HME-AMR

OHEJP HME-AMR Project logo

The Project #HME-AMR

Start: October 2020
Duration: 3 years
Domain: Antimicrobial Resistance
Members: TEAGASC, NUIG- Ireland, NVI- Norway
Contact: Dr Kaye Burgess

HME-AMR: Investigating the role of heavy metals in the environment as a selective pressure for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance

A key element in managing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the One Health paradigm is to reduce the dissemination of resistance genes between microorganisms in the agri-food environment. A crucial mechanism for such dissemination is via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of AMR encoding mobile genetic elements. This is particularly the case for Enterobacteriaceae where a multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotype is increasingly being observed. This mobility shapes the resistome; the collection of all genes that directly or indirectly contributes to antibiotic resistance in a particular niche. It is recognised that a reservoir of AMR genes in the environment provides the possibility for transfer of these genes to human pathogenic bacteria via zoonotic pathways.

Selective pressures drive bacterial populations to evolve and may promote the dissemination of AMR genes, in the human and animal gut, or in the environment. However, there is limited information about the impact of selective pressures in the agri-food environment on HGT between microorganisms. One of the factors which can act as a selective pressure and can influence this HGT is the presence of heavy metals. Resistance to these metals may lead to the co-selection of antibiotic resistance genes, as antibiotic resistance genes can be located on the same genetic element as metal resistance genes. Cross resistance is also a possibility, where a heavy metal resistance mechanism such as non-specific membrane transporter may also facilitate antibiotic resistance.

Heavy metals occur ubiquitously in the agri-food environment and sometimes in high concentrations in soil. In food animal production, heavy metals such as zinc and copper are frequently added to animal feed to promote growth and health. Such heavy metals added to animal feed may not be fully absorbed from the animal gut and are excreted in faeces into the environment. Moreover, heavy metals are used to protect plants due to their fungicidal functions.

It is recognised that a One Health approach is required to tackle antimicrobial resistance. This includes the role the environment, and the food production environment in particular, plays. Very limited information is available regarding the impact of selective pressures such as heavy metals which may be present in the environment on the mobilisation of antimicrobial resistance and its potential transfer into the food chain.  Therefore, this project is investigating the presence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and assessing the bacterial resistomes in heavy metal-containing environments. In particular, the project focuses on four main objectives:

  • Comparison of the resistome in zinc amended and non-amended soil used for horticultural crop production
  • Comparison of the resistome in low and high metal containing soils used for dairy pasture
  • Comparison of the resistome in bovine milk filters from cows grazing on grass in low and high metal areas
  • Genotypic comparison with antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales with human, environmental and animal isolates from Irish and EU reference laboratories

Project Assets

Final PhD Thesis Report 

Anedda, E., Farrell, M. L., Morris, D., & Burgess, C. M. (2023). Evaluating the impact of heavy metals on antimicrobial resistance in the primary food production environment: A scoping review. Environmental Pollution. 320, 121035. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121035

Deliverable D-PhD03-1.2. (Embargoed access until Sept 2024)

Anedda, E., Madigan, G., Morris, D., & Burgess, C. (2022). Evaluating the impact of zinc application on the presence of antimicrobial resistance in spinach and its production environment. Poster presentation. ONE Conference 2022, Brussels, Belgium. 21-24th June 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7377791

Anedda, E., Madigan, G., Morris, D., & Burgess, C. (2022). Assessment of the presence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in spinach and its production environment after zinc application. Poster presentation. One Health EJP Annual Scientific Meeting (OHEJP ASM), Orvieto, Italy. 11-13th April 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7377671 

Anedda, E., Burgess, C, & Morris, D. (2021). A scoping review to evaluate the impact of heavy metals in the agri-food environment as selective pressure for the mobilisation of antimicrobial resistance. Poster presentation. One Health EJP Annual Scientific Meeting (OHEJP ASM), Copenhagen, Denmark. 9-11th June 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7377931

Elena wrote a blog post in March 2023 for the “One Health EJP PhD Life” campaign. Read her article here.

Elena presented her work to attendees at the Teagasc Festival of Farming and Food during Science Week at an event which took place in Teagasc Food Research Centre Ashtown, Dublin, on November 15th 2022.

Elena introduced HME-AMR and the One Health EJP to Teagasc farm advisors and specialists in September 2022 to enable the selection of appropriate farms for sampling

Elena’s research project was presented as part of an invited presentation entitled ‘Factors Influencing the Resistome in Plant Production’ delivered by Dr Kaye Burgess at the IAFP European Symposium in Munich in May 2022.

Elena presented in the Three minutes thesis competition & received her certificate at the One Health EJP Annual Scientific Meeting (OHEJP ASM), Orvieto, Italy, 11-13th April 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7377832

Elena presented in the Three minutes thesis competition & received her certificate at the One Health EJP Annual Scientific Meeting (OHEJP ASM), Copenhagen, Denmark, 9-11th June 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7377873

Elena Anedda HME-AMR student

Elena Anedda

About me:
I’m Elena, I have a degree in Food Quality and Safety and I’m very interested in all things related to microbiology, especially foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. I carried out my thesis project about Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) with a Real Time PCR technique in a challenging environment at Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Lazio e Toscana (Italy). This experience has taught me to deliver projects within budget and timelines. I’m hardworking, enthusiastic and friendly and I enjoy working independently, as well as contributing in a team.

What motivated me to do a PhD:

What motivated me to do a PhD: Nowadays, the pandemic the world is facing is evidence of the close link between human health, animals and the environment. I believe maximum attention should be given to the problem of antimicrobial resistance, a great threat to human health and also linked animal health and the environment. The HME-AMR project is an opportunity to make significant progresses in the food production sector in relation to antimicrobial resistance and a personal chance to deepen my knowledge and skills in a totally different environment.

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