By Cate Willis

University of Guelph researchers are developing a platform for the detection of antibiotic-resistance genes that will enhance the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).  

Dr. Nicole Ricker [1], Department of Pathobiology in the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), is working on a tool called the Diversity of Antibiotic Resistance genes and Transfer Elements-Quantitative Monitoring (DARTE-QM) platform [2]. This platform is designed to identify and track antibiotic resistant genes from bacteria in various environmental samples, including soil, manure, water, wastewater and wildlife. 

“The primary purpose of this platform is to improve the surveillance of AMR genes in environmental samples related to animal agriculture, offering a reliable and quantifiable method for gene detection and monitoring,” she says.  

The initial platform was developed as a collaboration between the United States Department of Agriculture and Iowa State University while Ricker was a postdoctoral fellow at both institutions. Now, with Food from Thought [1] funding, she is leading a team to refine the AMR targets, streamline DNA extraction processes and optimize the quantification of gene abundance across samples. 

“I wanted to keep working on this project because of the amount of interest there is globally in making surveillance tools for antibiotic resistance that are reliable and able to be reproduced,” she says. “I believe this platform can be very valuable in addressing this need.” 

Ricker says multiple research teams are in the process of developing AMR surveillance platforms and they all are facing similar challenges in creating tools that can be used over time and for different areas while ensuring the results are consistent and measurable for comparisons. 

“The team is focused on identifying AMR genes that are commonly used for tracking in a One Health context since they can move between people, animals and the environment,” says Ricker. 

The final platform will build upon the original design, enhancing its capability of detecting hundreds of AMR genes simultaneously. The team is currently refining AMR targets and optimizing the quantification process.   

“This will enable the collection of data on AMR gene abundance across different sectors and help policymakers make evidence-based decisions regarding antimicrobial use and its impact on AMR prevalence,” says Ricker.  

Ricker is a co-investigator on the DARTE-QM project along with Dr. Dan Tulpan [3], Ontario Agricultural College, as well as Drs. Brandon Lillie [4] and Heather Murphy [5], both in the Department of Pathobiology. They are collaborating with Dr. Adina Howe [6], Iowa State University, and Dr. Andrew McArthur [7], McMaster University, along with various Canadian academics and government partners. 

This research was funded by the University of Guelph's Food from Thought research program, supported by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The initial DARTE-QM development was funded through an AFRI food safety grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.