Download Antibiotic Resistance in Snow and Melting Snow

Antibiotic Resistance in
Snow and Melting Snow
Shane Schoolman
Winter Ecology 2016
Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado,
Boulder
What Are Antibiotics?
- The literal meaning of the word antibiotic is 'against life’
- Antibiotics are typically thought of as chemicals that kill bacteria.
- Usually thought as chemicals that kill bacteria
- But actually refers to pretty much anything that will kill or disrupt the growth
and reproduction of:
-
Viruses
Bacteria
Plants
Insects
What is Resistance?
How Does This Happen?
-
Antibiotic resistance originates by random mutation.
-
A resistance mutation did not happen because the cell needed it to survive.
- “This mutation happened somewhere in a gene that conferred some degree of resistance to an
antibiotic BEFORE the antibiotic was present in the environment and this particular cell was
able to survive in an environment with antibiotic.”
(Dr. Andrew Martin EBIO 3080) →
Where Are They?
-
Groundwater & Surface waters near:
- Cattle Farms
- Agriculture Farms through manure (transfers to plant tissue…)
- surrounding landscapes of Hospital
- ETC…
-
“In general, soil organic matter and minerals are the two soil components responsible for holding
antibiotics” (Michigan State University - http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1032/antibiotics-in-the-environment-and-antibioticresistance/)
Understanding the fate and transport of antibiotics in the environment is essential to assess their
impact and subsequent risks to ecosystems.
Previous work meets EBIO Winter Ecology
-
Local Antibiotic Resistance Field Work
-
-
http://owingit.github.io/abiotics/index.html
Intercontinental Dispersal of Bacteria and Archaea by Transpacific
Winds. (Smith et. al, 2013)
- Does ARB exist in snow and melting snow?
All the studies that have been conducted by the Martin lab, and myself, have
taken place mainly during the summer months.
-
We know they exist in high frequencies in our watershed due to rain and
anthropocentric runoff, but what do we know about their survival and
persistence in winter through wind and snow?
Snow (S)
Melting Snow
(MS)
Melted (M)
Results
AMP
Winter
Site 9
S
3.61
MS 58.36
M
12.55
Site 8
S
25.80
MS 14.38
M
31.32
Site 7
S
48.46
MS 55.61
M
16.63
STP
Summer
88.72
55.10
62.07
Winter
Site 9
S
MS
M
3.96
13.77
8.47
Site 8
S
1.00
MS 5.47
M
26.84
Site 7
S
MS
M
1.52
3.98
2.76
Summer
6.84
12.48
3.80
P values: > .4
What I have concluded though my experiment
- 1. Does ARB exist in snow and melting snow?
- 2. is there any patternswith medium/form of water
(Snow, Melting-Snow, Melted) ?
Discussion
-
Streptomycin interferes with protein synthesis by binding to a ribosomal protein (one of
the proteins involved in mRNA translation)
-
It appears that ARB frequencies are independent upon location
-
(Tie in with intro) So its important to note that frequencies are equally found in snow
and water sources alike, so more focus should be given to airborne bacteria’s
-
Interesting how all Streptomycin are found in equal amounts in Winter and Summer….
What Next?
- Sample Glacier’s
- Tops of mountains
- Push for Antibiotic Regulations
- Retest on larger scale
- More Samples and More Time (wind patterns through seasons)
Summary
Antibiotic Resistance is mainly looked at and thought about in soils
Data shows equal frequencies, independent upon sample sites and water
mediums
Future Research and Focus on Wind/Storm transportation
Remember to take ALL of your antibiotics, and ONLY take when necessary
Works Cited
- Baquero, Fernando, José-Luis Martínez, and Rafael Cantón. "Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance in Water Environments." Current
Opinion in Biotechnology 19.3 (2008): 260-65. Web.
- Barcelo, Damia, and Jim Bennett. "Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment." Elsevier. Elsevier, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2016.
- Berendonk, Thomas U., Célia M. Manaia, Christophe Merlin, Despo Fatta-Kassinos, Eddie Cytryn, Fiona Walsh, Helmut Bürgmann,
Henning Sørum, Madelaine Norström, Marie-Noëlle Pons, Norbert Kreuzinger, Pentti Huovinen, Stefania Stefani, Thomas Schwartz,
Veljo Kisand, Fernando Baquero, and José Luis Martinez. "Tackling Antibiotic Resistance: The Environmental Framework." Nature
Reviews Microbiology Nat Rev Micro 13.5 (2015): 310-17. Web.
- Christner, Brent C. "Bioprospecting for Microbial Products That Affect Ice Crystal Formation and Growth." Appl Microbiol Biotechnol
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 85.3 (2009): 481-89. Web.
- Rozeboom, Dale, Barbara Straw, Hui Li, and David Beede. "Antibiotics in the Environment and Antibiotic Resistance." The Poultry Site.
Michigan State University, 06 Oct. 2008. Web. 27 Feb. 2016.
- Smith, D. J., H. J. Timonen, D. A. Jaffe, D. W. Griffin, M. N. Birmele, K. D. Perry, P. D. Ward, and M. S. Roberts. "Intercontinental
Dispersal of Bacteria and Archaea by Transpacific Winds." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 79.4 (2012): 1134-139. Web. 27 Feb.
2016.
- Dr. Andrew Martin, EBIO Department, various writings and personal communication