Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/R008094/1
Stereochemistry of antimicrobial agents in urban water cycle and its impacts upon the evolution of antimicrobial resistance
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor B Kasprzyk-Hordern, University of Bath, Chemistry
- Grant held at:
- University of Bath, Chemistry
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Ecotoxicology
- Pollution
- Water Quality
- Analytical Science
- Abstract:
- This CASE studentship proposal emerged from our NERC 'AMR in the real world' pump priming project (NE/N019261/1) with Wessex Water (WW) and Environmental Agency as Project Partners. NE/N019261/1 aimed to understand the impact of stereoisomerism of antimicrobial agents (AAs) in their environmental cycle on mechanisms behind the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in environmental hotspots. It tested our hypothesis that different stereoisomers of AAs have different environmental fate and potency, hence they have different ability to impact the development of AMR, a phenomenon that has never been investigated before. Further work is needed to fully understand the role of environmental hotspots (especially wastewater treatment) in the context of wider issues faced by the water sector (e.g. tightening water quality regulations). This CASE studentship will focus on understanding the impact stereoisomerism of AAs might have on microbial communities' composition and structure, and the development of AMR. We will focus on two critical hotspots linking human activities with the environment: wastewater treatment and receiving aqueous environment. We will study (stereoselective) transformation of antibiotics and their metabolites (1-3 targets) in wastewater and receiving waters at both microcosm (lab-based experiments) and macrocosm (the Avon Catchment, sites identified by Wessex Water) scale with the usage of mass spectrometry based analytical methods. Resistant bacterial taxa responsible for (stereoselective) degradation of antibiotics will be identified with the usage of PCR and 16s rRNA-based metagenomics. Stricter regulation of antibiotics in the environment is envisaged. The European Commission has recently proposed an inclusion of antibiotics on the Watch List under the Water Framework Directive. Antibiotics are also key targets within UKWIR National Chemical Investigation Programme. A full understanding of the fate and effects of antibiotics is therefore of crucial importance to the water sector. Wessex Water, the CASE Partner, is committed to providing high quality water and environmental services that protect health and improve the environment. It considers the possible risks posed by antibiotics as a key priority. This CASE studentship is inherently interdisciplinary combining expertise from environmental science, microbiology and synthetic chemistry and utilizing innovative cutting-edge bio-analytical and chemical synthesis approaches. Considering the importance of greater knowledge of environmental and human health impacts from antimicrobial agents this project has the potential to lead to ground-breaking research with long term scientific and societal impact.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/R008094/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £89,114
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £17,480 | £11,000 | £60,637 |
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