Stopping Antibiotic Resistance Evolution

This project was designed based on the identificati on of the major gaps in knowledge and technology that impede successful mea sures to control antibiotic resistance in the environment. The research consort ium assembles wastewater engineers, microbiologists, molecular biologists, a nd bioinformatics interested in antibiotic resistance evolution. The mobility of re searchers within the consortium will enhance collaborative activities, mainly by th e combination of fundamental and applied approaches. Major aims of this project include i) the establishment of standardized protocols, ii) the elucidation of t he relationship between antibiotic residues and resistance genes in wastewa ter, iii) the comparison of antibiotic resistance prevalence in the effluents d ischarged by urban wastewater treatment in Northern and Southern European regions and the iv) the development of improved advanced wastewater treatme nt technologies and their effects on the microbiome and resistome. Majo r outcomes will be the formulation of harmonized protocols to measure anti biotic resistance in aquatic environments and the identification of critical fac tors (e.g. antimicrobial residues, heavy metals) coinciding with the highest antibioti c resistance prevalence. Advanced wastewater treatment technologies suitable to decontaminate effluents critical points (e.g., UWTP, hospital eff luents) and capable of minimizing resistance acquisition will be improved. Since anti biotic resistance concerns the whole population, consortium members will actively promote educational, communication and dissemination activities directed to the public, stakeholders, policy makers, officials and students.