Parkes, J 2020, Do bacteria implicated in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia adapt to antibiotic exposure? , MSc by research thesis, University of Salford.
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Abstract
Antibiotics have been key to the treatment of bacterial infections since their introduction, but the increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance is a concern. Patients with serious respiratory conditions, such as those often encountered within critical care units like ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), are most under threat as a result of increasing resistance, especially due to the patients’ critical condition. Despite a better understanding of increasing resistance, other effects of treatment with antibiotics on bacterial phenotypes remain poorly understood, and it is therefore important and timely to identify and study key traits that bacteria present because of adaptation to antimicrobial treatment. In this study, a clinical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was exposed to antibiotics that are commonly prescribed to treat VAP patients, and tested its ability to grow and form biofilms through in vitro testing under a number of experimental conditions, including co-infection and limited growth media. Whole genome sequencing data was collected to identify genetic mutations correlated to such growth. The findings included in this thesis indicates that the P. aeruginosa clinical strain was able to adapt to all antibiotics prescribed, including the Ceftazidime/Avibactam combination. Further analysis of growth and biofilm formation patterns included as part of study indicate that the adapted bacteria differ in growth patterns and biofilm formation in contrast to the un-adapted Parent. Further evidence is needed, however, to clarify whether these differences are indeed as a result of adaptation to antibiotics. Subsequent whole genome sequencing detected SNPs in several genes of interest, including the OprD domain. Future studies should continue to analyse the genetic expression of adapted strains through transcriptomics, and incorporate methods that are more applicable to patient lung environments.
| Item Type: | Thesis (MSc by research) |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | Latimer, J (Supervisor) |
| Schools: | Schools > School of Environment and Life Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Jacob Parkes |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Nov 2020 08:57 |
| Last Modified: | 27 Aug 2021 21:45 |
| URI: | https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/58503 |
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