Grant: Project Grant

Certain strains of Streptococcus suis, a bacterium which can affect both pigs and humans, are becoming resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, which includes penicillin, particularly in Thailand. This is a concern for public health as it means that current treatments may not work as well. Recent studies have suggested that mutations in penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) drive beta-lactam resistance in S. suis, but only a few human isolates have been characterized. The study is being conducted by a team of experts from Thailand, Canada and other countries, and is part of the global effort to combat antibiotic resistance. The team hypothesizes that large-scale genomics analysis of S. suis strains, along with the use of protein modeling and machine learning, will uncover new PBP variants associated with beta-lactam resistance in this pathogen. Additionally, the study will compare epidemiological and administrative data from human and swine infections to identify risk factors that may be associated with the emergence of this antibiotic resistance. By understanding these risk factors, the team hopes to be able to improve practices and ultimately decrease the emergence of antibiotic resistant S. suis. This collaborative endeavour also has equity as an important driver, as it addresses the uneven burden of S. suis infections and beta-lactam resistance in a middle-income country and aims to provide meaningful and locally relevant solutions. The expected outcomes of this research include the characterization of the genetic basis of beta-lactam resistance in S. suis, the development of a predictive model for early detection of beta-lactam resistance, allowing for rapid intervention, as well as novel insights into production practices, approaches to antimicrobial usage, and risk factors associated with beta-lactam resistance in S. suis.