Abstract: Although antibiotic resistance in bacteria has been extensively studied functionally in the laboratory and with regard to its presence in various environments, there are still major gaps in our understanding of transmission pathways across the One Health domains (people, animals and the environment). Through tracking bacterial pathogens and resistance genes from polluted harbours to coral reefs, we have developed various molecular techniques to detect and quantify them in nature and humans alike. Here, we present our plan to use an epidemiological approach to track transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria through the St. John’s Island coastal ecosystem, including its human inhabitants. This will provide a clear and quantitative picture of the resistome and its transmission pathways in a protected marine environment within Singapore and evaluate the risk posed by antibiotic resistant organisms to seawater users. This is a collective effort, which will require help from the Singapore marine science community.

Speaker: Dr. Yann Felix Boucher, Associate Professor Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore & Principal Research Fellow, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE)

Hosted by: Dr. Theresa Su

Sign up link: https://sjinml.nus.edu.sg/sjinml-research-seminars-november-2021/

*Given the current Covid-19 restrictions, this event will be held over Zoom.