Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health. Bacteriophages, which are the natural predators of bacteria, are being seriously considered as alternative therapies to antibiotics. The Canada Excellence Research Chair in Eco-Evo-Patho of Microbes in Nature, led by Dr. Frédérique Le Roux, aims to explore antibiotic resistance in marine bacteria, and interaction between these bacteria and their bacteriophages. Vibrios, which encompass human and animal bacterial pathogens, will be used as model systems, relying on translational research as part of the One Health priority area (the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health). Based on a unique collection of environmental isolates, Le Roux and her team will explore the diversity, mechanisms and evolution of antimicrobial resistance (antibiotic and heavy metal). They will seek to understand genome size heterogeneity in natural populations of vibrio and test the hypothesis that shellfish function as a hot spot for horizontal gene transfer. They will also explore the mechanisms involved in the co-evolution of bacteriophages and bacteria in nature, and how co-evolution affects the specificity of the bacteriophages and the pathogenicity of the bacteria. This work will shed light on innovative approaches to overcome antibiotic resistance.