Description:

Title: Antibiotic Resistance in the Engineered Water Cycle: Emerging Biotechnologies, Potable Water Reuse, and Surveillance 

Abstract: Antibiotic resistance is a biological contaminant of emerging concern and major public health concern that illustrates the One Health approach. Our engineered water systems are not designed to manage antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes found in our waste streams. In fact, our reliance on microbial processes for wastewater treatment may exacerbate the spread of antibiotic resistance. This presentation will focus on the potential role anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology could play in reducing antibiotic resistance in the engineered water cycle. Mainstream anaerobic treatment is potentially beneficial due to the lower biomass yields relative to aerobic processes, significantly lessening the largest mass flow of resistance during conventional treatment. Our research evaluates antibiotic resistance and community profiles in the biomass and effluent of AnMBRs, the role membrane fouling plays, and the impact of redox environment on antibiotic resistance fate. Research investigating antibiotic resistance across the world’s largest water purification system for indirect potable reuse will also be presented. Finally, the presentation will discuss recent work in Los Angeles County characterizing resistance in wastewater to a last-resort antibiotic.

Biography: Dr. Adam L. Smith is an Associate Professor in the Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California. He received his M.S.E. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Environmental Engineering in 2011 and 2014, respectively. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Marquette University in 2009. The Smith Research Group explores microbially-driven engineered processes for water management with a focus on resource recovery (e.g., energy, nutrients, and water) from waste streams. We investigate fate of emerging contaminants of concern such as antibiotic resistance, microplastics, and PFAS in engineered systems. The Smith Research Group also employs wastewater surveillance of various biomarkers to monitor community health in LA County and more specifically on the USC campus. We use advanced chemical, molecular, and bioinformatics tools to develop new and emerging biotechnologies to improve our water infrastructure.