Jonas Bennedahl and Bjorn Olsen
Jonas and Bjorn, from Sweden, are scientists and physicians with a specialty in the study of infectious diseases. While on board, the plan to explore the role and importance of natural environments as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance and if migrating birds are contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance we try to focus on bird populations that migrates between areas with high and low levels of antibiotic resistance. Today Antarctica is one of the few places on earth with low human impact and thus very suitable for performing such studies.
With the recent finding of very high levels of antibiotic resistant bacteria in bird populations (kelp gull) close to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia it is particularly urgent to perform such studies. The main scope with this is to put the focus on how far the problem with the spread of antibiotic resistance has gone and how important it is to try to contain these so called "superbugs" more effectively with more efficient waste water treatment, manure handling etc.
