Molecular characterisation of antibiotic resistance genes in Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli recovered from food-producing animals and humans.

抗生素耐药性是一个日益严重的全球性问题。抗生素抗性基因位于可移动的遗传元件上，可以在远亲细菌之间水平转移。越来越明显的是，作为正常微生物菌群的一部分，健康人携带有耐药菌群。该项目将描述肠杆菌科细菌种群之间的抗生素抗性基因安排。这些耐药细菌对人类和兽医健康构成威胁，因为它们作为食物链的一部分很容易被摄入，并且是对病原体的抗生素耐药基因传播的宿主。

Antibiotic resistance is an accelerating global problem. Antibiotic resistance genes are located on mobile genetic elements which can be horizontally transferred between distantly related bacteria. It is becoming increasingly apparent that healthy humans carry populations of resistant bacteria as part of the normal microbial flora. This project will characterise the antibiotic resistance gene arrangements among populations of bacteria which belong to the Enterobacteriaceae. These resistant bacteria represent a threat to human and veterinary health because they are readily ingested as part of the food chain and represent reservoirs for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to pathogens.