11 Objectives

The scientific and technological objectives of the project are to use a multidisciplinary approach involving clinical, pharmacological, genetic, bacteriological, molecular biological and epidemiological expertise to study the impact of different antibiotics in selecting resistance among pathogenic and commensal members of the indigenous microbiota of humans. This overall objective will be achieved by the following sub-objectives:

Objective #1: to identify and quantify those cultivable antibiotic-resistant bacteria that emerge during the administration of four different antibiotics to healthy volunteers

Objective #2: to investigate, using 454 pyrosequencing, the full complement of resistance determinants (the resistome) in the cultivable and not-yet-cultivable microbiota and the effect on this of antibiotic administration.

Objective #3: to ascertain the dynamics of resistance development and the persistence of antibiotic-resistant strains.

Objective #4: to compare the pattern of antibiotic resistance development induced by different classes of antibiotics.

Objective #5: to investigate the ecological impact of antibiotic administration on the cultivable indigenous microbiota.

Objective #6: to investigate, using 454 pyrosequencing, the ecological impact of antibiotic administration on the cultivable and not-yet-cultivable indigenous microbiota.

Objective #7: to characterise, using state-of-the-art microarrays, the antibiotic resistance determinants in the isolates obtained from the clinical studies.

Objective #8: to determine the mobility of the resistance genes detected in the isolates obtained from the clinical studies.

Objective #9: to ascertain the biological cost of antibiotic resistance in a number of clinically-important organisms isolated during the clinical studies.

Objective #10: To disseminate the project findings to the clinical and scientific communities and to the general public and to ensure access to the ANTIRESDEV databases to enable future studies by other groups.

Objective #11: To use the ANTIRESDEV findings to inform health care decision makers of some of the factors influencing the emergence and persistence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria following the administration of particular antibiotics and thereby provide opportunities for them to implement appropriate policies concerning antibiotic use.