The rectums of surfers may be the key to advancing antibiotic resistance research, say researchers who offer a (w)hole new angle on the term beach bum.

The researchers from the UK want to look at the way humans come into contact with drug-resistant bacteria. Surfers are of interest because they ingest up to 10 times more sea water than swimmers. And what’s in their guts is a good indication of what’s in the sea.

“We’re looking for bacteria that live inside people’s guts that are resistant to antibiotics that are really important in clinical medicine to treat bacterial infections,” said Anne Leonard a researcher at University of Exeter in an interview with Fast Company.