Characterization of Food-borne Pathogenic Bacteria

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.