Marko Virta
Dr
Summary
Dr. Marko Virta is the Director of the Doctoral Programme on Microbiology and Biotechnology at University of Helsinki, Finland. His research interests include antibiotic resistance in various human impacted environments such as waste waters, agriculture and aquaculture. Dr. Virta’s website: http://www.helsinki.fi/molecular-environmental-biosciences
Profile
Researcher info
Institution
University of Helsinki
Department/faculty
Department of Microbiology
Contact information
marko.virta@helsinki.fi
+358 (0)2941 57586
Keywords
amr antibiotic resistance microbiology
Research projects
Antibiotics have made it possible for people to live longer, healthier lives. Antimicrobial resistance, however, is an increasing problem, especially in low-resource settings. This project will employ a range of methods from microbiology, clinical medicine and sociology to produce new knowledge about how AMR genes spread especially in poor West African regions, in areas where local capacity to address AMR is lagging behind, and identify ways to curb the spread of AMR. This knowledge can be utilized in national and international health policy and medical research.
Team
Isidore Bonkoungou, Victorien Dougnon, Kaisa Haukka, Bourema Kouriba, Salla Sariola, Marko Virta
Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a major health threat for humans. In Europe 25 000 patients die yearly from infections caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria. There is increasing concern that the food production chain may play a significant role as a reservoir and disseminator of AR since over 65% of the antibiotic use takes place in animal production. An important part of the dissemination of antibiotics and the evolution of AR bacterial organisms depends on either intestines of animals receiving antibiotic treatment or water environments.
Team
Marko Virta, Windi Muziasari, Vanny Narita, Anis Mahsunah.