Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The annual NC1206 session took place by Zoom and opened with a welcome and introductions. Drs. Michelle Soupir and Tingting Ju served as moderators. Dr. Michelle Colby shared USDA/NIFA updates. Dr. James Averill welcomed the group and reviewed the handling of Hatch allocations for multistate projects. He reminded members that renewal materials are due in December 2026.

Research Updates: Drs. Kelli Maddock, Hua Wang, Felipe Machado, Tingting Ju, and Emmanuel Okello presented updates on their current research programs and identified opportunities for future collaboration. The group’s multistate and collaborative activities, accomplishments, impacts, funding, and publications are summarized below.

Guest speakers: Dr. César de la Fuente, Presidential Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Machine Biology Group, described new ways to speed the discovery of antimicrobial compounds. His group reviews biological sequences from people, microorganisms, ancient hominids, and extinct organisms to locate previously unrecognized antimicrobial peptides. Candidate peptides are synthesized and tested in the laboratory and in animals. He also described prediction methods to determine antimicrobial activity, refine existing molecules, create novel peptides, and identify options against drug-resistant pathogens. Dr. de la Fuente concluded that these methods could shorten the time needed to identify and test promising compounds.

New leadership: Dr. Tingting Ju formally transitioned to the role of NC1206 president. The group thanked Dr. Michelle Soupir for her service as president. Dr. Soupir will remain involved over the next year to ensure continuity and provide guidance and support to the new officers. Dr. Jennifer Ida was unanimously elected as the incoming secretary.

Annual meeting schedule, 2026: Group members discussed the possibility of holding the meeting in conjunction with either the NIAMRRE Annual Conference at Penn State University on May 11–13, 2027, or the ASM Microbe meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on June 22–25, 2027. The leadership team will poll members to determine their preferred option.

Objective 1: Develop knowledge and tools to improve antimicrobial stewardship, including surveillance and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, determining the ecology and mechanisms involved in resistance and transmission of resistance, and developing improved diagnostic tests.
Participating stations strengthened resistance tracking in aquatic and veterinary settings, refined laboratory methods, and improved the interpretation of antimicrobial-use records.

• Tracked antimicrobial resistance genes in the Lamprey River–Great Bay Estuary. Eighty-two water samples underwent metagenomic sequencing, and an analysis workflow is being prepared to examine gene variety, likely origins, and change over time. [NH]
• Collected 127 water samples from five Black Hawk Lake (BHL) and Shell Creek watershed sites, including routine and storm-event collections. The samples were assessed for total and resistant bacteria, bacterial abundance, and selected resistance genes. [IA, NE, NY]
• Expanded next-generation sequencing capacity and completed genomic and antimicrobial-susceptibility assessments through a multistate effort. The results will clarify how resistance genes align with resistance observed in laboratory testing. [ND, MS, PA, NC, WA, MI]
• Compared Thermo Fisher Sensititre COEQGN1F panels with frozen reference panels at several veterinary laboratories. The results will help laboratories apply current breakpoints and use the panel consistently for diagnosis and resistance tracking. [ND, MA, WA, CA, OH, VA]
• Developed and pilot-tested a method for preparing frozen broth microdilution panels, offering a more affordable way to produce reliable minimum inhibitory concentration measurements. [ND]
• Assessed veterinary antimicrobial-susceptibility methods and breakpoints for Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates. [ND]
• Created tools to compare measures of antimicrobial use in dairy cattle and showed that each measure must be interpreted in relation to herd conditions and production practices. [NY]
• Applied agent-based models and cluster analysis to identify antimicrobial-use patterns and improve tracking on dairy sites. [NY]
• Analyzed antimicrobial resistance in naturally fermented vegetables and specialty cheeses collected in Ohio and California. [OH, CA]
• Examined resistance genes in pasteurized and raw-milk cheeses and found that their abundance changed during ripening. [VT]
• Characterized commensal bacteria from chickens raised under extensive or intensive systems including resistance genes [IN]

Objective 2: Develop and evaluate antimicrobial use, resistance transmission, mitigation strategies, and stewardship programs in food systems from a One-Health perspective.
Participating stations studied how antimicrobial resistance moves among livestock sites, aquatic settings, and products intended for consumption. They also assessed practical ways to reduce its spread.

