Dr Charles Knapp

Publications

Presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the receiving environment of Iqaluit's wastewater treatment plant in water, sediment, and clams sampled from Frobisher Bay, Nunavut : a preliminary study in the Canadian Arctic

Starks Madeleine, Schaefer Christina M, Jeffries Kenneth M, Deslauriers David, Hoang Luong Kim, Wong Charles S, Hanson Mark L, Knapp Charles W

Arctic Science Vol 9, pp. 919-927 (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1139/AS-2023-0011

Antibiotic resistance patterns in soils across the Scottish landscape

Pagaling Eulyn, Hough Rupert, Avery Lisa, Robinson Lucinda, Freitag Thomas, Coull Malcolm, Zhou Xinyuan, Su Jian-Qiang, Peshkur Tatyana, Zhu Yong-Guan, Graham David W, Knapp Charles W

Communications Earth & Environment Vol 4 (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01057-0

Toxicological response and bioaccumulation of strontium in Festuca rubra L. (red fescue) and Trifolium pratense L. (red clover) in contaminated soil microcosms

Srikhumsuk Phatchani, Peshkur Tatyana, Renshaw Joanna C, Knapp Charles W

Environmental Systems Research Vol 12 (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-023-00297-5

Changes in resistome profile of potential probiotic Lactiplantibacillus pentosus in response to edible oil adaptation

Alonso García Esther, Benomar Nabil, Lavilla Lerma Leyre, de la Fuente Ordoñez Juan José, Knapp Charles W, Abriouel Hikmate

Food Microbiology Vol 109 (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2022.104148

Repurposing blood glucose test strips for identification of the antimicrobial colistin

Lopez Carla, Raykova Magdalena R, Corrigan Damion K, Knapp Charles W, Ward Andrew C

Sensors and Actuators Reports Vol 4 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snr.2022.100119

Bioavailability of potentially toxic elements influences antibiotic resistance gene and mobile genetic element abundances in urban and rural soils

Robins Katie, McCann Clare M, Zhou Xin-Yuan, Su Jian-Qiang, Cooke Martin, Knapp Charles W, Graham David W

Science of the Total Environment Vol 847 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157512

More publications

Teaching

Management roles:

• Director of Postgraduate Studies (2019 - current)
• Director of Distance Learning (2017 - 2021)
• Programme leader, MSc Environmental Engineering (2012-19)

Courses:

• Water & Wastewater Treatment Design (CL447 + CL978)
• Principles of Environmental Microbiology (CL430 + CL948)
• Environmental Pollution Management (CL970)
• Independent research projects (e.g., CL973, CL998, CL999)
• Dissertations/theses (year 4, MSc, MRes)

Awards:

• 2018 - Teaching Excellence Awards, nominated
• 2016 - Teaching Excellence Awards, shortlisted Best in Faculty.
• 2015 - Teaching Excellence Awards, shortlisted Best in Faculty.
• 2015 - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• 2014 - Teaching Excellence Awards, shortlisted Overall Best Supportive Teacher

International courses

• Gdansk University of Technology (Poland), Inter-Applied Chemistry (2020)
• Rajamangala University of Technology-Krungthep (Thailand), International School (2020)
• Gdansk University of Technology (Poland, 2018)
• Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, Department of Civil Engineering (India, 2017)
• Gdansk University of Technology (Poland, 2014-15)

Research Interests

1. Environmental Microbiology
2. Eco-toxicology
3. Soil & Water Quality
4. Antimicrobial resistance in the environment

Microorganisms are omnipresent and capable of impacting the entire biosphere. They, especially bacteria, are highly diverse in terms of structure and function, and they can play a major role in the cycling of nutrients, remediation of contamination, and public health. My research interest involves the integration of state-of-the-art microbiological measurement technologies and ecological principles into the realm of environmental protection and sustainability.

Some on-going projects: 

Team AWARE - Amoebae With Antimicrobial Resistant Endosymbionts (with UWS and IISD-ELA, U. Manitoba, etc.)

