RESISPORE · Composting as a post-treatment method to mitigate the transfer of antimicrobial resistance and spore-forming Firmicute into the food chain (RESISPORE)

The use of animal waste as agricultural fertilizers is a potential source of pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotics residues (ABs) and must be managed accordingly. Pre-treatments of organic waste prior to land application offer the potential to abate enteric bacteria, and therefore reduce the risk of contamination of crops or adjacent water resources with resistant pathogens carried in these materials. However, the reduction and fate of such fecal indicator bacteria may not properly predict the responses of of all types of pathogens, especially those that produce spores. The inactivation of spore-forming pathogens, such as Clostridium and Bacillus spp., from animal waste could be challenging given the recalcitrance of the spores these bacteria produce. RESISPORE is an interdisciplinary and innovative project in the field of environment & agriculture that aims to identify intervention management strategies to stop the initial movement of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and spore-forming pathogens from animal waste into the environment and food chain. RESISPORE aims are aligned with current European strategies to produce safe, healthier, and more sustainable food such as The Farm to Fork strategy or the EFSA recommendations for protecting food safety. This project will be delivered by the fellow Dr. Jessica Subirats, with a strong expertise in environmental microbiologist, under the supervision of Dr.Victor Matamoros, who has a strong track-record in environmental biochemistry and agricultural science. The fellowship will provide new expertise and training on analytical chemistry, large-scale biogas operations, agricultural science, and professional development for academics. The fellow will bring her knowledge of AMR and microbiology using both culture-dependent and independent methods. The proposed work will expand the fellow’s research competencies and professional networks, enhancing the development of her career as an independent researcher.