ENDAMR

Exploring Novel Drivers of Anti-Microbial Resistance

01/01/2025 to 31/12/2028

The gut of animals and humans serves as a potent reservoir for the horizontal exchange of mobile genetic elements (horizontal gene transfer, HGT), particularly plasmids, leading to the spread of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. While research on plasmid conjugation in different environments such as soil and wastewater treatment is extensive, there is still a lack of studies addressing these important issues in the context of the animal host. Furthermore, the molecular and genetic determinants of conjugation, and how they change across these different environments, are still poorly understood.
The primary objective of this project is to understand the mechanisms, rates, and inhibition of plasmid conjugation between Enterobacteriaceae in the gut environment. Specifically, we will focus on well-characterized model system involving a commensal E. coli strain and the pathogen Salmonella Typhimurium, which is known to be influenced by host inflammation in the mouse gut.