The NIAID research agenda in Food and Waterborne Diseases will be implemented at the direction of the Project Officer. This inter-disciplinary consortium will address food and waterborne pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) included in the NIAID Category A, B, C priority organisms list.
Non-Technical Summary: The ability to quickly diagnose and treat food- and water-borne pathogens is of paramount importance. This research will play a critical role in protecting the country from bioterrorist threats. We will establish a Microbiology Research Unit (MRU) in the Food & Waterborne Diseases (FWD) Integrated Research Network (IRN). <P> Approach: The FWD IRN will 1) evaluate vaccines, therapeutics, and rapid detection methods; 2) integrate human mucosal immunity with clinical research; 3) increase research and product development activities; and, 4) include the ecology and microbiology of food- and water-borne diseases as well as drug resistant pathogens.