Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture

As the global human population increases there is an increasing reliance on aquaculture to supply a safe, reliable, and economic supply of food. Although food production is essential for a healthy population, an increasing threat to global human health is antimicrobial resistance. Extensive antibiotic resistant strains are now being detected in all environments; the spread of these strains could greatly reduce medical treatment options available and increase deaths from previously curable infections. Antibiotic resistance is widespread due in part to overuse and misuse; however, the natural processes of horizontal gene transfer and mutation events that allow genetic exchange within microbial communities have been ongoing since ancient times. By their nature, aquaculture systems contain high numbers of diverse bacteria, which exist in combination with the current and past use of antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and other treatment regimens—singularly or in combination. These systems have been designated as “genetic hotspots” for gene transfer. As our reliance on aquaculture grows, it is essential that we identify the sources and sinks of antimicrobial resistance, and monitor and analyse the transfer of antimicrobial resistance between the microbial community, the environment, and the farmed product, in order to better understand the implications to human and environmental health. In this project different aquaculture systems such as, open environment, open organic and closed recirculating will be examined for the presence and transfer of clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes, using a number of molecular and traditional tools. To better understand the resistome laboratory based studies will be employed, to model the transfer frequencies and hot spots. Transfer of antimicrobial resistance provides a global threat to healthcare systems and human longevity, it is therefore critical that we better understand how AMR genes persist in the environment and spread - especially into clinically relevant pathogen species.

How to apply:
We welcome applications from highly motivated prospective students who are committed to develop outstanding research outcomes. You can apply online at www.port.ac.uk/applyonline. Please quote project code BIOL4010218 in your application form