Origin and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
in Extreme Environments
Origin and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance in Extreme Environments
BioResist is an ambitious research project funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (Project ID 25326) under the “3rd Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to Support Faculty Members & Researchers”.
The main goal of BioResist is to explore the antibiotic resistance phenomenon in microbial communities from extreme environments, its evolutionary origin and its ecological significance, to unravel the complex and interrelated roles of environmental sources and to evaluate possible interconnections with global health.
The biggest challenge of BioResist lies on the characterization of the environmental resistome, which is critical to understand the role of the environment as a source for new resistance factors. We will further travel back in time of few million years ago to investigate the ancient resistome. For the first time, deep subsurface samples from Santorini‐Kolumbo‐Christiana volcanic field will be explored for the presence of antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
From the ancient deep subsurface to the modern‐day hot and enriched in heavy metals hydrothermal vent environments of the HVA, BioResist project will aim to shed light on the origin and evolution of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in microorganisms.
Exploring Extreme Environments –>
Synergies
Expedition to the Kolumbo Submarine Volcano
An upcoming research expedition will be conducted aboard the R/V Aegaeo, operated by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). The mission will focus on targeted sampling within the extreme environments of the Kolumbo submarine volcano
Using the remotely operated vehicle ROV MaxROVer, the expedition will enable the precise collection of biological and geochemical samples from hydrothermal vents, gas-rich sediments, and other high-temperature, low-pH habitats
BioResist is funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation under the “3rd Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to Support Faculty Members & Researchers” (Project ID 25326)
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