ARC training centre to tackle antimicrobial resistance

A new Australian Research Council (ARC) training centre led by The University of Queensland (UQ) is partnering with industry to tackle the global crisis of antimicrobial-resistant infections, which affect humans, animals and the environment.

Headquartered at UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (CEAStAR) focuses on developing innovative approaches to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Led by Director Professor Mark Blaskovich, the centre emphasises the urgent need for alternatives to antibiotics — especially in agriculture and veterinary medicine, where the same antibiotics are often used to prevent and treat infections as in human medicine.

“One of the main drivers of drug-resistant pathogens is the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, both in humans and animals,” Blaskovich said.

“Nearly two-thirds of all antibiotics used worldwide in 2017 were for animals, and these are often used promote growth or prevent diseases rather than treat infections.

“It is imperative that treatments for livestock and companion animals don’t overlap with equivalent human therapeutics to reduce transmission of resistance across sectors.”

The centre aims to deliver new antimicrobials solely for animal use, as well as alternative treatments that don’t require antibiotics and advanced detection methods to monitor and mitigate the spread of antimicrobial resistance in our environment. Blaskovich said these strategies will reduce infections and transmission of resistant microbes across sectors and preserve the efficacy of existing antibiotics for human use.

CEAStAR will fulfil its mission through the training of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, who will work with industry partners to advance technologies that address antimicrobial resistance. The 13 PhD students trained through the centre will have access to bootcamps, professional development activities and industry placements that will equip them with fundamental antimicrobial resistance research skills.

Brisbane-based biotechnology company MGI Australia, a subsidiary of MGI Tech Co., Ltd., is one of CEAStAR’s industry partners. MGI’s proprietary DNBSEQ technology, known for its accuracy and efficiency in genetic sequencing, plays a pivotal role in CEAStAR’s efforts. This technology, integrated with MGI’s automated laboratory systems, enables portable, onsite sequencing solutions. These solutions empower rapid detection, surveillance and monitoring of AMR in diverse environmental settings, including wastewater and agricultural environments.

“We have successfully established collaborations with UQ, utilising our cutting-edged sequencing technology to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater,” said Dr Bicheng Yang, Director of MGI Australia. “We look forward to expanding this partnership, continuing to develop and apply innovative solutions to combat AMR.”

CEAStAR was established with $4.5 million in funding from an ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program grant and more than $4 million in partner and industry funds. The centre is a partnership between UQ, The University of Adelaide, BiomeMega Global, Calix Limited, Edenvale Beverages, Invion Pty. Ltd, Lixa, MGI Tech and Neoculi Pty Ltd.

Image credit: iStock.com/Nicolae Malancea