Antimicrobial Resistance and the Environment: One Health Approach

Dear Colleagues,

The overuse of antibiotics is one of the biggest drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is a threat to public health and a priority across the globe. The environment (both aquatic and terrestrial) is recognized to be a source of pathogenic AMR microorganisms that could affect human health and accelerate the development and spread of resistances. AMR microbes can be found in surface waters, soils, animal and human waste streams, and crops. Discharge of waste from human, animal, and pharmaceutical origins into receiving waters, reuse of wastewater for crop irrigations, use of antibiotics in agriculture, and livestock farming and fisheries are some of the anthropogenic activities that have contributed to AMR in the environment.

Inappropriate use of antibiotics to treat infections or prevent disease promotes growth in animals and plants that also leads to changes in the gut and soil microbiota. Such environments create ideal conditions for the development of AMR and the transfer of this resistance among organisms. Recognizing the risk associated with AMR in the environment can help to develop an effective integrated strategy to protect human and animal health.

Assessing and monitoring the environmental compartments can determine the type of resistance, the concentration of resistant microbes and their fitness, and the source of contamination. Determining the microbiomes in animals and their habitats can help to assess risk of development and spread of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs). Understanding the acquisition of antibiotic resistance by horizontal gene transfer and mutations can predict the persistence and spread of AMR. Evaluating the fate of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance during reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture can establish the uptake by animals and crops.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions in AMR in the following environment research areas: assessment and monitoring including biosensors, microbiomes, metagenomics, ARGs transfer and risk assessment. We accept original research, reviews, mini-reviews, and meta-data analyses.

Dr. Marvasi Massimiliano
Prof. Dr. Diane Purchase
Guest Editors

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