Determining the molecular mode of action of HPC product preservatives and characterising antimicrobial resistance in problematic bacterial contaminant

每年，包括清洁产品、化妆品和洗漱用品在内的数百万吨家居和个人护理(HPC)产品被全球制造商生产。为了使这些产品不受微生物的影响，工业制造商添加了抗菌防腐剂。然而，产品偶尔会受到微生物的污染，其中最常见的是抗菌素耐药性细菌，这种细菌也可能导致人类感染。高性能混凝土行业正在经历相当大的变化，需要减少环境有毒防腐剂的使用，消费者面临使用天然、温和但效果较差的防腐剂的压力，以及减少使用单一使用的塑料包装的迫切要求。这些变化有利于增加HPC产品的污染，以及导致感染爆发的抗菌素耐药(AMR)细菌的潜在增加。我们与联合利华研究与开发公司(英国太阳港)合作提供案例博士研究生，旨在填补与防腐剂和新型多功能产品成分的使用有关的多个知识空白。卡迪夫大学和联合利华过去的合作博士培训研究了一系列存在问题的耐药细菌，包括伯克霍尔德菌、假单胞菌和肠杆菌科细菌。这些物种被认为是与制定新的HPC保护战略有关的优先事项。拟议的PHD将研究主要细菌污染物防腐作用模式和抗药性背后的机制。这一知识将为工业制造商提供解决方案，以改善HPC的保存和防止进一步的抗菌素耐药性的发展。该项目将具体：1.使用分子和基因组技术来了解防腐剂和多功能成分如何抑制或杀灭细菌，以及工业污染物如何抵抗这些重要的抗菌剂。2.使用包括聚合酶链式反应、全基因组测序和工业产品全部DNA含量测序(元基因组分析)在内的分子方法，监测和识别造成制造事故的优先污染物。3.了解大质粒(称为巨质粒)如何特别帮助优先污染物在HPC产品中富含抗菌剂的严酷条件下存活

Each year, millions of tonnes of home and personal care (HPC) products, including cleaning products, cosmetics andtoiletries are manufacturer globally. To keep these products free from microorganisms, industrial manufacturers addantimicrobial preservatives. However, products occasionally become contaminated with microorganisms, the mostcommon of which are antimicrobial resistant bacteria which can also cause human infections. The HPC industry is undergoing considerable change, needing to reduce the use of environmentally toxic preservatives,consumer pressure to use natural and milder but less effective preservatives, and the urgent requirement to reducesingle-use plastic packaging. The changes are conducive to increased HPC product contamination, and a potential rise inantimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria causing outbreaks of infection. We have teamed up with Unilever Research & Development (Port Sunlight, UK) to offer a CASE PhD studentship aimedat filling multiple knowledge gaps in relation to the use of preservatives and new multifunctional product ingredients.Past collaborative PhD training between Cardiff University and Unilever has investigated a range of problematicantimicrobial resistant bacteria including Burkholderia, Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae. These species areconsidered priorities in relation to the development of new HPC preservation strategies. The proposed PhD will examine the mechanisms behind preservative mode of action and resistance in the prioritybacterial contaminants. This knowledge will provide industrial manufacturers with solutions to improve HPCpreservation and preventing the development of further antimicrobial resistance.The project will specifically: 1. Use molecular and genomic techniques to understand how preservatives and multifunctional ingredients work tosuppress or kill bacteria, as well as how the industrial contaminant resist these important antimicrobials. 2. Monitor and identify priority contaminants causing manufacturing incidents using molecular methods including PCR,whole genome sequencing and sequencing the entire DNA content of the industrial products(metagenomic analysis). 3. Understand how large plasmids (called megaplasmids) specifically help priority contaminants survive the harshantimicrobial-rich conditions in HPC products