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ExcludeMRSA Preventing transmission of MRSA from livestock to humans through competitive exclusion

ExcludeMRSA investigated reducing farmers' exposure to LA-MRSA (Life Stock Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) by treating piglets with a microflora that competes with this pathogen.

Goal

The objectives include identifying bacterial species through microbiome and competition studies, studying the efficacy of a nasal microflora on piglets under field conditions, and estimating risk reduction in MRSA transmission to humans. 

Methods

The researchers analysed piglet nasal microbiomes, identifying species negatively correlated with MRSA and collected samples from 256 piglets across 3 countries for a strain biobank. Microbiome analysis revealed age and farm effects on the microbiome and they identified competing strains for pathogen reduction. A cocktail of strains was then applied to litters in Ireland and the Netherlands, with ongoing comparisons between treated and placebo groups. 

Collaboration partners

The researchers collaborated with the ABR project MRSA-PREVENT (Dutch only).

Results

The study compared methods for measuring airborne MRSA on pig farms, suggesting the use of electrostatic dust fall collectors for quantifying MRSA levels. Results were published in scientific journals, contributing to the One Health approach for preventing AMR infections in agricultural settings.

Products

Title: Differential Analysis of Longitudinal Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Relation to Microbial Shifts in the Nasal Microbiome of Neonatal Piglets
Author: Shriram Patel # 1, Abel A Vlasblom # 2, Koen M Verstappen 2, Aldert L Zomer 2, Ad C Fluit 3, Malbert R C Rogers 3, Jaap A Wagenaar 2 4, Marcus J Claesson 1, Birgitta Duim 2
Magazine: mSystems
Link: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msystems.00152-21?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed
Title: Safety Evaluation of an Intranasally Applied Cocktail of Lactococcus lactis Strains in Pigs
Magazine: Ruth Rattigan 1, Lukasz Wajda 1, Abel A Vlasblom 2, Alan Wolfe 3, Aldert L Zomer 2, Birgitta Duim 2, Jaap A Wagenaar 2, Peadar G Lawlor 1
Start- and endpage: 3442-
Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/22/3442
Title: Targeted isolation of bacteria with potential to competitively exclude Staphylococcus aureus in the upper respiratory tract of pigs
Author: Abel A. Vlasblom, Shriram Patel, Peadar G. Lawlor, Marcus J. Claesson, Daniel Crespo-Piazuelo, Julia Eckenberger, Chloe E. Huseyin, Christian Elend, Jaap A. Wagenaar, Aldert L. Zomer, Birgitta Duim
Magazine: biorxiv
Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.11.598526v1
Title: The developing pig respiratory microbiome harbors strains antagonistic to common respiratory pathogens
Author: Abel A Vlasblom 1, Birgitta Duim 1 2, Shriram Patel 3 4, Roosmarijn E C Luiken 1, Daniel Crespo-Piazuelo 5, Julia Eckenberger 3, Chloe E Huseyin 3, Peadar G Lawlor 5, Christian Elend 6, Jaap A Wagenaar 1 2 7, Marcus J Claesson 3, Aldert L Zomer 1 2
Magazine: mSystems
Start- and endpage: 62624-
Link: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msystems.00626-24?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
Title: A comparison of passive and active dust sampling methods for measuring airborne methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pig farms
Author: Anne E Rittscher 1, Abel A Vlasblom 2, Birgitta Duim 2, Peter Scherpenisse 1, Isabella J van Schothorst 1, Inge M Wouters 1, Liese Van Gompel 1, Lidwien A M Smit 1
Magazine: Ann Work Expo Health
Start- and endpage: 1004-1010
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10516621/

Features

  • Project number:
    549003004
  • Duration: 100%
    Duration: 100 %
    2018
    2023
  • Part of programme:
  • Related funding round:
  • Project lead and secretary:
    dr. A.L. Zomer
  • Responsible organisation:
    Universiteit Utrecht