Part II of past periods’ reports are to be found here.
II.A. Innovative networking
During the last meetings the Action members realised that for antibiotics and particularly for antibiotic resistance genes a new approach of risk assessment is needed. The traditional risk assessment as usually employed by ecotoxicologists for pharmaceuticals or toxic chemicals cannot be applied. This is mainly due to the fact that antibiotics within the environment do not have primarily a lethal effect, they rather act as a katalysator for gene transfer and the evolution and rearrangement of resistance genes within the environment.
Traditionally, risk assessment is the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a specific situation and a recognized threat. In regard to the topic of antibiotics, mainly two systems are targeted: Threats towards humans and towards environmental compartments. In Environmental risk assessment (ERA) the “environment” is accessed, nevertheless both systems are interlinked by vectors (eg. bacteria) acting as a bridge between the two of them. Basically Environmental (or Ecological) risk assessment (ERA) is “the practice of determining the nature and likelihood of the effects of human actions on animals, plants, and the environment” (Jones et al., 2004).
The Action formulated suggestions for a first draft for discussing an adapted ERA for Antibiotic resistances.
In Fig. 1 the traditional ERA approach in the left side is used as a base to develop an extended base for ERA of Antibiotics including genetic aspects of Antibiotic resistance on the right side of the figure. According to the general RA approach, the scheme implements classes of potential management measures. The scheme presented and described as follows has the intention to
act as a first suggestion for further discussion. The central motivation of the Action was to formulate an ERA, also in order to raise awareness among ecotoxicologists to consider additional aspects for Antibiotic ERA.
Fig. 1: Illustration of the traditional ERA approach compared to a first proposal for discussing a new approach. Abbreviations and number see text
Traditional AB - ERA
The axis represents the concentration of antibiotics [AB]. Following ecotoxicological standards, a NOEC is derived from ecotoxicological data. Linked with the MEC and/or PEC (indicated as a span of M/PEC in Fig. 1) a risk ratio is calculated that can be larger or smaller then 1.
The zero value “0” is put under parentheses, as [AB] relies on chemical analysis and for each substance and matrix analysed, a limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) has to be specified that always is larger than “0”.
Suggested extension for AB - ERA
The suggested adaptation extends the traditional ERA with an additional axis representing the topic of antibiotic resistance. The unit of that axis has to be discussed and agreed on among WGs in the action. Definitely it has to be based on some multi-criteria analysis (MCA) - most probable on genetic level. Numbers of resistance genes, amount of resistance genes per total genes or other suitable parameters are brought up as relevant aspects.
As discussed above, the traditional NOEC that usually is based on the effect (E) on growth (e.g. LC50) is considered to be directly linked to the MIC (arrow towards new system), whereas in the proposed approach net effects as AB-resistance formation and transfer are implemented. Triggering concentration and probabilities for those processes are requested as the base of a new NOEC assessment.
The new second dimension targets the molecular topics as genepool, resistance genes, transfer mechanisms and others. As antibiotics basically are naturally occurring substances, the idea is to link the new approach up with the idea of the EU-Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD). There “natural” conditions and background concentrations for naturally occurring substances (e.g. nutrients, carbon, heavy metals, …) are reflecting a high ecological status. The “good” ecological status is defined by an accepted deviation from that natural status. Orientating on that approach, a tolerated ABR potential could be defined as an environmental goal. The natural background could be assessed at water bodies that were identified as type specific reference conditions within the implementation phase of the EU-WFD. The tolerated situation has to be linked to clinical-medical prerequirements as well as ecological considerations.
Of course the 4 ERA steps mentioned above have to be considered and implemented in that concept. When thinking about ERA concepts, potential management measures that would be suitable to reach the defined goals already should be considered. That addresses the aspect of “cost effective” measures stated in the EU-WFD for priority substances linked to the chemical status of water bodies. In Fig. 1 first considerations on management measures based on the criteria defined by the ERA as well as the observed status are done. Colours are linked to the estimation of how “easy” measures would be possible, or whether they are necessary at all.
