Location: Produce Safety and Microbiology Research
Project Number: 2030-42000-055-003-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2020
End Date: Aug 31, 2023
Objective:
Objectives of this subcontract to USDA ARS WRRC are:
-Determining the phenotypic responses of foodborne pathogens in produce and low moisture foods to the environmental stresses.
-Characterizing transcriptional changes in foodborne pathogens to better understand
potential methods of inactivation and to elucidate microbial stress response mechanisms
that facilitate adaptation, survival, and tolerance.
-Understanding transcriptional responses of foodborne pathogens to stresses in produce and low moisture food systems.
-Investigating evolutionary adaption of foodborne pathogens to the environmental stresses.
Approach:
This subcontract to USDA ARS WRRC is to conduct microbiological and molecular research to investigate the transcriptional and phenotypic responses of foodborne pathogens in produce and low moisture food (almonds) to environmental stresses including chemical, physical, and biological factors. Gene expression profiles of foodborne pathogens in response to various environmental stresses will be generated to identify factors that contribute to the virulence and survival. The injury and survival mechanisms of foodborne pathogens will be studied using genetic analyses. Changes in the global transcriptome after exposure to stresses will be identified. The ability of wild-type foodborne pathogens and mutants to survive stresses over time will be investigated.
