Working meeting in Doñana of the DARABi Project on the role of birds in the spread of antibiotic resistance

Last week, several members of ICRA participated in a working meeting of the DARABi (Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance by Aquatic Birds) project that took place at the Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD, Seville), which is the coordinating center of the Project. The meeting was attended by Dr. Marta I. Sánchez (coordinator) and Dr. EBD’s Andy J. Green, Dr. Francisco Hortas and Dayana Jarma from the University of Cádiz, Dr. Juan Manuel Peralta of the University of Granada, and Dr. Lorena López and Dr. Marina Pulido from the University of Seville. On behalf of ICRA, Dr. Carles Borrego (PI of the project), Dr. José Luis Balcázar (co-IP), Dr. Oriol Sacristán and Carmen Gutiérrez, project research technician.

DARABi aims to find out the role of migratory birds (gulls and storks, basically) in the spread of resistance to antibiotics and how this role is affected by the pollution of the habitats where these birds rest and feed. The meeting was used to present the results of the experimental activities carried out by both groups, plan the pending tasks and agree on the best strategy for disseminating the results.

This is a project funded by the State Research Agency, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.