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Tangible medium term socio-economic impacts achieved or expected. (Specific examples)
See Annex 2
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Spin off of new National Programme proposals/projects. (List)
See Annex 2
II.B. Inter-disciplinary networking
The past meetings have demonstrated that especially the discussion between environmental scientists, ecotoxicologists, engineers and medical scientists as well as veterinary scientists have been very fruitful. Especially different approaches to asses the dangers and potential impacts of antibiotic resistance genes have been discussed and an effort has been undertaken to synthesise these different approaches such that a synergistic assessment could be achieved.
The effects of antibiotics in the environment (natural or man-made) are important for several groups which are involved in water quality.
- stakeholders, who are responsible for the quality of the reclaimed wastewater discharged in the environment as well as of the drinking water quality;
- process engineers, who would like to know how the process (by its design or in terms of operation conditions) can affect the behaviour of resistant bacteria (population increase, resistance gene transfer) and how antibiotics can affect the process (for example by a loss of efficiency). This issue has some overlap with the interests of the stakeholder.
- scientists, who would like to understand the evolutionary and ecological processes related to antibiotics occurring in specific bacteria (human or animal pathogens, bacteria implied in wastewater treatment systems).
In order to understand the effects of antibiotics on the environment all groups need to obtain an understanding of the following factors, which are affected by the presence of antibiotics.
- Diversity species, active/inactive, genes or families of genes
- Toxicity bacteria, protozoa, with respect to classical species such as Daphnia magna, Vibrio fisheri, phytotoxicity for reclaimed water reuse
- Physiology sub-inhibitory concentration could stimulate some behaviour such as EPS production; SOS response
- Mutagenicity all what is included in the plasticity of the genome. Many micro-pollutants, often occurring in wastewater, can promote mutations related with antimicrobial resistance. Also sub-inhibitory antibiotic concentration can induce mutations (quinolones).
- Resistance abundance of resistance genes within the environment as well as within the genomes of pathogens as well as within environmental bacteria.
For each of these factors the Action has determined adequate methods to assess the abundance or intensity of these different factors. However, this discussion is still ongoing. Especially for the assessment of antibiotic resistance detailed procedures have been discussed. Particularly culture dependent and culture independent methods have been described. Concerning culture dependent or phenotypic dependent methods the determination of minimal inhibitory concentration has been identified as the best method to evaluate antibiotic resistance in environmental isolates. This methodology provides quantification of the resistance and the results obtained are affected by smaller fluctuation than other methods. Furthermore, it would be suitable for the comparison of data from different laboratories and in creating data-bases for environmental sources bacteria. Culture media, inocula charge and conditions of the test should be the same than those suggested for clinical experiment.
II.C. New networking
Currently there are 84 members involved in the Action. This is a significant increase in comparison to last year, were only 58 members took part, this demonstrates the high interest in the Action. Furthermore ten PhD students and eight early stage researchers are a relevant part of the COST Action Dare. Most of them are interested to conduct a STSM. However, since June 2010 only two STSM were implemented. Consequently the MC has implemented an STSM Coordinator who will promote STSM and assist the applicants. In addition all PhD students are involved in preparing Working Group Meetings together with the Working Group Leaders, this has already been realized for the last two Action group meetings. Almost 32% out of 84 from 17 countries are females. The vice chair is a female and two of the working group leaders are females as well.
Since the last report more than 50 new manuscripts, all in international journals, have been published. Furthermore the editor of the journal Frontiers in Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy could be convinced to publish a special issue all with contributions of the Action. Please refer to the ANNEX after the chapter publications. Members of the Action have formulated a joint proposal for a ESF project, which unfortunately was not funded, but shortlisted, one of the arguments against the funding was the existence of the current COST Action. Furthermore, the Action as a group has been successful in placing a contributing talk at the next meeting of the European Journal of Evolutionary Biology ESEB.
A strong link to the EU project “Pharmaceutical Input and Elimination from Local Sources (PILLS) has been established. Dr. Thomas Schwartz (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany), Christa McArdell (EAWAG, Switzerland), and Dr. Christof Dargot (University of Limoges, Frances) are members of the Scientific Board or principal investigators, respectively and have now actively joined the Action.
