Location: Produce Safety and Microbiology Research
Project Number: 2030-42000-055-005-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Sep 15, 2021
End Date: Sep 14, 2025
Objective:
Objective 1: Develop a high throughput screening tool for determining the efficacy of a multitude of hurdles with a combination of bacteriophages, and critical conditions of usage.
Objective 2. Investigate potential occurrences of antimicrobial resistances and tolerance to hurdles with bacteriophages.
Approach:
We will assess the effectiveness of individual and combinatorial bacteriophage treatments under the condition stipulated by the EPA/FDA protocol. We will study the potential persistence and antibiotic resistance of laboratory and environmental bacteria isolates after repeated exposure to hurdles in combination with bacteriophages. Potential tolerance resistant strains will be isolated and sequenced to determine the change of genes associated with bacterial antimicrobial resistance development. Bacterial genome sequencing and comparative genomics will be conducted using the PacBio. We will collect comprehensive scientific data from the implementation of effective control measures and hurdles (individually and in combination with bacteriophages) to establish economic and safety profiles.
