AB resistance and bacterial community composition ita

 

ABRmaggioreWe study the spread of resistance against the most common antibiotics within the bacterial community of lakes (in Italy, Switzerland, and Patagonia) and of the humans and animals (chickens, pigs) gut. We are interested in the ecological consequences of the spread and the persistance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).

Our study on Lake Maggiore is based on a long-term monitoring of the ARGs load of the Lake, and on spatial and temporal comparisons.

We are involved also in the study of the impact of the dietary regime on the spread of resistant bacteria in the human gut, and on its influence on the diversity and the composition of the local bacterial communities. Through different research projects we target ARGs released in wastewaters and in pig farms manure.

AB resistance is a direct threat for human health, in presence of pathogenic bacteria within the environmental community. In cooperation with the Microbial Ecology group of the CNR-ISMAR we are studying the relation between AB resistance, community composition and ecological success of naturalized strains of E. coli in Venice Lagoon.

We also perform experimental studies in continuous cultures (chemoststs) in order to clarify the relation between ecological factors and community ecology and the spread and persistance of ARGs in the environment.

MEG articles on AB-resistance

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