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Activities and projects with COST network colleagues.
See Annex 2
II.D. Self evaluation
The Action has made great progress in synthesising the different approaches of the different disciplines and is on a good way to harmonize future assessments on the risks of antibiotics and on the evolution of antibiotic resistances in the environment. Due to the diversity of the different approaches STMS to compare and develop best practices have not been conducted to a satisfying degree. However, to improve this the Action has now named a STSMs coordinator who will organize the STSMs in a more efficient way and will also monitor more closely the interests for STMS especially of phD students and early stage researchers. Furthermore, to facilitate these STMS the Action will soon establish a databank on the expertise, equipment and currently performed methods of the different laboratories of the members of the Action. Furthermore, a training school on the analysis of ARgenes within metagenomes in will take place at the Center for Integrative Bioinformatics (CIBIV) in Vienna for which much interest has been formulated. Finally, the webpage will be used as a common databank in order to facilitate the comparison and exchange of protocols, literature and gene information. This webpage has already been developed, but is currently finalized and some improvements are still necessary before the upload of this new webpage will take place within the next months.
In summary the Action has realized some deficits, but identified measures to improve these and will use the current funding improvement for this purpose. Already during the last MC meeting it has been agreed that this money should be used to improve the STMS and webpage as well as conducting a training school at the CIBIV. Finally, the Action has made a large step forward in developing a conceptually very strong new risk assessment for antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes and will improve this in order to present this to the scientific community and the stakeholders next year. Currently it is planned that this meeting will be integrated into the next international meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in Berlin.
ANNEX 2
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Tangible medium term socio-economic impacts achieved or expected. (Specific examples)
- The risk assessment model of the Action combined with the mapping of major source of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in the environment can have very beneficial socio-economic impacts- therefore it will be developed more in order to make it more accessible for more stakeholers or policy makers.
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Identification of the most important bacteria and resistance types to be monitored in the environment (e.g. coliforms, enterococci, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and penicillins, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones ).
- Compilation of different methodologies to monitor antibiotic resistance and horizontal gene transfer (cultivation methods, quantitative PCR, horizontal gene transfer markers, etc) – usefulness, bias and limitations;
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Overview of the occurrence of antibiotic residues in wastewaters in different world regions – methodological bias, implications, mitigation and control measures; Overview of advanced processes available and efficient on the removal of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant bacteria from wastewaters;
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Statement about the inadequacy of the Environmental Risk Assessment guidelines to assess the impacts of the environmental contamination with antibiotics and the consequent emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance;
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The publication of Czekalski et al. (2012) and subsequent press coverage led to a considerable increase of public awareness and interest of various stakeholders in the problem of release of antibiotic resistant bacteria into the environment in Switzerland. As a result several follow up-projects headed by COST member H. Bürgmann have been initiated (see new National Programme projects) to study techniques for the elimination of resistance from wastewater and the prevalence of resistance factors in drinking water systems. A new research programme was initiated to study the variability of resistances released from WWTP with different design and receiving different wastewater sources in Switzerland. In Switzerland major investments are being made for the renovation of WWTPs and upgrading of WWTPs for micropollutant removal, and results will directly inform decisions makers with regards to the effectiveness of the available technologies for the removal of resistance factors. A motion was put forth in the Swiss parliament to evaluate the need for additional treatment of hospital wastewater (Nationalrat P.A. Fidez, 6.6.2012).
- Marie Noel-Pons (France) is participating to a national survey for the French ministery of agriculture and the French ministery of environment on fertilizing matter from residues (sludge, compost, ash, ...). Antibiotic resistance is of course on the topic list.
- Antibiotic resistance genes in aquaculture environment in Asia and Europe. A join project between Prof. Marko Virta (University of Helsinki, Finland) and Prof. Satoru Suzuki (Ehime University, Japan)
- Understanding the mechanisms that modulate the selection and spreading of antibiotic resistance determinants in natural ecosystems is an important topic to understand in depth the population dynamics of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. The work undertaken by the ‘Departamento de Biotecnologia Microbiana - Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia’ in Madrid-Spain, concerns the regulation of the expression of multidrug efflux pumps by biocides and by plants' exudates. These studies will provide information on the actual function of resistance determinants in the natural ecosystems and what constitute the forces that modulate antibiotic resistance in natural ecosystems. (Prof. Jose L. Martinez).
