Diversity of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Transfer Elements Quantitative Monitoring (DARTE-QM) for Environmental Samples- CFDA#10.310

<p>The objectives of this research are: 1) to develop technology to investigate, characterize, monitor, and quantify the ecology of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in animals, soil, and water; 2) to validate the technology by modeling the fate and transport of ARG-associated genes in a laboratory soil column ecosystem; 3) to test the technology in a field study of a confined swine feeding operation and its immediate watershed; 4) to design training, education, and outreach so that the technology can be used and adapted by users in the food chain.</p>