Ep70 - Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Found in Native Chickens

Are native chickens really antibiotic-free? In this episode, microbiologist Dr. Rina Opulencia breaks down her research on multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria found in healthy Philippine native chickens. Her team sequenced bacterial genomes and discovered antibiotic resistance genes in Philippine native chickens, which raises important questions about farm hygiene and food safety. Learn how resistance spreads, what mobile genetic elements do, and what this means for farmers, consumers, and policy.⌛Chapters00:00 Introduction to Native Chicken and Antibiotics00:35 Podcast and Partners Introduction03:04 Scientific Journals and Publications05:55 Dr. Rina's Journey into Science08:46 Getting Started in Microbiology11:56 Graduate School Training14:53 Finding the Right School18:09 U.S. Experience and Research21:06 Study of Antibiotic Resistance24:10 Introduction to the Study of Enterobacteria26:57 Genetic Basis of Antibiotic Resistance29:50 Importance of Philippine Native Chicken37:10 Transmission of Microbes from Animals to Humans40:54 Farm Management and Prevention of the Spread of Microbes42:20 Antibiotic Resistance and Chicken Health45:50 Concerns about Broiler Chickens and Bacteria47:25 Risks to Farmers and Training50:04 Funding and Support for Research52:09 Laboratory Safety Standards55:44 Study of Chickens and Microbes01:01:04 Analysis of the Prevalence of MDRs01:02:48 Tips for Those Who Want to Do Research📚Reference: Jimenez A, Buday GJ, Opulencia R. 2025. Antibiotic Resistome, Mobile Genetic Elements, and Virulence Profile of Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Healthy Philippine Native Chicken as Revealed by Analysis of Whole Genome Sequence. The Philippine Agricultural Scientist. 108(1):13–24. 🤝Behind The Science Podcast is presented to you by Marine & Earth Science Learning Hub, UP Resilience Institute, The Philippine Agricultural Scientist, The Philippine Journal of Fisheries, and SciEnggJ.