Assessment of material potential to induce antimicrobial resistance

A sustainable product development includes the assessment of risks to induce or select for antimicrobial resistance. RISE has a broad competence in evaluating risks for resistance development using microbiology analysis methods combined with in-depth-knowledge of cellular processes.

Exposure of bacteria to antimicrobial substances or materials can lead to the evolution of resistance towards the active agent or an increased abundance of resistant bacteria through resistance selection, even at low antimicrobial concentrations. Development of antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to society and therefore it needs to be strongly considered when choosing or developing new antimicrobial technologies.

A sustainable development of antimicrobial substances or surfaces includes the assessment of risks to induce or select for antimicrobial resistance. RISE has a broad expertise in microbiological analysis combined with in-depth-knowledge of cellular and environmental processes that lead to increased antimicrobial resistance. The development of antimicrobial resistance in microbes can be tested and quantified in various ways depending on the material and antimicrobial properties.

The following methods can be applied and individually customized to evaluate the potential to induce or select for antimicrobial resistance:

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing before and after short- or long-term exposure
Multistep resistance assay to test if resistance can be induced
Identification of the induced resistance mechanism through:
- Whole genome sequencing to detect genomic changes
- Transcriptomic analysis through qPCR (relevant for e.g. drug efflux pumps, cellular stress response)
- Phenotypic alterations (microbial growth analysis, yield etc.)
Test for cross-resistance through a comprehensive resistance screen including e.g. antibiotics, biocides, metals
Competition experiments between susceptible and resistant strains to analyze the risk for selection of antimicrobial resistance
Application of advanced cultivation systems (biofilm reactors, growth in suspension)
Support in field experiments; characterization of the microflora
Measuring the antimicrobial activity against common antibiotic resistant pathogens (e.g. MRSA or carbapenem resistant Klebsiella aeruginosa)