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Effect Of Sub-Inhibitory Wastewater Stressors On Mutation Frequency In Clinically Relevant Aeromonas Species, Brandon Michael Schultz

Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial resistance among pathogens is steadily increasing resulting in untreatable infections and elevated mortality rates, with an estimation of claiming 10 million lives worldwide by 2050. A common factor accelerating resistance is the presence of sub-inhibitory microbial stressors (e.g. antimicrobials, heavy metals, and disinfectants), which can drive horizontal gene transfer and mutagenesis in various environments. Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals, excretion of antimicrobial byproducts from humans and livestock, and excess storm runoff are common sources of these pollutants. An environmental reservoir rich in stressors and bacterial populations, including the emerging pathogen Aeromonas, is wastewater. Our objective in this study was to …