- The tangible medium-term socio-economic impacts achieved already include the international (Sweden-India) cooperative project and collaboration on the study of the impacts of contamination of river systems by waste-treatment facilities. This work is ongoing.
Collaboration title: “Microbial diversity and development of antibiotic resistance associated with industrial wastewater treatment”
Collaboration partners:
Swedish partners: E. Moore, J. Larsson, E, Kristiansson; Univ. Gothenburg
Indian partner: Dr. Yogesh Shouche, National Centre for Cell Science at the Pune University, India
Expected tangible medium-term socio-economic impacts include the increased awareness of the impacts on village communities of antibiotic waste allowed into the environment.
- The tangible medium-term socio-economic impacts achieved already include the international (Sweden-Bulgaria) collaboration on the study of the development of antibiotic resistance in clinical environments in Bulgaria. This work is ongoing.
Collaboration title: “Antibiotic resistance in bacterial strains associated with nosocomial infections in a university hospital in Bulgaria”
Collaboration partners:
Swedish partners: E. Moore, L. Svensson, Univ. Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska Hospital
Bulgarian partner: Dr. Sashka Mihaylova, Univ. of Medicine, Pleven, Bulgaria
- The tangible medium-term socio-economic impacts achieved already include the international (Sweden-Romania) collaboration on the study of the development of antibiotic resistance in clinical environments in Bulgaria. This work is ongoing.
Collaboration title: “Antibiotic resistance in bacterial strains associated with urinary tract infections in a university hospital in Romania”
Collaboration partners:
Swedish partners: E. Moore, L. Svensson, Univ. Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska Hospital
Romanian partner: Dr. Mirella Petrascu, Univ. of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- The tangible medium-term socio-economic impacts achieved already include the international (German-Ukraine) collaboration on the study of the spread of antibiotic resistance within the Bug river. This work is ongoing.
Collaboration title: “Antibiotic resistance in bacterial strains associated with prevalence of heavy metals in a anthropogenic influenced natural river system.”
Collaboration partners:
German partners: Thomas U. Berendonk, Institute for Hydrobiology, TU-Dresden
Ukrain partner: Dr. Oksana Manturova, Kiew, Academy of Science
The tangible medium-term socio-economic impacts achieved already include the project where the sources of antibiotic resistance in aquaculture have been identified and the prevailing farming practices are revised according to the results (Prof. Marko Virta, Univ. Helsinki).
• Spin off of new EC RTD Framework Programme proposals/projects. (List)
- Evolution an transfer of antibiotic resistance Source: FPVII. European Union Duration: October 2011-October 2015
- Relevant ongoing projects carried out by the Departamento de Biotecnologia Microbiana –
Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia in Madrid-Spain, (Prof. Jose L. Martinez).
- Predicting antibiotic resistance (FP VII). March 2010-March 2013.
- Confronting the clinical relevance of biocide induced antibiotic resistance. (FP VII). December
2009-December 2012.
- “Antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from different environments as a consequence of medical/veterinary use of selected antibiotics” This work is supported by grant from Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland (2010-2013), international grant project, not co-financed, number: 741/N-COST/2010/0
- Proposal to the Nordic minister council 2012 (NMDD): European ESBL-Animal Reservoir Network (EARN) Emerging antimicrobial resistance in the poultry production – introduction and persistence in Nordic countries
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Spin off of new National Programme proposals/projects. (List)
- Israeli Ministry of the environment- Impact of municipal biosolid amendment on antibiotic resistance in soil
- Swiss government: Sustainable Use of Soil as a Resource NFP68
- A national Norwegian project Emerging antimicrobial resistance in the food chain: Epidemiology and preventive measures against ESBL producing E. coli (Knowledge-building project for the business sector - MATFONDAVTALE)
- Physiological integration of antibiotic resistance and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Source: Spanish Ministery of Research and Innovation Duration: 2012-2014 PI: José Luis Martínez
- New Project funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Environment (BAFU): Behavior of antibiotics resistance during the oxidative treatment of wastewater. Collaboration of COST member Dr. H. Bürgmann and Dr. N. Czekalski (Eawag, Switzerland), with Prof. U. von Gunten and Dr. F. Hammes (Eawag, Switzerland). Started April 2013.
