Researchers to Use DNA Sequencing to Learn More about Antibiotic Resistance

Researchers to Use DNA Sequencing to Learn More about Antibiotic Resistance

New research might soon have the ability track antibiotic resistant superbugs genetic footprints. A recent $2.5 million USDA grant to Colorado State University will be using the advances in DNA sequencing technology to track drug-resistant bacteria.
CSU Veterinarian Medicine and Biological Science Dr. Paul Morley explains that the past standard in researching strains of bacteria was to isolate and cultural individual isolate in a petri dish. The cost of DNA sequencing has dropped more than a 100,000 fold in the past 10 years — from many of millions of dollars to now several thousand dollars — this research will take advantage of DNA sequencing as Dr. Morley continues
Morley: “So what we are doing is unshackling ourselves from those limiting processes of culturing individual bacteria. And we are trying to address these same questions through the use of this genetic sequencing approach. What we are able to do is instead of looking at recovery of an individual species or looking at resistance in an individual isolate, we’re able to look at the entire microbial community - what the make up is and look for finger prints in individual organisms and in the specific resistance genes that allows us to track those through the food production system to see whether they go into the environment and whether or not they go into the food supply.”

 

 

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