Microbiological and genomic surveillance of critical priority pathogens in non-human primates

• Grant number: 24/20740-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Nilton Erbet Lincopan Huenuman
• Grantee: Vinícius Renato dos Santos Lima
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10599-3 - The Antimicrobial Resistance Institute of São Paulo (The Aries Project), AP.CEPID

Abstract

Bacterial resistance is considered one of the major One Health challenges today due to the risks that antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens pose to human and animal health. Although Brazil has the largest diversity of non-human primate species in the world, national studies on resistant bacteria colonizing and/or affecting these animals are still scarce. In this context, this project aims to investigate the presence of critical-priority bacterial pathogens, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), such as clinically significant species that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and/or carbapenemases, in non-human primates from different regions of Brazil. Samples and/or bacterial isolates provided by partner institutions will be screened using established protocols and selective culture media with antibiotics to target critical-priority bacteria. Bacterial isolates will be identified by the VITEK method and confirmed via MALDI-TOF. Subsequently, the resistance profile will be studied using qualitative (disk diffusion) and/or quantitative (MIC) antibiograms. Genomic data of clinical and epidemiological interest (resistome, mobilome, virulome, MLST) will be obtained after sequencing the strains of interest using the Illumina NextSeq platform. All information will be publicly available on the WildBR platform, currently being developed under the OneBr domain (http://www.onehealthbr.com/). The results of this study will contribute epidemiological surveillance data for managing, treating, and developing strategies to control the spread of clinically important antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens in non-human primates.