Brisbane, Australia, 5 July 2024 – MGI Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of MGI Tech Co., Ltd., a company committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life sciences, today announced a strategic partnership with The University of Queensland (UQ)-led Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (CEAStAR), funded by the Australian Research Council. This pioneering initiative aims to combat the global crisis of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections affecting human health, agriculture, and the environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists AMR among the top 10 threats to global health.
Headquartered at UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), CEAStAR focuses on developing innovative approaches to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Led by Centre Director Professor Mark Blaskovich, the initiative addresses the urgent need for alternatives to antibiotics in agriculture and veterinary medicine, while combating the misuse and overuse of antibiotics globally.
“We have successfully collaborated with UQ, utilising our cutting-edge sequencing technology to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater,” said Dr. Bicheng Yang, Director of MGI Australia. “We look forward to expanding this partnership, continuing to develop and apply innovative solutions to combat AMR.”
As part of the CEAStAR initiative, on World Food Day 2023, MGI announced support for an industry-driven graduate research project focused on sequencing-based surveillance to monitor AMR in aquatic environments. Conducted in collaboration with UQ and the University of Adelaide, this project aims to develop methods to reduce the adverse impacts of AMR in engineered or natural water systems, contributing to improved water quality and food safety.
CEAStAR, supported by funding from the Australian Research Council and industry partners, represents a collaborative effort involving leading academic institutions and innovators like MGI. Together, they aim to safeguard the effectiveness of antibiotics and develop alternative treatments for livestock and companion animals.
“CEAStAR employs a ‘One Health’ approach, recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in combating AMR,” said Professor Blaskovich. “Our goal is to deliver new antimicrobials for animal use, alternative treatments, and advanced detection methods to mitigate the spread of resistant microbes across sectors.”
MGI’s proprietary DNBSEQ™ technology, known for its high accuracy and efficiency in genetic sequencing, plays a pivotal role in CEAStAR’s efforts. Integrated with MGI’s automated laboratory systems, it enables portable, on-site sequencing solutions, empowering rapid detection, surveillance, and monitoring of AMR in diverse environmental settings, including wastewater and agricultural sites.
