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Research Project: Microbial Source Tracking for Antimicrobial Resistance and Pathogens in Aquatic Ecosystems.

Lead Supervisor: Holly Tipper (UKCEH)

External Partner: Wessex Water

This exciting and collaborative project will use contemporary molecular techniques to undertake microbial source tracking of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) organisms and key human pathogens downstream of anthropogenic pollution inputs. Humans can come into contact with AMR and pathogens in natural environments, potentially resulting in negative human health outcomes. Therefore, reducing the burden and spread of both AMR and microbial pathogens in the environment is of critical concern. The PhD project will be hosted at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), Wallingford, in collaboration with the University of Bath, and our CASE partner Wessex Water.   AMR poses a huge global public health threat, with bacterial resistance alone being attributable to 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019. The treatment of wastewater at wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) represents an important process in reducing harmful pollution from anthropogenic activity and safeguarding environmental and human health. However, research has shown that the release of wastewater can cause increases in pathogens, AMR and resistance-driving chemicals in downstream environments.   Microbial source tracking (MST) is a critical tool for differentiating between contamination sources in aquatic environments. MST allows for identification and characterisation of pathogens, including those encoding AMR, downstream of polluting inputs.Understanding the dynamics of AMR and pathogen dissemination from WwTWs into receiving environments is crucial for developing effective interventions and safeguarding public and environmental health. This project will employ MST methods in a catchment-based approach to source apportion polluting inputs within the Cam and Wellow Catchment, aligning with the Living Lab Challenges and the goal of enhancing environmental health surveillance.