Overview
Environmental DNA (eDNA)/RNA (eRNA) is the genetic material organisms leave behind in their environment, including in water, soil and air.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) infections—where bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites become resistant to the medications designed to kill them—pose significant health and economic challenges for Canada and the world.
This project is tackling AMR by developing an innovative and cost-effective monitoring system using wastewater-based surveillance and livestock samples, which can be analyzed to detect genes associated with AMR.
By utilizing environmental eDNA to detect AMR genes in the samples, this project will provide a broader understanding of resistance patterns within communities. The goal is to establish correlations between environmental and clinical AMR data, creating a comprehensive approach to monitoring and managing AMR in Canada.
This project will develop a portable “Lab-in-a-Box” system to enable rapid, onsite detection of eDNA (AMR genes) in wastewater. This tool will be particularly valuable for remote and underserved regions, as it preserves sample integrity and provides faster results than traditional methods, which often require shipping samples to centralized labs. The project will also develop an Ethical and Inclusive Governance Framework to ensure that eDNA data collection and analysis in Indigenous communities respects their rights and is conducted in a culturally sensitive manner.
The project will:
- Optimize and validating new eDNA-based tools to enhance AMR surveillance at local and national levels. Public health officials, including Ontario Public Health Units (PHUs) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), will have access to near real-time data on AMR trends. This will enable them to detect AMR hotspots, implement targeted interventions and adjust antimicrobial use policies, and in keeping with the Governance Framework to ensure Indigenous rights are respected.
- By providing evidence-based data, help expand the use of eDNA technologies as surveillance tools, optimize antibiotic use, reduce treatment failures and curb the spread of AMR, improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs across Canada.
- Provide opportunities for collaboration to foster a continuous exchange of knowledge between clinical and environmental surveillance systems. This comprehensive approach will significantly improve Canada’s ability to respond to AMR and guide public health efforts to combat this growing global health crisis.