Course Information
Course Director: Dr Subhash Jakhesara (Anand Agricultural University, India)
Course team: Dr Prakash G. Koringa (AAU), Dr Madhvi Joshi (Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center, India), Dr Ben Swift (Royal Veterinary College, UK), Professor Ayona Silva-Fletcher (RVC), Professor Damer Blake (RVC), Professor Fiona Tomley (RVC)
Research Assistant: Dr Mansi Desai
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The growing prevalence of AMR is a global health challenge that requires accurate and rapid diagnostic methods to confirm phenotypic testing in surveillance studies and to understand the mechanisms responsible for the development of AMR. This course will provide the training for researchers to become expert in the detection of AMR, using techniques from basic antimicrobial susceptibility testing to molecular diagnostic methods.
Although AMR is a global issue, it is of particular importance in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where antibiotics are widely available without the need for a prescription and where antibiotics are used inappropriately and excessively by humans and in livestock production. In such contexts, interventions to prevent further development of AMR are very urgent.
In order to inform AMR surveillance programmes that can track resistant microbes, their genes, and their mutations, molecular diagnostic methods are necessary. The detection of AMR in pathogens can be done by identifying phenotypic resistance using antibiotic susceptibility testing. However, this method is time consuming and insufficient to understand how AMR develops and spreads. Molecular methods are capable of detecting the exact genes or mutations in microbes which is needed to interpret AMR profiles at surveillance sites and overall understand the global occurrence and spread of certain resistance mechanisms. From a One Health perspective, monitoring the presence and development of resistance genes in bacteria infecting humans and animals and throughout the natural environment (soil and water) is critical to understanding and preventing the spread of AMR.
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Although many microbiology laboratories have the capability to do phenotypic testing of AMR bacteria, they are unable to carry out resistance gene analysis and molecular diagnostics. Due to lack of knowledge, skills, and resources most research groups and laboratories are unable to develop molecular diagnostic capabilities. This course will train researchers in both advanced phenotypic testing and AMR molecular diagnostics. Those who undertake this course will have up-to-date knowledge and expertise on the measurement and understanding of AMR. These skills will allow the trained individuals to play a valuable and important role in helping national and international efforts to monitor and control the threat of AMR.
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Intended Learning Outcomes: the 6-week online course intends to deliver the following learning outcomes: At the end of this course you will:
1) Develop theoretical understanding of the research skills for the diagnosis of AMR including:
A) phenotypic resistance testing
B) More advanced quantitative and molecular-based methods and their quality control
2) Obtain the skills to put into practice the knowledge and skills taught in the online course including:
A) All necessary skills in obtaining and handling samples of faeces from animals and humans and samples of soil and water from the environment
B) Growing pure culture
C) Phenotypic disc diffusion analysis of resistant isolates
D) Serotyping/phage typing
E) Quantitative and molecular-based approaches including Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR), Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) and introducing whole genome sequencing and its uses for typing, generating phylogenetic trees, resistome analysis and identifying mutations related to AMR.
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Entry requirements: The course is tailored for post-graduate students and early career researchers. However, all interested participants with a bio-sciences background are encouraged to apply.
Time Commitment: The 6-week online course is free to attend, however, a time commitment is required by participants. The course will run from 18th of April – 7th of June 2022. The online course can be undertaken at the participant’s home or place of work and will be delivered through online materials including tutor-led interactive discussion forums based on audio and video-based materials and self-assessment quizzes.
Awards and Credits: A joint RVC/AAU certificate will be awarded to participants upon completion of the course. Successful completion of the online course will provide 7 academic credits (UK Credit accumulation and transfer scheme credits https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/academic-credit-framework.pdf?sfvrsn=940bf781_12).
Applications will open on the 21st of February and will close on the 14th of March
A joint RVC/AAU certificate will be awarded to participants upon completion of the course
Please note that there are limited number of spaces available (25) for the course. Interested individuals should apply via the interest form below by 14th March at the latest. Selected participants will be informed by 21st March.
For course-related enquiries, please contact Dr. Mansi Desai
Email: mansidesai0@gmail.com
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