Project: Antibacterial biocides in the water cycle – an integrated approach to assess and manage risks for antibiotic resistance development

Acronym	BIOCIDE (Reference Number: ID 43)
Duration	01/09/2021 - 31/08/2024
Project Topic	The overall aim of BIOCIDE is to determine how antibacterial biocides contribute to the development and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in different aquatic/marine ecosystems, and to inform and enable measures that ultimately protects human health and safe water resources for both humans and wildlife. Generated data will include 1) exposure levels in different matrices, 2) concentrations that are likely to co-select for antibiotic resistance and promote horizontal gene transfer, 3) identification of predominant and novel genetic mechanisms for co-selection, as well as 4) a risk assessment. The knowledge created and its impact will reach well beyond the European setting. We will provide means to guide action both at the source (approval), and in other parts of the water cycle. Predicted No Effect Concentrations and new methodology will facilitate possible future inclusion in regulatory systems, in Europe and elsewhere. The maritime sector will receive guidance to improve sustainable transports by a better understanding of potential human health risks associated with the use of antifouling agents. The research has high relevance for all three JPIs and for several themes within the call, particularly those related to risk assessment and management.
Project Results (after finalisation)	1.1 Prioritize antibacterial biocides to be investigated based on existing databases on sales, uses and detection in aquatic environments 1.2. Develop state-of-the art chemical analysis protocols for a range of antibacterial biocides, applicable to different sample types 1.3. Generate screening data for the presence and levels of antibacterial biocides from a set of different aquatic ecosystems in Europe and Africa 2.1. Generate a dose-response matrix for a large number of biocides and bacterial species in order to Predict No Effect Concentrations (PNECs) for growth that will also be protective against AB resistance co-selection 2.2. Directly assessing co-selection by competition experiments in complex aquatic communities using a subset of biocides 2.3. Quantify the potency of selected biocides to induce horizontal transfer of AB resistance genes via conjugation and transformation 3.1. Uncover the incidence and mechanisms of AB resistance driven by metal-based antifouling agents used in international maritime traffic and marine aquaculture 3.2. Provide a first description of the predominant co- and cross-resistance mechanisms in bacterial isolates from aquatic ecosystems in Europe and Africa 3.3. Identify the genetic context and basis for resistance to several biocides using a functional metagenomics approach combined with exploration of public genomic data 4.1. Incorporate extensive data on selective concentrations and co-selection opportunities into the BacMet database to make it useful for practical risk assessment and management 4.2. Perform a preliminary assessment of risks for biocides to promote AB resistance in aquatic environments based on generated exposure and effect data 4.3. Produce an evaluation scheme in collaboration with relevant authorities on how resistance risks formally could be incorporated in existing regulatory frameworks
Network	AquaticPollutants
Call	1st AquaticPollutants Joint Call 2020

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	University of Gothenburg	Coordinator	Sweden
2	Institute of Marine Research contaminants and biohazards	Partner	Norway
3	Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)	Partner	Germany
4	Umea University	Partner	Sweden
5	University of Denmark	Partner	Denmark
6	University of Bucharest	Partner	Romania
7	University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice	Partner	Czech Republic