Will Climate Change Worsen the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat, and recent research suggests that higher environmental temperatures may accelerate its spread. This project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind this relationship, focusing on how temperature affects bacterial behaviour and gene transfer. A key focus is on plasmids, which are small DNA molecules that: transfer antibiotic resistance between bacteria play a major role in the spread of AMR The project will investigate: Plasmid transfer rates across temperatures Higher temperatures may increase bacterial growth Faster growth could lead to faster gene transfer Selection for antibiotic resistance Carrying resistance genes can be costly for bacteria The project will study how temperature changes these costs and benefits AMR dynamics in real communities Use environmental and clinical bacteria Study how resistance spreads in mixed populations Methods used: laboratory experiments DNA sequencing (including metagenomics) flow cytometry and qPCR mathematical and computational modelling The project uses: a large library of Escherichia coli isolates from cattle additional human-infecting strains This allows the research to: link environmental bacteria to human health risks understand how AMR moves from environment → humans Expected outcomes: mechanistic understanding of temperature-driven AMR spread predictive models for resistance risk insights for designing better control strategies

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat, and recent research suggests that higher environmental temperatures may accelerate its spread.

This project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind this relationship, focusing on how temperature affects bacterial behaviour and gene transfer.

A key focus is on plasmids, which are small DNA molecules that:

transfer antibiotic resistance between bacteria
play a major role in the spread of AMR

The project will investigate:

Plasmid transfer rates across temperatures
Higher temperatures may increase bacterial growth
Faster growth could lead to faster gene transfer
Selection for antibiotic resistance
Carrying resistance genes can be costly for bacteria
The project will study how temperature changes these costs and benefits
AMR dynamics in real communities
Use environmental and clinical bacteria
Study how resistance spreads in mixed populations

Methods used:

laboratory experiments
DNA sequencing (including metagenomics)
flow cytometry and qPCR
mathematical and computational modelling

The project uses:

a large library of Escherichia coli isolates from cattle
additional human-infecting strains

This allows the research to:

link environmental bacteria to human health risks
understand how AMR moves from environment → humans

Expected outcomes:

mechanistic understanding of temperature-driven AMR spread
predictive models for resistance risk
insights for designing better control strategies

Apply via the official Exeter funding page:

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=5844

Steps:

Visit the application link
Submit application through the university portal
Upload:
CV
Personal statement
Academic transcripts
References