11 - Antimicrobial Resistance 2

Question 1

What is the microbiome?

Answer 1

Collection of all microbes in a locale of interest
e.g. GI tract, skin

Question 2

What is genomics? Two types

Answer 2

Genomics: study of genes (DNA in sample of interest)

• Whole genome sequencing: sequencing the genome of an organism of interest
• Metagenomics: sequencing all the DNA in a sample (e.g. host, orgs in samples environment)

Question 3

What is transcriptomics? Meta-transcriptomics?

Answer 3

Trans: study of the gene readouts (RNA) from a cell/strain of a microbial organism

Meta: active gene expression of a microbial community

Question 4

What is proteomics? Metabolomics?

Answer 4

Proteo: protein products of the (meta-)transcriptomics

Metabo: metabolic by-products released into the environment

Question 5

What is the resistome?

Answer 5

Collection of all the ARGs in the microbiome of a given locale of interest

e.g. microbiome of human, plant, animal, soil, water in an environment

Question 6

How old is the AMR? How do we know?

Answer 6

Ancient
Through metagenomic analysis

Looked at specific resistance genes, there were precursors to the genes

Question 7

What soil bacteria produces many antibiotics

Answer 7

Actinomycetes (Streptomyces)

including antibiotics Streptomycin, tetracycline, etc

Question 8

What is the mobilome?

Answer 8

All the genetic elements in a microbiome that can move within a genome and between different genomes
e.g. transposable elements, phages, plasmids, ICEs

Question 9

How old is the resistome? How do we know

Answer 9

Very old

Looked at 24 Enterococci spp (environmentally persistent, widespread in nature)

Estimates origin of enterococcus as a spp at 425-500 million years ago, with some resistance genes

Question 10

Regulatory changes to AMU in Canada

Answer 10

1. Mandatory surveillance reporting
2. No own use importation of medically important antimicrobials
3. establishment of license for active pharmaceutical ingredient importnation
4. alternative products approval

Question 11

Policy changes to AMU in Canada

Answer 11

1. removal of growth promotion claims
2. veterinary oversight (need vet perscriptions)

Question 12

What are the goals of antimicrobial stewardship

Answer 12

1. optimize clinical outcomes while minimizing unintended consequences of AMU
2. minimize the selection and dissemination of AMR (Use less drugs = less selection for AMR)

Question 13

Two types of AMR genes

Answer 13

1. Established: well characterized among human and animal pathogens
2. Latent: not previously encountered in pathogens

Question 14

Possible objectives for environmental AMR suveillance

Answer 14

• Curb the spread of resistant organisms
• Sources of human exposure from environment
• Measure environmental contamination
• Screen for changes in AMR abundance
• Detect emerging threats

Question 15

Environmental AMR contamination comes from what sources?

Answer 15

1. Human and animal pharmaceutical manufacturing
2. Terrestrial animal waste (manure, runoff)
3. Human waste (urine, sewage)
4. Aquaculture animal waste

Question 16

Cross resistance vs co-selection

Answer 16

CR: one physiological adaptation provides resistance to multiple compounds

CS: multiple mechanisms selected for together because of genetic linkage

Question 17

Exposure to herbicides could lead to?

Answer 17

Increased selection for AMR mechanisms