Researchers at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) have been awarded £596k from the Hu-rizon International Excellence Programme to study the role of migratory birds in spreading antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Research led by scientists at the IOI has previously found that wild birds such as ducks and crows living close to humans, for example in cities, are likely to carry bacteria with AMR. Researchers will now build on those findings by studying some of the longest-distance migratory birds, including Plovers, that travel across continents to establish their role in spreading antimicrobial resistant genes across countries. They will focus on one of three main global migration routes from Northern Europe to South Africa, with birds sampled at various sites including in Hungary - an important stopover for birds along this pathway.
They will study bacteria found in the guts of wild and domesticated birds (e.g. chickens), and humans to quantify the frequency of resistant genes. Samples will be collected from the environment and from hospital settings for meta-genomic epidemiology analysis. This advanced approach sequences the entire genetic code of all organisms in the bird gut and other samples, allowing the identification of AMR genes in samples from different sources. The spread of AMR bacteria and genes between wild and domesticated birds, contaminated environments and humans can then be monitored. This will enable researchers to track any resistant genes the birds may be carrying, develop a comprehensive database, and estimate the risk that wild birds pose for the spread of AMR.
Some of the most drug-resistant bacteria in humans, such as strains of E. coli, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus are also found in animals and the environment. However, current research on multi-drug-resistant bacteria is largely limited to clinical settings. Our research will add an environmental and ecological perspective to study animal to human transmission of AMR genes. These findings will help policymakers and healthcare professionals understand potential risks and guide biosecurity to curb the spread of AMR bacteria.
Prof Sheppard and team will work closely with colleagues in the University of Debrecen in Hungary, University of Zurich in Switzerland and University of Freiburg in Germany on this project.