Co-selection of antibiotic resistance genes by environmental pollutants

Antibiotic resistance is a global crisis of public health facing humanity today. The environment has been recognized as the key element in mediating enrichment and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Current complicated pollution status has been the essential selection pressure for ARG enrichment and transfer, thus largely deteriorating ARG development in the environment. In this project, we will carry out systematic surveillance of ARG profile in key economic regions in China, including Greater Bay Area, Yangtze River Delta, etc. Through large scale metagenomic analysis, we will map the ARG profile across the regions, which will be correlated with social economic and environmental geographical parameters to decipher the contributing factors for ARG development. Based on the regional environmental surveillance, we will design microcosms to investigate the role of environmental pollutants (including antibiotic/non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals, metals,etc.) in long-term ARG co-selection. Metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics will be integrated to examine to what extent and in which way the environmental pollutants facilitating ARG selection and transmission, as well as regulating ARG expression. To further evaluate the risk of environmental pollutants in promoting ARG transmission, we will combine conjugation, transformation experiments and multi-omics to assess transfer frequency and disentangle the molecular mechanisms. Altogether, the project will form a comprehensive understanding of ARG co-selection driving by complicated pollution in the environment. It will be the basis for controlling ARG transmission in the environment and for reducing the risk of population ARG exposure.

Funding Source: Non-HK - Others^^