- New Project funded by the City of Lausanne, Service d’Assainissement. Temporal variability in the elimination of antibiotics resistance by ultrafiltration. Supervised by Dr. H. Bürgmann (Eawag, Switzerland). Started March 2013.
- New Project funded by the City of Lausanne, Eauservice. Distribution and elimination of antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria in a drinking water facility of Lausanne (St. Sulpice), Switzerland. Dr. H. Bürgmann (PI), Dr. F. Hammes, Dr. N. Czekalski (Eawag, Switzerland). Started April 2013
- New Project funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Environment (BAFU): Evaluation and optimization of a method for the assessment of antibiotics resistance in aquatic systems. Started November 2011.
- 2011: Marko Virta, Pentti Huovinen et al.: Plan of intent for AKVA research programme of the Academy of Finland: Should we purify our wastewaters? -presence and effects of pharmaceutical micropollutants in water environment; not funded
- ARISKA - Antibiotic resistance in the Antuã River: assessing risks to public health (Financed by Observatoire Hommes-Millieux, Portugal)
Single cell genomics and transcriptomics. A grant from University Helsinki to Prof. Marko Virta to start single cell sorting anf genomics pipeline in University of Helsinki.
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“Dynamics of antimicrobial resistance between the hospital and the environment” (PTDC/AAC-AMB/113840/2009). Funded by FCT (Portugal). Participating institutions: ESB-UCP, LEPAE-FEUP, Pro-INSA. Project leader. March 2011-.
“Elimination of micropollutants with antimicrobial activity” (PTDC/AAC-AMB/113091/2009). Funded by FCT (Portugal). Participating institutions: ESB-UCP, LEPAE-FEUP, FFUP, F-FCT-UNL. Team member. April 2011-.
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Estonian Science Council program "Developing medical research in Estonia", sub-program "Risks in environmental health" , 2012 - 2015.
Project "Transfer routes of antibiotic resistance", PI: prof Tanel Tenson, Partners: University of Tartu and Estonian University of Life Sciences.
- Applied project for the city of Lausanne: Elimination of antibiotic resistant bacteria in a membrane filtration pilot plant. Bürgmann. H., since April 2012 (ongoing).
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ANTI-Resist part project of the German funding BMBF investigating the Resistance in sewer systems.(Thomas Berendonk)
- Submission of a proposal at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, State Committee for Scientific Research, in Poland in cooperation with the Research Institute of Poland and University of Warsaw (Dr. M. Popowska, University of Warsaw).
- An exchange project between Prof. Hans-Peter Grossart from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Biology and Inland Fisheries Alte with Dr. Madhab K. Chattopadhyay from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB, CSIR) Hyderabad 500 007, India. The project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and deals with the characterization of the bacterial isolates from lakes of the Mecklenburg Lake District for Antibiotics Resistance in combination with Heavy Metal Resistance. The work is planned to continue in the frame of a bilateral project between India and Germany.
- A project proposal has been submitted to the Estonian Science Foundation, under the title ‘Transfer of antibiotic resistance between pathogens and environmental Pseudomonas species’, 2011-2014, by Dr. Veljo Kisand, University of Tartu, as the principal investigator.
- Ongoing project: Effect of antibiotic treatment of Aeromonas hydrophila infection in zebra fish on regulation of genes involved in bacterial antibiotic resistance transfer compared to in vitro experiments.
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science,
Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology,
Section for Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Oslo, Norway (Dr. Hasan Cantas).
- Ongoing project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation under the title: Microbial resistance, ecotoxicological impact, and risk assessment of micropollutants in a mid-sized lake, with Dr. H. Bürgmann as the principal investigator.
- A new PhD student has started at University of Helsinki to carry out his PhD on mobile DNA elements in wastewater treatment plants in Finland under the supervision of Prof. Marko Virta.
