New perspectives on antimicrobial resistance through One Health

One Health is an approach based on the understanding that the health of humans, animals and plants are closely connected to the environment and the ecosystems we live in. Addressing complex health challenges therefore requires collaboration between researchers from different fields.

This is the starting point for the project Conceptualising antimicrobial resistance from an interdisciplinary One Health perspective, which brings together five SLU researchers from different scientific backgrounds. They will explore how antimicrobial resistance can be understood from a broader perspective, while also examining what happens when different ways of approaching the problem come together.

– We want to turn the concept of antimicrobial resistance inside out to understand what it means from a One Health perspective. Since we come from different scientific disciplines, it is also about learning to understand each other's language, reasoning and methods, says Susanna Sternberg Lewerin, professor at the Department of Animal Biosciences and leader of the project.

A problem that crosses boundaries

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms develop resistance to substances used to control them. The issue is often discussed in the context of human and veterinary medicine, but resistance is also relevant in areas such as crop production and the environment.

– In crop production, antimicrobial resistance is often discussed as an agricultural challenge. When it comes to the environment, it is even more difficult to describe what AMR actually means. At the same time, the environment can act both as a reservoir for resistance and as a link between other sectors, says Susanna.

There are many connections between these areas. Resistant microorganisms and resistance genes can move between humans and animals via the environment and plants. Antimicrobial substances used in humans, animals or plants can also enter the environment and contribute to the development of resistance. But according to Susanna, a One Health perspective can reveal connections that go beyond the biological ones.

– It is not only about our ability to treat infections. Ultimately, it is also about how we can produce enough food without compromising our ability to do the same in the future.

The same problem from different perspectives

The idea for the project grew out of discussions about the need for One Health and interdisciplinary approaches to tackle AMR. Although the importance of bringing together different perspectives is widely recognised, the issue is still largely addressed within separate areas of expertise.

– Experts tend to write and talk about their own parts of the problem. Everyone seems to agree that we need perspectives from more disciplines, but few have had the opportunity to sit down together and really explore the issue in depth.

The researchers' different backgrounds allow the group to approach AMR as a medical and biotechnological challenge, but also as an issue of sustainability, equity and society. This can also highlight consequences that might otherwise be overlooked within individual disciplines. Efforts to slow the development of resistance often focus on reducing the use of antimicrobial substances. But the implications for areas such as food security and the economy are often considered separately.

– We have already discovered differences in how we view antimicrobial resistance. This is partly because we have different areas of expertise, but also because we simply approach the problem from different perspectives.

Scientific dialogue at the heart of the project

Much of the group's work within IDA will therefore centre on discussion. The researchers read scientific papers from each other's fields and discuss how different disciplines describe and approach the problem. The group will also organise a workshop in Alnarp in the spring with key stakeholders from different sectors. Their ambition is for the work to eventually result in a joint scientific article.

For Susanna, who has worked with AMR for many years, the project also offers an opportunity to look at a familiar problem with fresh eyes.

– I am most curious about learning more about the other participants' fields and trying to look at a problem I have worked with for a long time, and perhaps thought I understood completely, from new perspectives. I already feel that I have gained new insights that I cannot quite put into words yet, but which I hope will become clearer as our work progresses.

She sees the opportunity to make room for this kind of scientific dialogue as one of the strengths of the Interdisciplinary Academy.

– IDA gives us the time and space for scientific dialogue, which is incredibly important for moving research forward. New ideas often emerge when researchers meet, and these ideas can lead to important research. I would love to see even more researchers have the opportunity to work in this way, Susanna concludes.

Participants

Participants in the project Conceptualising antimicrobial resistance from an interdisciplinary One Health perspective:

• Susanna Sternberg Lewerin, Department of Animal Biosciences
• Christoffer Söderlund Kanarp, Department of Urban and Rural Development
• Åsa Lankinen, Department of Plant Protection Biology
• Marc Yeterian, Department of Economics
• Ramesh Vetukuri, Department of Plant Breeding