MERS team

Scientific context

Managing human health risks in agrosystems: a multidisciplinary « One Health »approach

In a context of global change, the promotion of the circular economy and the recycling of organic residual products (ORP: manure, slurry, etc.) in agriculture, as well as the irrigation of crops with recycled water (REUSE), are practices that are set to develop. In this context, their health impact must be assessed and managed to limit the dissemination into the environment (soil and water, in particular) of chemical contaminants (residues of phytopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical products, etc.) or biological contaminants (human and animal pathogens, antibiotic-resistant microorganisms) that may be present in ORPs or recycled water. Some of the contaminants introduced into soils could be transferred to agricultural production. As part of the "One Health" approach, EFSA and FAO have identified the risk of transferring resistant microorganisms or resistance genes to primary agricultural production as a major issue for human health. By combining skills in microbial ecology and medical bacteriology, the MERS team adopts a "One Health" approach to better understand and manage infectious risks from environmental, animal, food and human origin.

Research objectives:

The research themes of the MERS team revolve around the dissemination and transfer of human pathogens, as well as antibiotic resistance between different compartments and ultimately in humans. In the long term, the proposed studies aim to provide an estimate of the risks to human health and a framework for the management of agricultural practices. So, the research developed concerns:

1) The study of sources (treated effluents, organic waste products, hospital environments) and processes for the dissemination of biological contaminants and the emergence/selection of resistance mechanisms (definition of "Probable no effect concentration" of pharmaceutical residues or pollutants).

2) Determining the abiotic and biotic factors influencing the transfer of contaminants to primary agricultural production, and assessing their persistence (adaptation of pathogens to different niches, barrier effect of microbial communities).

3) Human health risk assessment linked to the use of treated effluents and organic waste products: development of models to predict human health consequences (information for national and European public policies, in collaboration with ARS epidemiologists, for example).

4) Cross-monitoring of pathogens in hospitals and in the environment: spatial and temporal concomitance or otherwise of the emergence and dissemination of pathogens of clinical interest and their resistance to antibiotics (Gram-negative bacilli resistant to 3rd-generation cephalosporins and other emerging pathogens e.g. Clostridioides difficile).

5) Proposing recommendations (informing public policy) and solutions to minimize health risks for humans (improving treatment processes for organic waste products and effluents, and optimizing agricultural inputs). Validation of the effectiveness of diagnostic tools specifically developed to assess the health impact of these new agricultural practices.

In short, the MERS team plays an essential role in understanding the complex interactions between agricultural practices, microorganisms and their environment, while integrating human and animal health. Thanks to its "One Health" approach, it actively contributes to the management of health risks linked to agricultural activities and to the protection of public health in a context of climate change.

Team members

Permanent staff:

L. Amoureux    Maître de Conférences –Hospital practitioner uB-CHU
J. Bador    Hospital practitioner - CHU
E. Barbier    Maître de Conférences - uB
G. Depret    Ingénieur d’Etudes - INRAe
L. Gal    Maître de Conférences - Institut Agro Dijon
A. Hartmann    Research Director - INRAe
C. Neuwirth    Professor– Hospital Practitioner - uB-CHU
C. Revellin    Research Engineer - INRAe
M. Rochelet    Professor - uB
B. Serbource   Technician - INRAe
S. Solanas   Technician - uB

Contractuels    

A. Magallon    University Hospital Assistant - uB-CHU
D. Martak    Postdoctoral researcher - INRAe
E. Topp    Research Director - INRAe