CSUSM researchers seek to understand antibiotic resistance among microbes in coastal areas
- Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria tolerate the presence of a drug because of some gene mutations.
- Antibiotic resistance is currently a threat to global health.
- Microbial antibiotic resistance can spread from one microbe to another through horizontal gene transfer.
- Horizontal gene transfer is the transfer of genetic materials from one bacteria to another bacteria rather than DNA transfer from parent or offspring as in reproduction.[1]
- The use of antibiotics has been shown to foster an antibiotic-resistant microbial population.
- The coasts are particularly at risk because of human inputs such as sewage, agricultural contaminants, and climate change.
- These human inputs can affect the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes.
- A group of researchers from California State University San Marcos led by Professor Elinne Becket seek to understand the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes among microbes in coastal regions.in response to commonly known antibiotics observed in agricultural and city waste.
Sources:
https://elinneb.wixsite.com/becketlab/research
https://www.csusm.edu/biology/index.html
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_gene_transfer
