Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in clinical and environmental populations

20-22 September

Xavier Perret

John Poté, Dr., Senior lecturer / Environmental Biotechnology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Faculty of Sciences,UNIGE

Xavier Perret, (PhD), Senior Lecture (MER), UNIGE, Faculty of Sciences, Section of Biology,
Department of Botany and Plant Biology, Microbiology Unit

 Dr. Velusamy Srinivasan, USA (Disease Control and Prevention)

Prof. Xavier Bertrand, CHRU, Besançon (Ecologie de la Santé)

Dr. John Poté, UNIGE (Environmental Biotechnology)

Dr. Xavier Perret, UNIGE (Microbiology)

Prof. S. Harbarth, UNIGE (Infectious Diseases)

DAY 1

(9:30 to 12:00) Threats of antibiotic resistance in clinical environments; Profs. S. Harbarth & Dr. Velusamy Srinivasa

(13:30 to 17h30) Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in non-clinical environments: soil, water and plants. Prof. X. Bertrand, John Poté & Xavier Perret.

DAY2

(09h00 to 18:00) students will extract DNA from soil, water and plant samples using standard protocols. These DNA matrices will be used as template to assess distribution and quantify resistance genes by qPCR.

DAY3

(9h00 to 11:00) students will present their results collected on day 2. Data will be confronted and discussed with experts

(11h15-12h15) Seminar "The role of USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Global disease control and the fate of antibiotic resistance in environmental bacteria. Dr. Velusamy Srinivasan

University of Geneva, Sciences II- III

Widespread resistance to antibiotics, including to new generation molecules, is one of the most pressing healt issues. Emergence of multi-resistant forms of pathogenic bacteria has also become a major concern in many hospitals. Causes to these phenomena are multiple, but constantrelease of antibiotics in wastewaters, improper use of various antimicrobial compounds in agriculture, as well as unnecessary prescription of antibiotics in human medicine have contributed to dispersal and propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This workshop will address this topic through first a one-day background introduction to the occurrence, dispersion and general problematic of antibiotic resistance genes in hospitals and other environments such as soil, water and plants. The second day will allow registered doctoral students to familiarize themselves with culture-independent approaches (e.g. total DNA preparations from environmental samples to quantitative PCR) to monitor presence of specific ARGs in water, soil and plant samples provided to them. On morning of Day 3, students will confront their results obtained on the previous day and discuss their relevance with a panel of experts who lectured on Day 1. For Day 3, an open seminar will be performed by Dr. Velusamy Srinivasan on: "The role of USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Global disease control and the fate of antibiotic resistance in environmental bacteria.

Reimbursements

CUSO Microbiology students: Train ticket, 2°class, half-fare from your institution to the place of the activity; meal expenses up to 25CHF/meal.

Lodgement Information For your lodgment during the course for the nights 20^th and 21^st the costs will be covered by CUSO (up to 90.-CHF per night, and 25.-CHF per dinner, if you're from outside Geneva).

Reimbursement form attached with original tickets has to be sent to: CUSO Microbiologie, Aline Kopf, Institut de Biologie, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel

Contact: microbiologie[@]cuso.ch

Day 1 is open to the public (presence list to sign on place).

Please do register here if you'd like to participate to the 3 days.

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