# Ep70 - Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Found in Native Chickens

An episode of [Behind The Science Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1753464681), 19 Jun 2025, 1 h 08 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/ee2ce360/podcast/play/104266038/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-5-17%2F402332544-44100-2-06d95eacfcaf1.mp3

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. ⌛Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Native Chicken and Antibiotics 00:35 Podcast and Partners Introduction 03:04 Scientific Journals and Publications 05:55 Dr. Rina's Journey into Science 08:46 Getting Started in Microbiology 11:56 Graduate School Training 14:53 Finding the Right School 18:09 U.S. Experience and Research 21:06 Study of Antibiotic Resistance 24:10 Introduction to the Study of Enterobacteria 26:57 Genetic Basis of Antibiotic Resistance 29:50 Importance of Philippine Native Chicken 37:10 Transmission of Microbes from Animals to Humans 40:54 Farm Management and Prevention of the Spread of Microbes 42:20 Antibiotic Resistance and Chicken Health 45:50 Concerns about Broiler Chickens and Bacteria 47:25 Risks to Farmers and Training 50:04 Funding and Support for Research 52:09 Laboratory Safety Standards 55:44 Study of Chickens and Microbes 01:01:04 Analysis of the Prevalence of MDRs 01:02:48 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.

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