Decoding multidrug-resistant pathogen dynamics for clinically-relevant wastewater surveillance

Summary

This project aims to develop and implement clinically applicable wastewater surveillance systems for multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) in hospital settings to inform infection control, identify factors driving resistance, and create cost-effective methodologies for resource-limited environments.

What they want

The project involves three main aims: 1) establishing standardized longitudinal surveillance strategies using long-read metagenomics and novel bioinformatic approaches to identify changes in ESBL-E or CRE abundance and translating this data into 'action thresholds' for clinical teams; 2) identifying factors enabling the emergence of novel ESBL-E and CRE genotypes in wastewater using the Metapore-C technique to link bacterial hosts with resistance gene-harboring mobile elements, and investigating environmental factors like antibiotic levels and plumbing design; and 3) devising wastewater testing methodologies suited to resource-limited clinical settings, focusing on reducing per-sample costs and analytical burden, with a pilot at a pediatric hospital in Gaborone, Botswana.

Deliverables

Standardized longitudinal surveillance strategies for MDRB
Methods to translate wastewater testing data into interpretable 'action thresholds'
Identification of factors enabling the emergence of novel ESBL-E and CRE genotypes
Further developed Metapore-C technique
Wastewater testing methodologies for resource-limited clinical settings
Proof-of-concept for wastewater MDRB testing in diverse contexts
Best practices for global surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in hospital wastewater

Technical requirements

Long-read metagenomics
Novel bioinformatic approaches
Metapore-C technique

Market context

inferred from NAICS

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services

NAICS 541714

US market size: $2.0T
Typical award: $25K – $50M

Typical buyers

All federal civilianDoDStates

Commonly required

8(a)WOSBSDVOSBPE/PMP

Sector-level estimate — full code lookup not yet in catalog.