Non-invasive zoonosis and antimicrobial resistance surveillance along globally significant wetland environments (Wetland-Health)

This pilot project aims to establish a non-invasive surveillance method based on real-time genomic analyses of environmental samples to assess the zoonotic and antimicrobial resistance potential of natural environments, using wetlands as avian hotspots as an example of a typical One Health interface. In particular, we will use non-invasive actively and passively collected water and air samples to profile the RNA virome with a focus on avian influenza viruses (AIV) and antimicrobial resistances available in wetlands along the East Atlantic flyway in Germany, France and Spain which are exposed to different anthropogenic pressure. We will integrate our AI-based land-use predictions from open-access remote sensing data to compare wetlands with high and low anthropogenic impact.