EPIDEMIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND MOLECULAR GENETICS OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN PATHOGENIC AND COMMENSAL BACTERIA FROM FOOD ANIMALS

1) Use antibiotic resistance data obtained from the Collaboration on Animal Health and Food Safety Epidemiology (CAHFSE) and the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System - Enteric Bacteria (NARMS) programs and poultry studies to identify sources, reservoirs and amplifiers of resistant food borne and commensal bacteria, as well as the path of dissemination of these resistant bacteria in food producing animals and poultry. Results may be used for risk assessment and in developing mitigation strategies. 2) Map the spread of antimicrobial resistance throughout the US using molecular epidemiology and population genetic studies of antimicrobial resistant bacterial isolates, including participation in USDA VetNet. 3) Analyze and differentiate antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, both phenotypically and genotypically, and rapidly identify resistant strains.