Brazil is home to over 200 million people and is the largest country by landmass and population in Latin America. It is characterized by a variety of economic and geographic variations. For several decades, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been an increasing threat worldwide for the treatment of a large number of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. AMR in Brazilian hospitals is a concern and represents an ongoing challenge for clinicians and microbiologists.
The Brazilian Antimicrobial Resistance Network (i.e. the National Research Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance, INPRA), combines collaborative research, training, outreach and capacity building to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance throughout Brazil.
INPRA is funded by the Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), an organization of the Brazilian federal government under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The main objectives of INPRA are to stimulate, improve, innovate and expand knowledge in the study of the mechanisms of bacterial resistance that can be used in the clinical setting to support therapeutic choice and reduce risk to patients.
Global One Health initiative’s connection to the project is multifaceted and includes Executive Director Wondwossen Gebreyes’ Infectious Diseases Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory (IDMEL) at Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In relation to this project, the IDMEL laboratory works with Thomas E. Wittum, chair and professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, to focus on the molecular epidemiology aspects, namely characterizing the profiles of dissemination of resistance mechanisms in Brazil to assist in the investigation of outbreaks.
This project aims to:
- Formalize INPRA’s action in the Brazilian scientific scenario
- Advance the institute through the integration of various research activities with a focus on mechanisms of resistance
- Provide the associate laboratories with innovative and cutting-edge technology for the development of research, especially related to genomics and proteomics (i.e. the large-scale study of proteins)
- Transfer technology and expertise from centers with more background to other centers in the country
- Train qualified personnel at advanced academic institutions through the participation of different groups in post-graduate programs