CIWARS: A Web Server for Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Using Longitudinal Metagenomic Data

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Bioinformatics
• Public health surveillance

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a global threat to human and animal health.
• Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) offers population-level AR monitoring.
• Metagenomic sequencing provides comprehensive profiles of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an online analytical platform for longitudinal metagenomic WBS data.
• To introduce the CyberInfrastructure for Waterborne Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance (CIWARS) web server.
• To facilitate the characterization of AR trends and inform public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• CIWARS analyzes longitudinal metagenomic WBS data.
• It profiles ARGs, bacterial taxa, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs).
• The platform assesses resistome risk and detects anomalous AR indicators over time.

Main Results:

• CIWARS provides comprehensive profiling of ARGs and associated taxa.
• It identifies potential associations between ARGs, MGEs, and pathogens.
• The tool visualizes temporal AR trends and detects anomalies.

Conclusions:

• CIWARS is a valuable tool for AR monitoring and trend analysis.
• It supports global efforts to combat AR evolution and spread.
• The platform can inform interventions for antibiotic use in agriculture and public health.