are resistant to treatment with antibiotics.

Currently, it is not well understood if and how bacteria and their resistance genes spread between humans, animals, and the environment.

Using a well-structured sampling framework we will compare the diversity of bacteria and their resistance patterns in Scotland (UK) and Chongming Island (China) to identify the drivers that shape the observed distributions.

By analysing their DNA sequences and tracing their evolutionary history, we can learn more about how they move between people, animals, and the environment.

This knowledge will help us refine our understanding of how infections and antibiotic resistance spread.Our project also aims to develop new ways to estimate the risk of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. By using advanced mathematical models, we can identify the sources and transmission routes.

These scientific findings will provide insights that are relevant to policymakers.

By understanding how antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread, we can develop better policies and interventions to limit the spread of infections and reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance.