Source: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA submitted to NRP
THE TRANSMISSION AND EVOLUTION OF AMR IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1032478
Grant No.
2024-68015-42636
Cumulative Award Amt.
$900,000.00
Proposal No.
2023-10488
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2024
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2028
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[A1366]- Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance Across the Food Chain
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
(N/A)
LINCOLN,NE 68583
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Integration of data from the human, animal, and environmental sectors is critical to implementing a One-Health approach to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This proposal aims to improve the understanding of the environmental component of the One-Health approach in addressing AMR by targeting three issues: (1) limited data in showing the connection of AMR bacteria found in the environment to those colonizing and infecting humans and animals; (2) limited overlap in the genomes of AMR pathogens in humans and in animals, leaving doubt over the significance of AMR transmission between humans and animals, directly or indirectly through the environment; (3) need for engagement from the public and stakeholders in understanding the role of the environment in disseminating and mitigating AMR between humans and animals. Our overall objective is to develop strategies to decipher how the environment may contribute to the transmission and evolution of AMR bacteria and genes relevant to human and animal health. Three objectives include: (1) track the transmission of clinically relevant AMR bacteria and genes of human- and animal-origin in the environment; (2) investigate the evolution of AMR in fecal bacteria in the environment by assessing the acquisition of AMR genes from environmental microbiota; (3) improve knowledge of AMR-related risks and inspire the adoption of practices among food producers and consumers to combat AMR-related health and food safety risks across the food chain. To achieve the objectives, a team is assembled with expertise in human medicine, veterinary diagnostics, environmental microbiology, animal science, and extension and education.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7120399110333%
1330399202034%
9030199110333%
Knowledge Area
133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation; 712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins; 903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
0399 - Watersheds and river basins, general; 0199 - Soil and land, general;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 1103 - Other microbiology;
Goals / Objectives
Our goal is to improve the understanding of the role of the environmental component of the One Health approach in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The overall objective of this integrated proposal is to develop strategies to decipher how the environment may contribute to the transmission and evolution of AMR bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (AMR genes) relevant to human and animal health. The following objectives have been developed:Objective 1: Track the transmission of clinically relevant AMR bacteria and genes of human- and animal-origin in the environment. Working hypothesis: Tracking the transmission of clinically relevant AMR in the environment can be enhanced by integrating data from all three sectors of One Health. Specifically, data integration efforts include expanding monitoring from diagnosis to surveillance, focusing on clinically relevant pathogens in the environment, and unifying isolation and analytical procedure.Objective 2: Investigate the evolution of AMR in fecal bacteria in the environment by assessing the acquisition of AMR genes from environmental microbiota. Working hypothesis: Fecal bacteria can acquire clinically relevant AMR genes from environmental microbiota via horizontal gene transfer.Objective 3: Improve knowledge of AMR-related risks and inspire the adoption of practices among food producers and consumers to combat AMR-related health and food safety risks across the food chain. Working Hypothesis: Delivery of project outcomes via traditional and innovative outreach and education efforts, coupled with a new professional development opportunity for Food, Nutrition, and Health professionals in extension, will optimize distribution of evidence-based information and practice recommendations to food producers and consumers, which will positively impact knowledge and behaviors to mitigate AMR-related human and animal health risks.
Project Methods
Objective 1Task 1.1. Compare the genomics and the epidemiology records of historical AMR Salmonella and STEC in Nebraska.Task 1.2. Collect surveillance and diagnostic samples from human and cattle.Task 1.3. Use case-based monitoring to track the transmission of AMR STEC and Salmonella in the environment.Objective 2Task 2.1. Conduct HGT experiment using E. coli wild type as recipient and environmental microbiota as donor.Task 2.2. Determine the effects of nutrient level and selective pressure on conjugation efficiency.Task 2.3. Conduct WGS and MIC tests on the E. coli strain receiving mobile AMR genes from the soil microbiome.Objective 3Task 3.1. Deliver, evaluate, and refine professional development training for extension professionals in the Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion (FSNHP) program area. Task 3.2. Continue delivering research findings to target audiences through the iAMResponsibleTM Project and the eXtension LPELC.

Progress 07/01/24 to 06/30/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the iAMResponsible Project's outreach efforts include livestock producers, food safety experts, extension educators, consumers, students, and the public unfamiliar with antimicrobial resistance. The team works to increase engagement among these audiences with the topic of AMR and increase their understanding and motivation for action they can take to address the problem. During the reporting period the iAMResponsible team expanded efforts to improve general awareness of AMR, utilizing new media delivery methods and learning materials. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate research assistant (GRA) was hired to work on the project. This GRA will pursue his doctoral degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering while working on the project. An extension specialist was partially supported by this project. In addition, a technician was partially supported at the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center by this project. During the reporting period the iAMResponsible team maintained 1 PhD student and 2 undergraduate students studying human dimensions of natural resources and outreach on agricultural and environmental topics. The project also partially supports two additional staff for who specialized in video and audio production, and digital resource management (website, social media, database management). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Primary dissemination for the iAMResponsible team has been via social media, and other online publications, in course materials, and at professional, educational, and community events. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For Objective 1, we plan to conduct field sampling using the experimental method developed in this reporting period. In addition, we plan to initiate the work for Objective 2. For Objective 3, during the next reporting period, the iAMResponsible team will conduct a survey of backyard and small-scale poultry farmers to understand their current biosecurity practices and intervention needs for preventing farm-to-home and farm-to-environment transfer of antimicrobial resistance.The team will then develop online learning modules to address learning needs identified in the survey.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The project is designed to answer the question: how the environment may contribute to the transmission and evolution of antimicrobial resistant bacteria (AMR bacteria) and antimicrobial resistance genes (AMR genes) relevant to human and animal health. The outcomes of the project are intended to benefit the work of public health professionals, veterinarians, livestock producers, and regulatory agencies. Below please find the work that have been accomplished for each objective listed in the proposal for this reporting period: Objective 1: A graduate student hired for the project has been trained for general and molecular microbiology work, such as bacterial isolation and DNA extraction. He was also trained to collect field samples for microbial experiment. We are in the process of collecting metadata of the bacterial isolates from human and animal patients in 2023 and 2024 to identify potential geological hotspots in Nebraska for the co-occurrence of clinical relevant isolates in both human and animals. Objective 2: the work for Objective 2 will be initiated in Year 2 Objective 3: Core to the iAMResponsible team's mission is translating and transferring technical, scientific information into accessible and enjoyable educational materials for a wide variety of agricultural and environmentally engaged audiences. During the past year the team significantly expanded their video production capabilities to include short videos for social media distribution. The short video style (vertical orientation, 0:30 to 1:30 min in length) was the most requested information delivery vehicle by producer participants in educational programs conducted by the team during previous outreach activities. To meet this demand the team joined TikTok and increased their emphasis on video production for AMR information. As a result, iAMResponsible short video videos have been watched for just under 100 hours (94.3) across all platforms during the past reporting period. Another core function of the iAMResponsible Project's activities is a train-the-trainer approach to equipping current and future one-health professionals to educate and empower their communities to address the AMR-One-Health challenge. This year, the team partnered with student groups based in Monrovia, Liberia and Lincoln, NE (USA) to plan, promote, and conduct community outreach events to engage college students in finding solutions for AMR. The iAMResponsible Team's role in these events was to develop educational materials and provide guidance and training to the student-leaders both about AMR and in delivering STEM programming. More than 150 community members participated in one or more of these student-led events. Participants indicated a high level of motivation for addressing AMR with 76% saying they planned to engage in research, business development, or outreach to address AMR in future. Student-leaders were also positively impacted by the programs with 80% intending to expand their outreach efforts in their personal networks in future.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Noe Hernandez, Dusin Loy, Galen Erickson, Peter Iwen, and Xu Li. Monitoring antimicrobial resistance using a One-Health approach in a Midwest community. Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, Durham, NC, May 20-22, 2025.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Nafisa Lubna and Amy Schmidt. 2025. Community Engagement to Mitigate Transmission of Infectious Diseases and Antibiotic Resistance from Backyard Poultry. Waste to Worth 2025, Boise ID, April 8, 2025.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Nafisa Lubna, Mark Burbach, Mara Zelt, and Amy Schmidt. 2024. Integrating Natural Resource Management Strategies in Antimicrobial Resistance Education and Prevention. 2024 ASABE AIM, Anaheim, CA, July 29, 2024
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Nafisa Lubna and Amy Schmidt. March 30, 2025. Community Engagement to Mitigate Transmission of Infectious Diseases and Antibiotic Resistance from Backyard Poultry  Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community. https://lpelc.org/community-engagement-to-mitigate-transmission-of-infectious-diseases-and-antibiotic-resistance-from-backyard-poultry/
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: 2. Zelt, Beth and Zelt, Mara. [I AM Responsible]. (2024, July 31). Tuberculosis Tales: a chat on survival and resistance [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZ7yct4CAk 3. Zelt, Beth and Zelt, Mara. [iAMResponsible]. (2024, August 8). Pertussis: The Bacteria that Became a Hero [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/PiEwbK3ESDs 4. Zelt, Beth, Vanderford, Olivia. [iAMResponsible]. (2024, August 20). Save Our Animals: The Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ekT_w_U-4z4 5. Zelt, Beth, Vanderford, Olivia. [iAMResponsible]. (2024, August 20). Fighting the Silent Pandemic [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/FI7GHKuU5DE 6. Vanderford, Olivia, Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. (2024, August 26). Antibiotic Resistance in Beef Production a Growing Threat [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/lG6COL2hi_Q 7. Vanderford, Olivia, Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. (2024, August 27). Antibiotics Under Attack: How Bacteria Are Fighting Back [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/HGTMLDJ8xgg 8. Vanderford, Olivia, Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, August 28. Why Antibiotics Can't Stop the FluAnd What You Can Do. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/pssIPoDZr9Y 9. Zelt, Beth and Zelt, Mara. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 1. Interview with a Campylobacter. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/GHUxiXYu1FE 10. Zelt, Beth, Vanderford, Olivia. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 1. Antibiotics: Not a Cure-AllKnow When to Use Them [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ot5SEu7zH_M 11. Zelt, Beth, Vanderford, Olivia. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 4. The Ripple Effect of Antibiotic Resistance: Why It Matters to You [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/EK760pUI7fA 12. Zelt, Beth, Vanderford, Olivia. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 4. Post-Surgery Care: How to Use Antibiotics Responsibly [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/x-U4FxOUPjE 13. Zelt, Beth, Vanderford, Olivia. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 5. Antibiotic Resistance: Are we misusing the Magic Bullet?? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/puzoMyDwiwE 14. Zelt, Beth, Vanderford, Olivia. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 5. Reusing Medications: A Risk You Cant Afford to Take [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/GlH0zxsCDtE 15. Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 10. How Antibiotic Resistance is Impacting Wildlife and Ecosystems [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/oHbNtOAGd-w 16. Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 10. Why New Antibiotics Take Years to Developand Why It Matters [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/oOetdNMfQcY
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: 17. Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 10. Why Women Face Greater Risks in the Fight Against AMR [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/rTFSFPDeq8Y 18. Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 11. Antibiotic Resistance in Our Water: The Role of Wastewater [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/ig9I-I52ZYM 19. Bailey, Jillian, Samson, Alexis. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 13. Get Vaccinated [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/rGvMgxcALEw 20. Bailey, Jillian, Samson, Alexis. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 13. Are Your Antimicrobial Products Making Superbugs Stronger? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/z4pPieJ-5y4 21. Bailey, Jillian, Samson, Alexis. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, September 13. Fighting Superbugs with Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/5fwRMD0Nc5Y 22. Zelt, Beth and Zelt, Mara. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, October 11. The Rise of Gonorrhea: How Antibiotic Resistance Became Its Secret Weapon [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/9qLyFR0belk 23. Bailey, Jillian, Samson, Alexis. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, December 6. Want to help fight against Antibiotic Resistance? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/P7AFmdDj8sE 24. Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2024, December 16. Antibiotic Resistance Explainedand What You Can Do [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/5LoUI2O3Oag 25. Lubna, Nafisa, Zelt, Mara, Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2025, February 18. The Power of Clean Hands: Stopping Infections Before They Start [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/jMogt7cJR0o 26. Zelt, Mara. [iAMResponsible]. 2025, February 18. The (super) power of clean hands [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/b6CpERBsx4Y 27. Zelt, Mara. [iAMResponsible]. 2025, February 18. Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance in Kids [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/JvjNZH0nXsw 28. Zelt, Mara. [iAMResponsible]. 2025, February 18. Needed: Urgent action against antimicrobial resistance. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/S0AtcQOB0n4 29. Zelt, Mara. [iAMResponsible]. 2025, February 18. Survey of US Doctors shows stewardship is needed [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/MVEoRIZJFl4 30. Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2025, February 19. What Happens When Antibiotics Don't Work?: One Woman's Survival Story [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/dlLCcEU02IE 31. Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2025, May 12. The Role of Technology in Mitigating AMR in Liberia [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/shorts/bYgQbZS2Pu0 32. Zelt, Beth. [iAMResponsible]. 2025, May 15. Big Solutions from Small Screens: Tech vs. Antibiotic Resistance [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/RTEtE2zPtSk