- Dynamics of antimicrobial resistance between the hospital and the environment
Submitted for financing to the Portuguese National Science Foundation;
Proposer: Escola Superior de Biotecnologia Universidade Católica Portuguesa (ESB-UCP)
(Principal Investigator: Prof. Célia Manaia)
- Avaliação do risco de disseminação da resistência aos antibióticos no ambiente
associada à actividade hospitalar
Submitted for financing to the Portuguese National Science Foundation;
Proposer: National Institute of Health (Dr. Ricardo Jorge)
PR at ESB-UCP Prof. Célia Manaia (partner)
- Elimination of micropollutants with antimicrobial activity
Submitted for financing to the Portuguese National Science Foundation;
Proponent: Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto
PR at ESB-UCP Prof. Célia Manaia (partner)
- The Swedish DARE participants (E. Moore, J. Larsson) have extended their on-going project, funded from the Swedish International Development Agency, for collaborative work between the University of Gothenburg and the National Centre for Cell Science at the Pune University, India.
- The Swedish DARE participants (J. Larsson, E. Kristiansson, E. Moore) have submitted 3 new proposals to national funding programmes, as “spin-offs” of the main theme:
i) Project proposal: “Antibiotic resistance in the external environment – the role of antibiotic pollution in the selection of resistance and subsequent gene transfer to the human microbiome”. Submitted 20100408 to the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrädet).
ii) Project proposal: “Characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial communities using next generation sequencing technology”. Submitted 20100413 to the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet).
iii) Project proposal: “Does a high level of antibiotic pollution increase risks for mobilization of resistance genes from the environment to the human microflora - exploratory studies including deep sequencing”. Submitted 20100527 to the FORMAS Grants for Research and Development Projects.
- A project proposal has been submitted to Italian Ministry of University and Research, under the title “Photolytic degradation of antibiotics and solar disinfection of antibiotic resistant bacteria in surface waters.” by Prof. Luigi Rizzo, University of Salerno, as the principal investigator.
- A project proposal has been submitted to University of Salerno, under the title “Effect of solar photolysis in surface water on antibiotics degradation, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and their capacity to transfer resistance” by Prof. Luigi Rizzo, University of Salerno, as the principal investigator.
Project supported by Research Council of Lithuania “Molecular epidemiology of antibiotic resistant Acinetobacter spp. in Lithuanian hospitals”, 2010-2011 (Prof. Edita Suziedeliene, principal investigator).
- A project proposal has been submitted to German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), under the title: “Characterization, communication, and limitation of risks by novel pollutants and pathogens in the aquatic cycle”. Dr. Thomas Schwartz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – Northern Campus (Germany), is the principal investigator of the investigations of pathogens and antibiotic resistances during wastewater treatment and drinking water conditioning.
- A project proposal has been submitted to German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under The title “Control, Manipulation, and Simulation of Biofilm Structures and Dynamics of Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens”. Dr. Thomas Schwartz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – Northern Campus (Germany), as the principal investigator.
- Proposal to the Norwegian Research Council: Emerging antibacterial resistance in the food chain: Epidemiology and preventive measures against resistant E. coli
Activities and projects with COST network colleagues.
- Joint study with COST member prof Marko Virta on abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in WWTPs (waste water treatment plants). Manuscript "Abundance of 7 antibiotic resistance genes in waste-water treatment plants (WWTP) in Estonia and Finland" by Antti Karkman, Mailis Laht, Veiko Voolaid, Tanel Tenson, Marko Virta, Veljo Kisand in progress.
- Effect of heterogeneous photocatalytic disinfection on antibiotic resistan bacteria genotoxicity, activiy in collaboration with Christophe Merlin; Inactivation of antibiotic resistant enterococcus in urban wastewater by heterogeneous photocatalytic disinfection, activity in collaboration with Célia Manaia
- Mette Theilgaard Christensen had a short stay at Cambridge in the Laboratory of Prof Mark Holmes, The results and reporting of her stay has been sent by her to COST Action previously.
