Fernanda Paganelli (research group Microbial Genomics & Microbiomics) will coordinate the JPIAMR-sponsored MISTAR project (Microbiota Intervention Strategies Limiting Selection and Transmission of Antibiotic Resistance burden in the One Health domain). MISTAR will bring perspectives on novel interventions to reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance that can readily be integrated into existing organisational structures that are also applicable in low-and-middle income countries, and innovative technologies, which needs investment.

The central aim of MISTAR is to implement and quantify the effect of novel intervention strategies based on the preservation of the “healthy microbiota” to eradicate and control the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This will be done using a One Health approach that involves hospitalized patients, healthy humans, pets, farm animals and the environment.

Dr. Fernanda Paganelli

MISTAR will follow three main approaches to control the spread of AMR:

• (i) Intervene with the gut microbiota either by prioritizing potential interventions based of microbiota composition indices/diagnostic tools or by using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to modulate the gut microbiota to reduce and possibly avoid the colonization of and further infections by multidrug resistance pathogens.
• (ii) Intervene with airborne dust-bound spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) between pets and humans in households, farm animals and hospitalized patients by applying air purifiers to remove these microorganisms from the air.
•  (iii) It will develop novel innovative intervention approaches aimed at specifically targeting ARB in complex microbial communities, like the intestinal tract and sewage.