• Collected cultured and wild oysters from the Great Bay Estuary and prepared them for metagenomic sequencing. This will be the first assessment of antimicrobial resistance genes in New Hampshire oysters from cultivation sites and natural beds. [NH]
• Developed a watershed model to examine movement of antimicrobial resistance from crop and livestock land into surface water. The model was calibrated for hydrology and nitrogen for 2015–2025, with further work underway to incorporate changing land practices and pathogen movement. [IA, NE]
• Examined points where resistance may be reduced, including animal housing practices, manure processing, vegetated strips, and drainage-water bioreactors. [IA, NE]
• Developed mathematical and economic models of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Dublin spread in a dairy heifer-raising unit. The models estimated the consequences of spread and compared the cost and likely effectiveness of control options. [NY, PA]
• Identify practical changes that could improve the production of naturally fermented vegetables and specialty cheeses. [OH, CA, MD, PA]
• Identified preweaning calf diarrhea as an important target and ranked approaches such as adequate colostrum intake, passive antibody delivery, probiotics, and other preventive practices. [IA, GA, OH, NC, CA]
• Evaluated dietary interventions such as essential oils and prebiotics in swine to alter the gut microbiota and reduce potentially harmful bacteria. [IN]
• Tested antimicrobial peptides isolated from finfish mucus against common dairy mastitis pathogens. [CA]
• Examined antimicrobial use, drug residues, and resistant bacteria across California dairies. [CA]

Objective 3: Create and deliver programs on antibiotic stewardship in food production systems through education and outreach.
Participating stations worked directly with livestock professionals to understand their concerns and provide useful guidance on responsible antimicrobial use. These efforts helped tailor messages to the needs of producers and other audiences.

• Used a questionnaire with manure applicators to examine views on antimicrobial use, resistance, and possible control practices. Respondents favored practical steps that could be completed at livestock sites before manure application and requested clearer explanations of how antimicrobial use in animals may affect people. [IA]
• Presented a webinar on responsible antimicrobial use in dairy production with contributions from university researchers, practicing veterinarians, and a dairy producer. Attendance was strong, and participant feedback showed high satisfaction. [NY]
• Completed a national questionnaire and focus groups and developed four short web-based modules. The modules were piloted at Iowa State and Illinois, with testing also underway at UC Davis, and were made available through NIAMRRE for use in veterinary curricula. [IA, CA, IL]

• USDA National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN): FY2026 NAHLN Level 2 Laboratory Infrastructure and Farm Bill funding. PI: Kelli Maddock. Total award: $350,000. [ND]
• FDA Vet-LIRN: Vet-LIRN Cooperative Agreement Renewal, Year 8. PI: Kelli Maddock. Total award: $42,960. [ND]
• University of New Hampshire School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering: “Analysis of Antibiotic-Resistant Genes in Ready-to-Eat Oysters from Great Bay, New Hampshire.” Awarded to Harvey Laboratory graduate student Natalie Danek. Total award: $4,476 for one year. [NH]
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Award No. U01FD008421. PI: Renata Ivanek. [NY]
• USDA Federal Capacity Funds–Multistate: Project No. NYC-478812. PI: Renata Ivanek. [NY]

Pending or submitted funding
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration: “CADECI-NH: Center for Antimicrobial Detection, Ecology, Characterization, and Innovation in New Hampshire.” Co-PI: Elizabeth Harvey. Pending total budget: $7,490,735 over five years. [NH]
• FDA Vet-LIRN: “Taking Action: Veterinary Reference Bank (VeRB) Panels to Support Vet-LIRN Method Verification, Quality Assurance, and Surveillance.” PI: Kelli Maddock; Co-Investigator: Sarah Gefroh. Amount requested: $44,719. Submitted April 9, 2026. Proposed project period reported as September 1, 2026–August 31, 2026. [ND]
• USDA NIFA: “Genotype-to-Phenotype Intelligence: Advancing Antimicrobial Stewardship in Bovine Respiratory Disease.” Grant No. 26-1679. Co-PIs: R. Pereira, O. Sahin, H. Kittana, E. Schwarz, Kelli Maddock, G. Maier, M. Miramontes, and B. Wiemer. Amount requested: $1,000,000. Submitted October 23, 2025. Proposed project period: July 1, 2026–June 30, 2030. [ND]

