PhD in Engineering - Antimicrobial resistance: ecology and evolution in the environment

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria is one of the greatest global health challenges. Arguably, one of the most effective public health interventions in history has been the widespread deployment of sewage treatment works, which house the biological treatment of domestic wastewaters. Paradoxically, growing evidence suggests the biology in wastewaters at centralised treatment plants, where diverse consortia of bacteria are in contact with high concentrations of antibiotics from human (or animal) excretion, may now be exacerbating the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) to the environment. Whilst the effect of large scale sewage treatment facilities on ARG spread is increasingly well documented, the ecology and biogeography of ARGs in environments receiving effluents from household scale sanitation systems common in the global south, such as the septic tank or pit latrines, is little understood.

This is one of two approaches to be underpinned by two PhD positions to bridge this knowledge gap. This project covers the development of an ecological framework to predict transmission from multiple point sources to the environment.

Project Summary

ARG spread via wastewater treatment plants is believed to occur as a result of selective pressures arising from the confluence of both ARGs and antibiotics at the plant. Household scale sewage treatment systems by contrast harbour relatively isolated microbial communities that are seeded by a limited number of householders, and, confluence of bacteria and antibiotics collected in household scale systems occurs not in the treatment tanks per se but in the environments receiving discharges. This PhD will draw from the rich body of ecological theory describing both macro- and micro- ecology to consider whether isolated, relatively isolated or confluent microbial communities are more susceptible to the evolutionary pressures that drive the development of antimicrobial resistance. The arising ecological framework will be interrogated in the laboratory using molecular methods to monitor spread of ARGs in experiments planned and conducted by the student, and, the established framework will be used to predict hotspots of ARG development in wastewater receiving environments.

Sister Project

The sister project will develop and apply state-of-the art molecular approaches to track the transmission and spread of ARG’s from wastewater to the surrounding environment, and can be found at the following link: https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=101124

Eligibility

For these projects, we are seeking highly motivated, talented applicants with backgrounds in molecular ecology / theoretical ecology / microbiology / environmental engineering or similar. Candidates should have a minimum of a 2.1 in a relevant subject. An MSc or MEng in an appropriate field would be an advantage. While experience in molecular approaches and / or ability to develop a theoretical ecological framework would be an advantage the Water and Environment Research Group at the University of Glasgow is world leading and specialised training will be provided.

Further Information

For an informal discussion or further information on this project, potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Stephanie Connelly ([Email Address Removed]).