Achal Dhariwal

Abstract: Recently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has gained everybody’s attention at a global level due to its impact on public health. Nation-wide surveillance efforts have been going on for characterization of these resistance determinants responsible for AMR. Due to advancements in metagenomics, comprehensive databases have been already established providing hierarchical information such as class, group and mechanism of these antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Additionally, some recently developed tools are also able to quantify the abundance of these ARGs present in any metagenomic sample. However, it is still challenging to perform bioinformatics analysis and interpretation of such data. Further, there is no such specific tool developed to support comprehensive downstream analysis and visualization from resistome data. As a result, we are aiming to develop ResistoAnalyst, a user-friendly web-based tool that integrates recent advancements in visualization and statistics techniques, integrated with several comprehensive databases, to enable comprehensive analysis of resistome data generated from metagenomics studies. Development of such tool will enable most clinicians, bench researchers to better understand, and generate hypothesis from their own data in real time. Additionally, ResistoAnalyst will be a valuable resource for sequence-based surveillance and monitoring of antibiotic usage and resistome development.

Participants from the "Born in the Twilight" team Dr. Sushma Nangia, LHMC Mr. Achal Dhariwal, Univ. of Oslo Dr. Sharmila Mande, TCS Dr. Anirban Dutta, TCS Growing resistance to antimicrobial drugs in pathogenic microorganisms has become the most important problems of 21st century. In a recent report it is estimated that approximately 0.7 million people die every year from drug resistant strains of microbes. The number will increase to 10 million by 2050, surpassing cancer (8.2 million deaths per year). Strengthening surveillance systems for combatting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is an urgent and contemporary challenge. The Indian Council for Medical Research, Delhi, India in collaboration with the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway and their partner HISP India is organizing a workshop for designing the Framework for development of an integrated surveillance system for AMR. WORKSHOP DATES and Venue - November 12th and 13th, 2018, ICMR, New Delhi. This 2-day workshop is an Indo-Norwegian initiative to brainstorm and conceptualize the way forward to design and develop a framework for an integrated AMR surveillance system, bringing together data from sources related to humans, climate and animal sources. The workshop will bring in experts from various domains of AMR (Humans, Animals and Climate), along with those in digital health technologies. Together, we will brainstorm to help develop an initial roadmap for the development of a One health network for the AMR surveillance.