• Evans, D. R., Maddock, K. J., & Stenger, B. L. S. Genomes of Salmonella Newport from captive exotic felids in North Dakota. Microbiology Resource Announcements. Accepted. [ND]
• Gefroh, S. J., Meier, B. M., Bowden, R. R., Evans, D. R., & Maddock, K. J. (2026). Evaluating veterinary Staphylococcus β-lactam breakpoint performance: A comparative analysis of individual agents versus oxacillin as a surrogate. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. [ND]
• Kenney, S. M., Maddock, K. J., & Ganda, E. (2026). Draft genomes of Salmonella Dublin from North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Microbiology Resource Announcements, e00636-25. [ND]
• Krüger-Haker, H., Maddock, K. J., & Schwarz, S. (2026). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bovine and porcine Pasteurellaceae—essential requirements and pitfalls. ASM Animal Microbiology. [ND]
• Gefroh, S., Meier, B., & Maddock, K. J. (2025). Veterinary method evaluation of Vitek 2 Compact for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, e00961-25. [ND]
• Maddock, K. J. (2025). A raw deal: The intersection of the immunocompromised cat, influenza, and a lapse of infection prevention and control measures. ASM Case Reports. [ND]
• Stenger, B. L. S., Evans, D. R., Gefroh, S. J., Breuer, A., Pecoraro, H. L., & Maddock, K. J. (2025). Spots, stripes, and strains: A case report of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Newport in exotic felids. ASM Case Reports. [ND]
• Maddock, K. (2025). Diagnostic laboratory medicine—from sampling to test interpretation. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 263(S1), S4–S5. [ND]
• Llanos-Soto, S., Wiedmann, M., Adalja, A., Henry, C., Moroni, P., Frye, E., Leal Yepes, F. A., & Ivanek, R. (2025). Integration of mathematical modeling and economics approaches to evaluate strategies for control of Salmonella Dublin in a heifer-raising operation. PLOS ONE, 20(10), e0332465. [NY, PA]
• Wamala, H., & Okello, E. (2026). Spatial distribution and socioeconomic correlates of raw milk retail sites in California: A multi-scale analysis of global and local regression models. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 106884. [CA]
• Mihreteab, Y., Okello, E., Pandey, P., Abdelfattah, E., Ekong, P. S., Sheedy, D., et al. (2026). Epidemiology of antimicrobial residues and phenotypic resistance of bacterial isolates from waste milk on California dairies. Microorganisms, 14(3), 620. [CA]
• Wang, S., Aly, S. S., Abdelfattah, E., Pandey, P., Ekong, P., Sheedy, D. B., ElAshmawy, W., et al. (2025). Analysis of antimicrobial residues and resistance profiles of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. in lagoon water from California dairies. Veterinary Sciences, 12(10), 960. [CA]
• Lee, Y., Rossow, H. A., Williams, D. R., Cheong, S., Okella, H., Widmer, L., & Okello, E. (2025). Effect of multi-species probiotic supplementation on fecal microbiota in pre-weaned Holstein dairy calves in California. Microorganisms, 13(8), 1810. [CA]
• Abdelfattah, E. M., Ekong, P. S., Okello, E., Chamchoy, T., Karle, B. M., Black, R. A., et al. (2025). Antimicrobial drug use and its association with antimicrobial resistance in fecal commensals from cows on California dairies. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11, 1504640. [CA]
• Smart antimicrobial use in dairy. Webinar, January 15, 2026. [NY]