Use of natural -based solutions to combat antimicrobial resistance

The spread of drug -resistant bacteria, in particular gram -negative tribes, requires urgent measures, including research to assess the effectiveness of natural -based solutions in combating the problem.

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In many European countries there are antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater treatment plants, especially in water from hospitals. In most cases, these plants are not designed in such a way that these genes are eliminated so that they can pollute rivers and finally reach at home. Antibiotics and resistance genes that are used to fertilize fields can also be found in aquatic ecosystems via cattle fertilizers.

A global survey in published in Nature In 2024, drug -resistant infections killed more people than the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) or malaria. It is estimated that an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs by 2050 – which occurs when bacteria and mushrooms develop to withstand the medication they should remove, and the infections and are difficult or even impossible to treat – can cause up to 10 million deaths. This is comparable to the number of deaths caused by cancer in 2020.

What are natural -based solutions?

Natural -based solutions are strategies in which work with nature includes coping with social challenges and offers advantages for both well -being and biological diversity. Examples are the reforestation to absorb carbon and the prevention of erosion, the restoration of moisture areas for water filtration and flood control, green roofs to cool down cities and reduce the protection of mangrove to protect the coast and to the agroforstei to improve the health of the soil and the harvest. These solutions improve biological diversity, water quality and disaster risk and at the same time strengthen human well -being through cleaner air and greener spaces.

Wastewater from urban treatment plants contains biofilm-mainly bacteria and microalgen-sowie planktonic communities that absorb antibiotic-resistance genes and mobile genetic elements. Biofilm forms naturally on stones in the water and helps to reduce these contaminants.

Inspired by this natural process, researchers from the Beta Technological Center in Catalonia, Spain, have developed a labor -based pilot system as a natural -based solution. In the facility, the sewage is recirculated in a bioreactor so that biofilm and planktonic communities can grow. The water is cleaned within a few days. This inexpensive approach is particularly suitable for small town treatment plants. The bioreactor would be placed in the outlet of the plant, where the nutrient levels support biofilm growth and serve as a step in the tertiary water treatment step.

The Sure-AMR project financed by the European Union also examines for opportunities to tackle AMR with natural-based solutions in regions such as Ukraine. The Eastern European country faces a growing AMR problem that is exacerbated by the war. Now the European Union is with a growing challenge with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is further tightened by the war in neighboring Ukraine.

The project started in October 2024 with Ukraine as head and other partner institutions in Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. The solutions evaluated in the initiative include Entenweed Bioreactoren in the outlet of a water treatment plant. Duckweed is a aquatic plant that can remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, bacteria and antibiotics from water.

The second solution rated a river ecosystem with biofilm channels and snails as the second stage of water cleaning. Biofilms feed on contaminants such as Amr genes and reduce their presence in the water. Snails contribute to the fact that excess biofilm fulfills, the overgrowth prevent and consume organic rubble and algae, which further refines the cleaning process. The process ends with built wetlands for final cleaning.

This approach lowers the operating costs and makes water treatment more accessible in resource -limited areas. It also improves the resilience of the climate and strengthens the ecosystems through the development of natural infrastructures (duckweed bioreactors and biofilm channels) that protect water sources and at the same time address AMR to protect public health and to prevent the transmission.

The rise of Amr

While AMR is a natural phenomenon, it is significantly accelerated by over -stress and abuse of antibiotics and antifungal. These drugs not only aim at harmful pathogens, but also disturb advantageous microbes, which generates the pressure for the adaptation of bacteria and fungi.

Resistant germs can transfer their DNA, including resistance characteristics, to other microbes, even those who were not previously exposed to antibiotics or antifungals. This process enables antimicrobial-resistant pathogens to survive, spread and develop greater defense mechanisms. The simple killing of bacteria does not remove any resistance genes because they exist in microbial communities and can spread further.

The rise of AMR is largely powered by the rapid development of highly resistant gram -negative bacteria that have overtaken the gram -positive tribes. The outer membrane of gram -negative bacteria is the main reason for resistance to a variety of antibiotics. Mutations in the proteins of these membranes even give new drugs bacterial resistance. An example of gram -negative bacteria is KlebsiellaA common intestinal bacterium with increased levels of resistance to critical antibiotics. This bacterium can reduce beta-lactam medication such as penicillin. These antibiotics inhibit the bacterial cell wall synthesis that causes bacterial cell death.

This resistance is observed in higher proportions in war countries such as Ukraine and becomes an increasing challenge in Europe, Asia and America. Forecasts by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) show that resistance to last resort antibiotics undoubtedly increases by 2035. This underlines the urgent need for robust antimicrobial stewardship practices and improved surveillance reporting worldwide.

Holistic approach

Combating the rapidly growing global problem of antimicrobial resistance requires the integration of environmental solutions, human and veterinary medicine as well as politically controlled interventions. In healthcare, it is important to invest in new treatments and at the same time to ensure responsible antibiotics use, infection prevention and antimicrobial administration in order to reduce abuse and development of resistance. In veterinary medicine, the restriction of antibiotics in animals that are raised for food and in which these drugs are used to promote faster growth instead of diseases. The improvement of agricultural hygiene, animal welfare and vaccination can also help limit the AMR spread.