biostudies-literatureUnknown133(5)Byrne RLMedical Research Council CanadaMedical Research CouncilWellcome Trust<h4>Aims</h4>The environment is increasingly recognized as an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), which can be identified using molecular platforms. Yet, environmental surveillance remains an underutilised tool as there is no agreement on the best strategy for sample processing. We aim to develop a low-cost extraction method independent to commercial kits or reagents.<h4>Methods and results</h4>We present a novel, magnetic bead-based method for the isolation of ARGs from river water named MagnaExtract. We present this with analytic limit of detection as well as a case study in Southern Malawi. Here we compare the DNA yield from MagnaExtract with commercially available QIAGEN kits and the crude boil and spin method, using a high-resolution melt analysis PCR panel dJournal of applied microbiology3191-3200https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9804433biostudies-literatureA novel, magnetic bead-based extraction method for the isolation of antimicrobial resistance genes with a case study in river water in Malawi.PMC9804433Cocker DFeasey NRigby JEdwards TCharles MMandula TAlyayyoussi GByrne RLHearn JMphasa MWilliams CTAdams ERfalseA novel, magnetic bead-based extraction method for the isolation of antimicrobial resistance genes with a case study in river water in Malawi.<h4>Aims</h4>The environment is increasingly recognized as an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), which can be identified using molecular platforms. Yet, environmental surveillance remains an underutilised tool as there is no agreement on the best strategy for sample processing. We aim to develop a low-cost extraction method independent to commercial kits or reagents.<h4>Methods and results</h4>We present a novel, magnetic bead-based method for the isolation of ARGs from river water named MagnaExtract. We present this with analytic limit of detection as well as a case study in Southern Malawi. Here we compare the DNA yield from MagnaExtract with commercially available QIAGEN kits and the crude boil and spin method, using a high-resolution melt analysis PCR panel d2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-05T12:09:35.937Z2025-04-05T12:09:35.937ZS-EPMC98044333594611310.1111/jam.15755