Project Summary:

Urban environments are hotspots for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), yet the pathways through which resistance moves in cities remain poorly understood. The UWARE project investigates how urban water systems contribute to the circulation of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and genes in and around Edinburgh. By combining environmental sampling, microbial genomics, and epidemiological analysis, we aim to map the reservoirs and transmission routes of AMR in our water networks. This work will provide critical insights into how human activity, infrastructure, and microbial ecology intersect to drive the spread of resistance, helping to inform strategies to safeguard public health and maintain urban water safety. 

Graphical Workflow of Weekly Sampling, Water Processing, E. coli Enumeration, and Assessment of AMR in E. coli Over Five Days. On Day 1, water temperature, pH, nitrate concentration, and NaCl saturation are measured, and water volumes for vacuum filtration are pre-determined. On Day 2, samples are vacuum filtered and cultured on ChromoSelect Agar (CCA) plates. On Day 3, colonies are enumerated and subcultured on LB agar plates based on the proportion of blue, pink, and clear colonies. On Day 4, subcultures are streaked on LB agar plates with different antibiotics. On Day 5, resistant colonies are enumerated.