DRESP2 - Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in the Spread of Antimicrobial Drug Resistance (Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health) (2006-01-01 - 2008-12-31) (»add to infobox)

Mobile DNA provides a major contribution to the spread of antimicrobial resistance, by recruiting new resistance genes in bacterial pathogens and facilitating their horizontal spread. While much is known about individual resistance genes and mechanisms, the nature of the mobile elements and their transfer mechanisms have been clarified only in few cases, and very little is known about their molecular epidemiology. A comprehensive understanding of these aspects could provide a significant breakthrough toward combating dissemination of resistance determinants. The DRESP project aims at investigating these aspects, focussing on few major families of genetic elements that carry a number of important and emerging resistance determinants: i) the double resolvase elements (DR-elements) of gram-positive cocci, involved in spread of mefA genes; ii) the related DR-elements in Gram-negative cocci, an entirely novel type of mobile element; iii) the vanA and mefE conjugative transposons; iv) the integrons; and (v) resistance plasmids. The GENERAL OBJECTIVES of DRESP are: a) to investigate the molecular epidemiology and metagenomics of selected families of mobile elements in clinical strain collections and environmental samples; b) to carry out structural and functional analysis of these genetic elements to elucidate transfer mechanisms and their regulation, and to identify possible common molecular themes underlying these functions; c) to promote Information-Sharing and dialogue to stakeholders as to increase the social value and impact on pubic health of the knowledge gained. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES of this project are: (i) new information on the spread of mobile elements carrying resistance genes, and mechanisms thereof; (ii) new techniques for molecular epidemiology studies; (iii) novel diagnostic tools; (iv) theoretical schemes for prediction of the potential spread of resistance to specific drugs.

COORDINATOR (1/1)

PARTICIPANTS (10/10)

RELATED THEMATIC AREAS (1/1)