One Health AMR surveillance using bait-capture metagenomics across human, animal and environmental samples in KwaZulu-Natal
This project investigates the triangulation of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli across the human, animal, and environmental sectors within a One Health framework. Targeted metagenomics was performed on pooled E. coli isolates obtained from bloodstream and urinary tract infections, poultry and pig-associated samples, and environmental matrices including soil, wastewater, and surface waters. The study aims to characterize antimicrobial resistance genes, plasmids, mobile genetic elements, and virulence determinants to better understand the distribution and potential transmission dynamics of resistance across interconnected ecosystems.