Katayoun Amirfard, PhD student

Research Topic

The importance of heavy metals in bacterial conjugation efficiency to enhance the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in environment

Research Abstract

With an anticipated yearly death toll of roughly 700,000, antibiotic resistance is growing at an unexpected speed. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) can be found in a variety of habitats and can spread their resistance genes to other organisms through processes like conjugation and horizontal gene transfer. Under particular environmental conditions, several heavy metals, such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), etc., which can be found in any natural/industrial area, can increase or reduce the conjugation efficiency between bacteria. Analyzing the role of some heavy metal particles with specific concentrations on bacterial conjugation under a designated condition can improve the present knowledge regarding their effects on the proliferation of antibiotic resistance. In addition, prospective results can be favorable to improve the nationwide guidelines to limit the acceptable levels of certain types of heavy metals in the effluents before releasing into the environment.

Academic Background

  • 23/09/2015 – 20/06/2018: M.Sc. in Microbial Biotechnology, Islamic Azad University Tehran, Iran
  • 23/09/2010 – 22/07/2014: B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran

Academic Papers

  1. Effect of environmental factors on conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic settings
    Katayoun Dadeh Amirfard, Momoko Moriyama, Satoru Suzuki, Daisuke Sano
    Journal of Applied Microbiology, June 2024, 135(6), lxae129.
  2. New association between diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer
    Monireh Rezaei, Zinat Shams, Bahareh Sadat Rasouli, Katayoun Dadeh Amirfard, Mohadeseh Soleymani Sadrabadi, Ali Gheysarzadeh, Karimeh Haghani and Salar Bakhtiyari
    Current Diabetes Reviews, 2023, 19(1), 80-91.
    DOI: 10.2174/1573399818666220118095952
  3. Efficacy of green tea extract on PC3 prostate cancer cells through upregulation of miR-195 expression and suppression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition
    Fatemeh Safari, Katayoun Dadeh Amirfard
    Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022, 42(5), 681-686
    DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.05.002
  4. Acinetobacter spp. and Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila strain pars1396 isolated from landfill soil and industrial wastewater as potential candidates for phenol biodegradation
    Katayoun Dadeh Amirfard, Mohammad Javad Mehdipour Moghaddam, Farzaneh Hosseini
    Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 2021, 121B(3), 163-174.
    DOI: 10.1353/bae.2021.0013

Conference Presentations

  1. Exploring the influence of ZnO powder on bacterial biofilm formation and conjugation frequency utilizing a wastewater influent isolate
    Katayoun Dadeh Amirfard, Satorus Suzuki, Daisuke Sano
    IWA Biofilms 2024 Conference
    October 24-26, 2024, Shanghai, China.
  2. Impact of ZnO powder on biofilm formation and conjugation frequency of isolated Enterobacter bugandensis DSM 101087
    Katayoun Dadeh Amirfard, Satoru Suzuki, Daisuke Sano
    Water and Environment Technology Conference 2024
    July 20-21, 2024, Okayama University. Japan.
  3. The importance of nutrient levels and combined chlorination on ARG transfer through conjugation between Photobacterium damselae sp. damselae 04Ya311 and a recipient isolated from wastewater influent  (poster presentation)
    Katayoun Dadeh Amirfard, Momoko Moriyama, Daisuke Sano
    5th Academic Forum on Environmental Studies
    October 27, 2023, GSES Main Building, Tohoku University. Japan.
  4. Transcriptome mining revealed new association between diabetes and pancreatic cancer (poster presentation)
    Rezaei, M; Shams, Z; Rasouli, S. B; Amirfard, D. K; Sadrabadi, S.M; Bakhtiyari, Salar.
    The 7th National & 1st International Seminar/Webinar in Medical Genetics: Diagnostics & Research
    April 8-9, 2021, Sanandaj, Iran.

Awards

  1. WET Excellent Presentation Award
    The Water and Environment Technology Conference 2024, Japan Society on Water Environment
    Jul. 21, 2024
  2. MEXT Scholarship grant (IESLP program, September 2022-September 2024)