Bug

At The Awosile Lab, microbes are more than microscopic organisms, they are signals, storytellers, and sometimes, silent threats. Our lab is dedicated to uncovering the biology, behavior, and epidemiology of microbes with a special focus on antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria that pose a growing threat to both human and animal health.

We work at the intersection of microbiology, epidemiology, genomics, and One Health science to understand how microbial threats emerge, persist, and spread across populations and environments.

🔬 What We Study

1. Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria (AMR)

We investigate resistance mechanisms, especially in Gram-negative bacteria such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), carbapenemases, and mobile resistance genes. Our goal is to map resistance trends across time, space, and hosts to support better stewardship and control strategies.

2. Beta-lactamase Epidemiology

We have a particular focus on beta-lactamase enzymes, exploring their genetic diversity, plasmid-mediated transfer, and population-level dynamics in both clinical and non-clinical settings.

3. Zoonotic and Emerging Pathogens

By studying zoonotic bacteria that cross species barriers, we help identify early signals of emerging infections, particularly in livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. This enables earlier interventions and improved preparedness.

4. Microbial Genomics and Surveillance

Through whole-genome sequencing (WGS), multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and resistome analysis, we unravel the genetic architecture and transmission pathways of priority bacterial pathogens. Genomics also helps us explore the evolutionary pressures shaping microbial adaptation to antibiotics.

5. Environmental and Foodborne Microbiota

We extend our research into environmental samples, soil, water, food, animal waste to trace how resistant microbes and genes circulate between ecosystems. This environmental microbiology lens complements our One Health commitment to interconnected health systems.

🧭 Why It Matters

Microbes shape the health landscape of our world. Whether driving a hospital outbreak, contaminating food systems, or silently spreading resistance genes in rural environments, understanding these organisms is foundational to preventing tomorrow’s epidemics.

Our work directly informs:

• National and international AMR surveillance frameworks

• Risk assessments for One Health-based interventions

• Policy briefs for sustainable antibiotic use in agriculture and veterinary medicine

• Capacity building in low-resource settings through lab training and genomic toolkits

📚 Current & Past Studies

• Beta‑lactamase resistance genes in Enterobacteriaceae from Nigeria
  A systematic review and meta-analysis of ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenemase genes in human, animal, and environmental samples.

• Resistance to extended‑spectrum cephalosporins in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica isolated from food-producing animals
  Ecological study of ESC resistance across national surveillance data from multiple countries. Awosile is senior author.

At The Awosile Lab, we believe in listening to the bugs because in their patterns lie the keys to protecting global health.