PhD defence by Yaqiong Song
Distribution, transmission and drivers of antibiotic resistance genes in soil-plant system
Assessment Committee
- Professor Lars Hestbjerg Hansen, Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN), University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
- Research Director Edward Topp, INRAE, INRAE, UMR Agroécologie 17 rue Sully, 21065, Dijon, France
- Professor Anne Winding, Aarhus University
Supervisor(s)
- Associate Professor Kristian Koefoed Brandt
- Professor Yong-Guan Zhu
Department
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Place
CPSC Building, Room: Aud. A2-11.01,Bülowsvej 21a, 1870 Frederiksberg
Email address to gain access to the thesis: yaso@plen.ku.dk
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.
Short description of the thesis
Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to global public health and agricultural soil may be an underappreciated source. When livestock manure is used as fertilizer, it introduces antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into the environment, which can spread to crops and reach humans through the food chain. This study examined how different soil types and plant parts influence ARG spread, finding that certain soils pose particularly high risks. Long-term pig manure application significantly elevated resistance gene levels, and disease-causing bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, were detected in crop plants. These findings offer a scientific foundation for smarter, soil-specific farming strategies to protect public health.