Graduate Exit Seminar - Audrey Laiveling

Plan to join Audrey Laiveling's graduate exit seminar on November 14, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Audrey will present, "Trophic Linkages as Pathways for Aquatic Dissemination of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Ohio Watersheds."

Abstract: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) pose a growing threat to public health by rendering antibiotic treatments ineffective and causing prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare expenditures, and greater risk of mortality. Of particular concern are those resistant to carbapenems – powerful antibiotics used for life-threatening infections. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and carbapenem-resistance genes are established in surface waters through hospital and wastewater effluent. However, little is known about their presence in aquatic wildlife. Transmission of CRE from aquatic to terrestrial systems could introduce CRE into animal operations and subsequently the human food supply. Therefore, it is crucial to understand pathways of dissemination within and between aquatic and riparian organisms. This study investigates the effects of (1) fish-based ecological network structure and (2) trophic position and diet composition on carbapenem resistance in aquatic and riparian reaches surrounding six wastewater treatment plants discharging into medium-to-large rivers in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, Ohio.

Advisors: Dr. Stephen Matthews and Dr. Mazeika Sullivan