The kick-off meeting of an international cooperation project supported by ANSO entitled "Effect of climate change on the potential pathogenic risk in the cryosphere of the Tibetan Plateau and polar regions” was held online on September 13, 2022. About eighteen participants from Tribhuvan University of Nepal, Aarhus University of Denmark, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (USA), the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Lanzhou University attended the meeting online. Prof. Ailikun, the Assistant Executive Director of the ANSO Secretariat attended the meeting and delivered the opening remarks.
In addition to offering a briefing on the background, vision and actions of ANSO. Prof. Ailikun emphasized the importance of this project, namely to reveal the effect of climate change on the diversity and function of microorganisms at the three pole regions and their potential risks. She expressed her high expectations for the project, and hoped that international cooperation would significantly help the implementation of the project.
In the meeting, the microbial distribution and potential risks of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in glacier and permafrost ecosystems of the three poles were discussed. The Principal Investigator, Prof. Yongqin Liu presented the background, objectives, key research issues and work plan of the project. This project aims to explore the diversity and function of microbes in glaciers and permafrost of the three poles and evaluate the potential risks of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Dr. Keshao Liu introduced the diversity of bacteria in glaciers and lakes of the Tibetan Plateau and polar regions. Dr. Zhihao Zhang presented the results on the effect of radiation on the cryoconite microbiome. Dr. Zhenzhe Wu presented the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in ice and snow of the Tibetan Plateau and polar regions.
During the discussion, Prof. Alexandre Anesio from Aarhus University of Denmark, Prof. Komal Rijal from Tribhuvan University of Nepal, Prof. Mukan Ji from Lanzhou University, and Dr, Wei Li from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory of USA, talked about their opinions on the research of potential risks of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and ideas of collaboration plan in the future.
Source: Guannan Mao, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tel: 86-10-84097121
Email: anso-public@anso.org.cn
Location：No.16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
