Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant and urgent public health problem where microorganisms are becoming resistant to our medical treatments at an alarming rate. Understanding the mechanisms of how AMR arises is important to help find ways to tackle this problem.
One mechanism of varying the number of copies of a gene, termed copy number variations (CNVs), is not well understood in bacteria where it is often thought to be too unstable and difficult to study. However, it could play a potential role in bacterial adaptation to stressors like antibiotics.
I am building a bioinformatics tool for screening and cataloguing CNVs in all published DNA sequences of three key human pathogens where resistance is a major concern: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumanii.
This will help understand the prevalence and relevance of this mechanism in bacterial adaptation in general, but also for specific AMR pathogens, and potentially highlight novel areas for further study.
Closer look at adaptation in bacteria
Changes in copy number of known antibiotic resistance genes have been documented in a small number of cases to confer short term resistance clinically, but the burden this adds to AMR has not been systematically investigated.
My research project looks at samples from different environments and conditions to give a full picture about how often, when, and where this mechanism of adaptation occurs. This is followed by a focus on any that contribute to or relate to AMR in the lab to characterise the dynamics of these.
Public engagement is crucial
Public engagement is crucial for the success of public health interventions (it’s also a lot of fun!).
I always had an interest in the Theory of Evolution from learning about Darwin and natural history in Biology classes and by visiting museums. The Eureka moment for me was during my undergraduate degree, when I realised that the biomedical issues I was passionate about – microbial infections and AMR – boil down to the Theory of Evolution.
During my PhD project I plan to run activities to explain the findings of my research but also try new ways to communicate with the public about AMR stewardship.
After my PhD I aim to work in public health and one day lead my own laboratory to combat disease and resistance in microbial human pathogens.
The EET Studentship gives me the opportunity, time, and the resources I need to communicate important scientific concepts with the public.