Phenotypic and genomic characterization of multi drug-resistant bacteria from environmental origin

• Grant number: 24/17627-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: January 13, 2025
• End date: March 04, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Schenkman
• Grantee: Francisco Iuri da Silva Martins
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health problem. The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens threatens the ability to treat infections, as the available therapeutic options are significantly reduced. Currently, the fight against AMR is through concepts of Global Health and One Health, with the environment as one of the main disseminators of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes. Our group aims to study AMR in the environment. In the one-and-a-half-month internship, the student will learn how to isolate, identify, and determine the susceptibility to antimicrobials of bacteria of environmental origin. Next, genomic analyses will be employed to identify the mechanisms of AMR, pathogenicity potential, and mobile genetic elements of resistant multidrug bacteria previously obtained by our research group. (AU)