Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent public health threats of our time. While it is commonly associated with hospitals and clinical settings, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can also be found in the environment—including in the air we breathe.
This project focuses on understanding the presence and spread of ARGs in the atmosphere, particularly around wastewater treatment plants and agricultural areas. Using specially designed low-cost air samplers, we collect air samples and analyse them using DNA-based techniques to identify and measure ARGs.
Our goal is to better understand whether these resistance genes are being released into the air, how far they travel, and whether they pose a risk to surrounding communities. We are especially interested in sites where treated waste (biosolids) or agricultural inputs such as biostimulants are used, as these may increase the risk of ARG emissions.
In addition to this core focus, our research also examines how ARG patterns change during extreme weather events like floods, large-scale public events such as music festivals, and under different sample preservation methods. We are also conducting a national-scale assessment of ARGs in wastewater treatment plants across Australia.
By uncovering new information about airborne and environmental AMR, our work helps fill key knowledge gaps and supports more informed decisions on environmental health, public safety, and antibiotic stewardship.
Research Outcomes
Four major studies are nearing completion:
- Patterns of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) distribution and risk assessment across Australian wastewater treatment plants
- Temporal dynamics of ARGs during extreme flooding events
- AMR variation associated with large public gatherings (e.g., music festivals)
- Effects of different preservatives on the stability and metagenomic detection of AMR in environmental samples
