ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE TO ENTERIC BACTERIA IN POULTRY OR FOOD PRODUCING ANIMALS

To provide a fundamental understanding of the factors that govern the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance among enteric bacteria in food-producing animals. The broad objectives are to: 1) determine the impact of antimicrobial use in cattle on the prevalence of drug resistance in enteric bacteria; 2) elucidate generic mechanisms that contribute to the acquisition, dissemination, and persistance of antimicrobial resistance in food-borne pathogens; 3) develop models to quantitatively measure the frequency of emergence and transfer of antimicrobial resistance in response to antimicrobial treatment. Our proposed research should ultimately lead to the development of intervention strategies to combat the antimicrobial resistance problem.