Zoonoses are diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans. Approximately 60-70% of emerging infectious disease pathogens are originated from animals. Zoonotic pathogens can infect humans via direct or indirect exposure to animals, including wild and domesticated animals.

The over usage of antimicrobials in food animal production, which is accounted for two-thirds of global antimicrobial use (AMU), and for human healthcare, which is the driver for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms, could lead to the zoonotic transmission of AMR pathogens. This will impact AMR, the global health threat on the AMR emergence. Vietnam is among the top 5 countries with the greatest projected percentage increases in antimicrobial consumption by 2030.

Current research themes:

Using a multidisciplinary approach, including social science, microbiology, molecular biology and whole genome sequence analysis and One-Health networks in the field of human and animal health, our group aims to understand:

• The mechanisms of zoonotic transmission of Streptococcus suis, non-typhoidal Salmonella, and Escherichia coli,
• How the AMU in food animal farm settings could influence the development of AMR in the abovementioned bacteria and their zoonotic transmission to communities.

We also study the driver of AMR bacteria in the community, with a particular focus on E. coli and S. pneumonia.