PRIN 2017-201728ZA49-001-IAKIMOV Mikhail (DTA.AD002.525)

Research project

Other structures collaborating in the research project

Project manager

MIKHAIL IAKIMOV
Phone number: 0906015428
Email: mikhail.iakimov@cnr.it

Abstract

Oceans contain and serve as reservoir of pathogenic microorganisms, which might infect humans via contaminated seafood or direct contact due to labour or recreational activities. In light of elevated human dependence on marine environments for fisheries, waste disposal and recreation, there is an increasing need, from both human health and economic perspective, to decipher factors affecting bacterial survival, spread, potential virulence and transmission to humans. The fast growing of anthropic impact on marine ecosystems is particularly evident on coastal waters where wastes effluents from hospitals, livestock, poultry and aquaculture farms and human dwellings are crucial in the distribution of pathogens and their vectors, greatly contributing to the (re-)emergence of infectious diseases. Of especial concern is the eventual role of marine plastic debris (microplastics) for the persistence and dispersal of potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

Goals

Such matrices facilitate the biofilm formation and thus, the genomic exchange within microbial community resulting in the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR) and virulence (VIR) genes. In this scenario, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a central role in pathogen evolution. HGT events may occur between pathogenic and harmless bacteria, thus favouring the selection of new pathotypes that may function as environmental reservoir of AR and VIR traits. This project, carried out by three Units, aims at studying the events and conditions underlying evolution and spread of VIR and AR bacteria in the marine environment, using both traditional microbiological methods and modern biomolecular tools.

Start date of activity

25/09/2019

Keywords

enviromental microbiology, bacteriology, antibiotic resistance

Last update: 22/04/2025