Investigating the evolving resistome of different migratory bird species

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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria represent one of the most pressing global health issues. While this problem is in part caused by decades of antibiotic abuse in the medical and veterinary realms, antibiotic usage alone does not explain all of the complexity of the phenomenon that is antibiotic resistance. Indeed, one can find antibiotic-resistant bacteria in numerous areas of the globe without human presence, such as certain regions of the Arctic. How can one explain this? We attempt to answer this question by investigating the role that migratory birds may play in the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We have known for several years that numerous bird species carry resistant bacteria. And since these animals move between environments with variable human densities and exposure risks to resistant bacteria, it is pertinent to ask ourselves whether these birds may contribute to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. In order to answer this question, we will study different migratory bird species across Canada to assess whether they carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria, what are the risk factors associated with the presence of resistant bacteria in birds, and whether the genes responsible for antibiotic resistance in bacteria can be transmitted to and from humans.