Date of Award

11-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biology

Program

Integrated Biosciences (MS)

First Advisor/Chairperson

Dr. Josh Sharp

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria evade standard treatments, increasing disease severity, patient morbidity, and mortality. Following exposure to an antibiotic, resistant bacteria survive and pass antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to their progeny cells. Few ARG studies have utilized wastewater influent samples as a method of surveillance in rural communities in the United States. This study investigated ARGs in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Two samples were collected from the Marquette wastewater treatment plant and a sewage station near the hospital to assess Marquette County and hospital-adjacent resistance profiles. A Qiagen Microbial DNA qPCR plate screened for 87 different ARGs and detected 41, most encoding beta-lactam resistance. Ten ARGs were quantified using droplet digital PCR: blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaCMY-2, blaSHV, KPC, NDM, OXA-48, VIM, vanA, and mcr-1. Notably, we found carbapenemase genes, so we screened for carbapenemase expression using CARBA-5 NG lateral flow assays, where KPC and OXA-48 screened positive. We opted to use 16Ss rRNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS to identify the bacteria expressing carbapenemases, and we identified three bacteria that either harbor or exhibit strong resistance mechanisms: Shewanella xiamenensis, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These results can guide public health authorities evaluating community resistance risks and physicians selecting effective antibiotics.

Access Type

Open Access

Justification for Restricting Access

I chose to restrict access with an embargo because I would like my research to be protected while I pursue publication.

Additional Files
Bethany Beavers.pdf (28 kB)
Signed signature page
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Available for download on Tuesday, November 12, 2030

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