The project examines the role of free-living amoebae (a protozoan found in waters and sediment) as a mechanism and vector in developing and spreading antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Free-living amoebae harbour bacteria and essentially could be protected, to an extent, from toxic compounds in the environment. However, for some additional reason, they further enhance the potential for bacteria to become resistant. Some of the bacteria are fish pathogens. So their mechanism as a driving force for drug resistance must be investigated.

This investigation takes place within a whole-lake exposure study at the Experimental Lakes Area (Ontario), which includes the impacts of multiple trophic levels within a lake--including Lake Trout. Comparisons of bacterial populations and their resistance traits in the water, sediment, amoebae, and fish will be made as preliminary results towards understanding whether similarities in their distribution occur and whether QAC disinfectants also contribute to the selection pressure.
 

Team DAGGAR - Dangerous and Growing Globally, Antimicrobial Resistance. 

Work related to antimicrobial resistance evolved from pharmaceutical eco-toxicology with the development of microbial-community endpoints. This work resulted in international exposure and award-winning publications. International collaborations include researchers and government/policy agencies in Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Lebanon, and The Netherlands. The research focus has been to measure resistance genes and antibiotics in the environment quantitatively; it extends previous qualitative observations to a predictive level aimed at solving practical problems.  The investigations of PEC (pollutants of emerging concern) continue, as it remains a contemporary international problem.

Team ARMOR – Antimicrobial Resistance May Offer Resilience? (stability and resilience of microbial communities and performance during pollution stress). 

Microbial community dynamics are examined in response to contaminant exposure in engineered bioreactors. The research endeavours to find ecologically resilient and economically robust processes to avoid significant investment in a new (or upgraded) treatment process as new regulations emerge.

GR-AMS - Greco-Roman Antimicrobial Minerals.  Multi-disciplinary, collaborative project.

British Colonialism, Marine Sciences and Fisheries Governance. Interdisciplinary project with the History Department and U. Mzuzu in Malawi. 

• https://www.lessonsfromlakemalawi.com/
• Story maps

Professional Activities

NERC: Pushing the Frontiers (Event)

Peer reviewer

1/2023

AMR in the environment (UK)

Speaker

23/2/2021

Invited Lectures: Wastewater & water treatment: water resource management

Speaker

7/10/2020

Gdańsk University of Technology

Visiting researcher

10/2020

Honorary Senior Lecturer (U. Glasgow)

Recipient

15/4/2020

Invited Lecture: Wastewater & water treatment: implications on antimicrobial resistance

Speaker

2/3/2020

More professional activities

Projects

Canada_IPAP: Amoebae with antimicrobial resistant endsymbionts (AWARE)

Knapp, Charles (Principal Investigator)

01-Jan-2023 - 30-Jan-2024

KTP 13260 - AHK Energy Services Ltd. Development of robust analytical methodology to support the creation of an index of risk of self-heating ability of biomass pellets

Lord, Richard (Principal Investigator) Knapp, Charles (Co-investigator) Li, Jun (Co-investigator) Liggat, John (Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2025

British Colonialism, Marine Sciences, and Fisheries Governance: Lessons from Lake Malawi in the Mid- Twentieth Century

Wilson, David (Principal Investigator) Knapp, Charles (Co-investigator) Morse, Tracy (Co-investigator)

04-Jan-2022 - 03-Jan-2023

Scotland-India Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment Network (SIAMREN)

Ward, Andrew (Principal Investigator) Knapp, Charles (Co-investigator)

23-Jan-2020 - 30-Jan-2021

Identification of sensor targets for low cost soil fertility assessment

Ward, Andrew (Principal Investigator) Corrigan, Damion (Co-investigator) Knapp, Charles (Co-investigator)

09-Jan-2020 - 08-Jan-2021

Monitoring of PAHs and heavy metals in sediments industrial estuaries

Knapp, Charles (Principal Investigator)

01-Jan-2018 - 30-Jan-2020

More projects