- Short Term Scientific Mission (Cooperation with Celia Manaia, Univercity of Porto Carlos André Narciso da Rocha (narcisodarocha@hotmail.com)
- Short Term Scientific Mission (Cooperation with Despo, Cyprus) Popi Karaolia (NIREAS-International Water Research Center, School of Engineering, University of Cyprus)
- H. Bürgmann and N. Czekalski received support from COST members F. Walsh and L. Poirel for the establishment of resistance gene quantification methods.
- A number of COST colleagues collaborated on producing a multidisciplinary review paper recently published in Frontiers of Microbiology (Cantas et al. 2013).
- Nachweis und Quantifizierung von Antibiotikaresistengenen in Umweltproben (Detection and quantification of antibiotics resistance genes in environmental samples). Bachelor thesis by Nina Bucher (ETHZ, Switzerland) supervised by N. Czekalski and H. Bürgmann, Switzerland.
- Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in fresh water ecosystems in Switzerland. MSc thesis of R. Sigedel, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, Netherlands, supervised by N. Czekalski and H. Bürgmann, Switzerland.
- COST member N. Czekalski submitted her Ph.D. thesis and received her doctoral degree from EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland for her work entitled “Sources, spreading and fate of antibiotic resistance genes and resistant bacteria in Vidy bay, Lake Geneva, Switzerland”, supervised by H. Bürgmann, and T. Kohn. March 2013.
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A member from the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Berendonk is scheduled to visit the laboratory of Prof. Jose L. Martinez to establish new collaboration.
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The Department of Natural Sciences,
School of Health and Social Sciences
of the Middlesex University (Prof. Hemda Garelick and Prof. Huw Jones) has established a PhD scholarship to investigate issues related to the activities/objectives of the DARE project. In particular, the aims of the program are:
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to investigate the presence of selected APIs (active pharmaceutical Ingredients) and metabolites in environmental media sampled from southeast England. The focus will be on recalcitrant APIs and antimicrobials.
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to use molecular ecology methods to investigate the presence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms in the same environmental samples and to identify potential hotspots of microbial resistance in southeast England.
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to investigate the effects of key APIs on microbial community diversity and functionality using lab microcosm experiments.
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to determine whether the presence of environmental pollutants such as metals and PAHs influences the development and spread of antibiotic resistance within microbial communities.
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to contribute to the debate regarding the risks associated with the ongoing chronic release of APIs to the environment.
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Risk assessment and advanced treatment of antibiotics in urban wastewater: ecotoxicological evaluation and characterization of antibiotic resistant bacteria
This is an MSc thesis by Ms. Luisia Copia, co-supervised by Dr. Sureyya Meric and Prof. Luigi Rizzo both members of DARE. (Advisor: Prof. Marco Guida, Federico II Naples University, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Section of Physiology and Hygiene).
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Emerging contaminants removal from urban wastewater by adsorption
This is a PhD thesis by Dr. Mariangela Grassi, supervised by Prof. Vincenzo Belgiorno and Prof. Luigi Rizzo, University of Salerno. Dr. Grassi is now on a 3 months visit at EAWAG, Zurich in order to perform research work there. The work will also entail investigation on antibiotics and AR behavior during treatment.
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Development of a series of ecotoxicity bioassays for mixtures of human and veterinary antibiotics in urban wastewater
This is an MSc thesis by Mr Sergio Leva, co-supervised by Dr. Sureyya Meric and Prof. Despo Fatta-Kassinos both members of DARE. (Advisor: Prof. Marco Guida, Federico II Naples University, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Section of Physiology and Hygiene).
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Occurrence, fate and effects of antibiotics in the environment
This is an MEng thesis, completed in May 2010, by Ms. E. Efthimiou, supervised by Prof. Despo Fatta-Kassinos at the University of Cyprus.
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Occurrence, fate and effects of pharmaceuticals in hospital wastewater
This is an MEng thesis, completed in May 2010, by Ms. P. Kakouri, supervised by Prof. Despo Fatta-Kassinos at the University of Cyprus.
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Methodology development for the detection of specific uncultivable bacteria in environmental samples.
