CHARACTERIZATION OF FOOD-BORNE PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

• Sponsoring Institution: Agricultural Research Service/USDA
• Project Status: ACTIVE
• Funding Source: USDA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0430548
• Project Start Date: Apr 1, 2016
• Project End Date: Jun 30, 2017
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MARYLAND
(N/A)
COLLEGE PARK,MD 20742

Performing Department
NUTRITION & FOOD SCIENCE

Non Technical Summary
(N/A)

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
712	1430	1070	50%
712	1499	1100	50%

Knowledge Area
712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins;

Subject Of Investigation
1499 - Vegetables, general/other; 1430 - Greens and leafy vegetables;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 1100 - Bacteriology;

Keywords

e.coli

listeria

salmonella

food

safety

biofilms

shiga

toxin

Goals / Objectives
The objective is to conduct molecular characterization of shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella spp. with specific emphasis on single and multi-species biofilm formation and genomic and proteomic studies to assess changes in gene expression and pathogenicity. Conduct functional and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes serotypes in food processing environment through proteomics and genomics; and determining virulence differences among L. monocytogenes serotypes through sequencing, gene expression and comparative genomics.

Project Methods
The overall goal of this project is to apply comparative genomic and proteomics to understand single- and multi-species biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens in food processing environment. Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella species, and Listeria monocytogenes will be used in the study. Comparative genomics, proteomics, and phenotypic arrays will be employed to analyze strains of these pathogens to identify genes and proteins required to survive stresses (chemical sanitizers, temperature) encountered in food environments and form biofilms. Comparative genomic and gene expression techniques will be used to assess the virulence profiles of highly pathogenic non-O157 STEC strains and to determine genes responsible for the differences in virulence and stress responses among L. monocytogenes serotypes. The research will expand our knowledge on the survival mechanism(s) of these food-borne pathogens, help in development of effective interventions, and ultimately lead to better control strategies for STEC, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes in fresh produce.