Hey everyone, my name is Charlie and I am taking part in the #GlobalScienceShow, following on from @marinemumbles!

Today I’ll be discussing #antibioticresistance in the #environment! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💊" title="Tablette" aria-label="Emoji: Tablette">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌿" title="Kräuter" aria-label="Emoji: Kräuter">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🐄" title="Kuh" aria-label="Emoji: Kuh">

Follow the show and check out @DrStephenHendry next!

@GlobalSciShow #ScienceFromHome

According to @WHO, “antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to #globalhealth, food, security and development today and can affect anyone, of any age, in any country” https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌍" title="Europa-Afrika auf dem Globus" aria-label="Emoji: Europa-Afrika auf dem Globus">

Although the relevance isn’t only medical, it can be ecological and affect the environment too! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌱" title="Setzling" aria-label="Emoji: Setzling">

Antibiotic resistance has been around far longer than antibiotics have, as most antibiotics are natural molecules! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💊" title="Tablette" aria-label="Emoji: Tablette">

This means bacteria have been interacting with these molecules since ancient times https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🦖" title="T-Rex" aria-label="Emoji: T-Rex"> - so bacteria have evolved to be resistant over time to survive! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💪🏻" title="Angespannter Bizeps (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Angespannter Bizeps (heller Hautton)">

This resistance can be intrinsic (already in the bacterial chromosome https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧬" title="DNA" aria-label="Emoji: DNA">) or acquired (usually via horizontal gene transfer, but can be a genetic mutation).

Essentially, the bacteria can either be ‘born’ with it, or acquire it at some point in its lifetime.

Horizontal gene transfer for acquired resistance can happen in 3 ways: transformation, transduction (via bacteriophage viruses) and conjugation, this is explained well in the article linked!! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧬" title="DNA" aria-label="Emoji: DNA">

img: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro1325/figures/2">https://www.nature.com/articles/...

According to UKGov POSTnote 595 (2019) there are 3 reservoirs of antibiotic resistance: humans https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼" title=" (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: (heller Hautton)">, animals https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🐄" title="Kuh" aria-label="Emoji: Kuh"> and the environment https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌱" title="Setzling" aria-label="Emoji: Setzling">

Antibiotics are found in the environment both naturally occurring and through human/animal use (e.g. in wastewater/manure), affecting bacteria!

Antibiotic pollution is a big environmental issue - this is where antibiotics are found in rivers and soil following human/animal use, or in pharmaceutical factory waste. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💊" title="Tablette" aria-label="Emoji: Tablette">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☣️" title="Symbol für Bio-Gefährdung" aria-label="Emoji: Symbol für Bio-Gefährdung">

This can encourage resistance, and encourage the spread of acquired resistance as explained earlier.

There’s some rules we can all follow to combat the spread of antibiotic resistance! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💊" title="Tablette" aria-label="Emoji: Tablette">

Take a look at this little @WHO infographic!

MAJOR POINT - if for any reason you have leftover tablets - do not dispose at home! Take them to your local pharmacy!! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏥" title="Krankenhaus" aria-label="Emoji: Krankenhaus">

To finish with, I like this little quiz by @WHO - https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/quiz/en/">https://www.who.int/campaigns...

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this thread, and thank you @GlobalSciShow! #ScienceFromHome #GlobalScienceShow - check out @DrStephenHendry next!

For more information on antibiotic resistance, check out @WHO, @1Antruk, @APPGantibiotics and @saveantibiotics!

Feel free to ask me any questions too! Thank you!!