Collaboration between Prof. H. P. Grossart from the IGB-Neuglobsow, Dept. Limnology of Stratified Lakes Alte Fischerhuette and Dr. Dr. Veljo Kisand, University of Tartu
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Application for Short Term Scientific Mission Grant (STSM) from COST DARE for Veiko Voolaid (PhD student in University of Tartu, Estonia, supervised by Dr. Veljo Kisand) for visiting the scientific group of Prof. Marko Virta at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Topic: Detection and quantification of the 'Last Resource' antibiotic resistance genes (Vancomycin, Quinolone, 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporines and Carbapenems) in wastewater treatments plants in Estonia and Finland.
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The Swedish partners (Dr. E. Moore, Gotehnburg University) have been included, as “Advisors” in a Portuguese national project proposal, funded through the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. The COST Network colleagues include Prof. Célia Manaia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP). The Swedish lab has hosted the student to carry out work in the framework of the project: Persistence and dispersal of Acinetobacter spp. throughout the urban water cycle.
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Collaboration between University of Helsinki and University of Tarto has started. The project concentrates on antibiotic resistance in wastewaters and WWTPs in Finland and Estonia. Partners are Prof. Marko Virta (University of Helsinki) and Dr. Veljo Kisand (University of Tarto)
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Collaboration between University of Warsaw and Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW has started. The subject concentrates on antibiotic resistance in soils and sediment from fish ponds (beginning in 2010).
Partners are Dr. Magdalena Popowska (University of Warsaw) and Dr. Fiona Walsh (Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW)
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A collaboration between Proff. Luigi Rizzo and Célia Manaia from University of Salerno (Italy) and Universidade Católica Portuguesa respectively started, and next September a MSc student from University of Salerno (Ms Jenny Ferro) will spend six months (with the support of the Erasmus program) at Prof. Célia Manaia’s lab, to work on the selection of different antibiotic resistant bacteria from different wastewater treatment plants in Italy and Portugal to finalize her master thesis. Accordingly, MSc. Thesis of Ms Jenny Ferro will be co-supervised by Prof. Luigi Rizzo and Célia Manaia.
A collaboration between Dr. Thomas Schwartz and Prof. Célia Manaia from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, and Universidade Católica Portuguesa is planed for this year. A Student from Portugal will send to the German lab to study thee occurrence of antibiotic resistant genes in clincical drinking water samples. This work will be co-supervised by Thomas Schwartz and Céliy Manaia.
Dr. Thomas Schwartz (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany), Christa McArdell (EAWAG, Switzerland), and Dr. Christof Dargot (University of Limoges, Frances) are participants of the EU project “Pharmaceutical Input and Elimination from Local Sources (PILLS)” as member of the Scientific Board or principal investigators, respectively.
Dr. Thomas Schwartz (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany) is collaborating with Christa McArdell (EAWAG, Switzerland) regarding the occurrence of multi-resistant pathogens in clinical wastewaters and their dissemination along the wastewater sewage systems.
The groups of Jose Louis and Thomas Berendonk have started a joint project on the evaluation of virulence for antibiotic resistant bacteria, utilizing a fish egg and fish embryo test.
Dr. Dagot Christophe (University of Limoges, France) and Dr Merlin Christophe (University of Nancy, France) are collaborating within the frame of a French National Research Program (ANR project, led by C. Dagot) aiming at studying the environmental impacts of the meat sector. Within this context, horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes is studied in order to consider possible health hazard.
Dr. Christophe Dagot (University of Limoges, Frances) is collaboring with Dr Marie-Noëlle pons (LRGP – Nancy)regarding the diffusion of drug in bacterial flocs with confocal microscopy.
During the meeting held in Cyprus a new cooperation was established between three partners: Dr A. Lupo and Prof. T. Berendonk (TU-Dresden, Germany), Prof. S. Stefani and Dr M. Coci (University of Catania, Italy), Dr. Eddie Cytryn (Institute for Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences Research Centre, Israel). The project focuses on quantification and prevalence of clinical relevant antibiotic resistance genes in surface water samples from heavily polluted river in Ukraine. The partners from Germany and Italy have planned also a student exchange that could benefit of a STSM.
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