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Antibiotics, Bacteria Interactions in Water Supplies


Study Explores Bacteria Resistance to Antibiotics, Consequences

Written By Keith Henry

Asa Gray presents lecture highlighting consequences to humans, animals

Contact
cleogrande@utica.edu

Utica, NY (10/22/2009)
- The Asa Gray Society at Utica College hosts researcher Mary Allen, chair and associate professor of biology at Hartwick College, as she delivers her lecture Variation Within a Summer Season in Bacteria Resistant to Antibiotics in the Upper Susquehanna River on Monday, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. in Donahue Auditorium in the Gordon Science Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.
  
Bacteria resistance to antibiotics has caused concern in the health profession but there are environmental concerns as well. Antibiotics enter natural environments from agricultural and municipal water sources. Some bacteria in soils have also been shown to consume antibiotics and use them for growth. The presentation will examine the incidence of antibiotic- resistant bacteria in the Upper Susquehanna River over the course of a summer season.
  
Two groups of bacteria were investigated: microbes that commonly inhabit the human intestine and serve as markers for pollution exposure and naturally occurring microbes that use antibiotics for growth. Understanding the ways bacteria react could help to clean up environments polluted with antibiotics or serve as mechanisms for antibiotic resistance to spread top bacteria that cause diseases in humans.

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