CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT: ACCELERATED INTROGRESSION OF SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID DERIVED DIVERSITY INTO AN APPLIED HARD WINTER WHEAT BREEDING PROGRAM

Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni are the two major microbial hazards that have been implicated in greater than 900 outbreaks associated with poultry products in the last two decades. The healthcare expenses due to Salmonellosis and Campylobacteriosis can lead to an economic burden of ~ 3 billion USD per annum. Chickens act as the reservoir host for various Salmonella serotypes and C. jejuni wherein the pathogens colonize the gut (especially the ceca) in high numbers leading to contamination of the carcass during slaughter. Thus, cecal colonization of Salmonella and C. jejuni constitutes a considerable food safety hazard and warrants significant research efforts to control the persistence of the pathogens in chicken gut. Proper sanitation and biocontrol measures are not sufficient to lower the preharvest persistence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in chickens. Strategies that decrease pathogenic populations in the poultry gut could produce a significant reduction in related illnesses and deaths in humans. The long-term goal of this proposal is to develop safe, effective, and economical phytochemical nanoemulsion based strategies for reducing S. Enteritidis and C. jejuni colonization in broiler chickens. The specific objectives of the proposal include:1)Investigate the efficacy of in-water supplementation of phytochemical nanoemulsions in reducing S. Enteritidis and C. jejuni colonization in broiler chickens.1a) To determine the efficacy of prophylactic and therapeutic supplementation of phytochemical nanoemulsions (TC, EG, CR, CA, CO, CP) in drinking water to reduce colonization of S. Enteritidis and C. jejuni in 14-day-old broiler chickens.1b) To determine the efficacy of prophylactic supplementation of phytochemical nanoemulsions in drinking water to reduce colonization of S. Enteritidis and C. jejuni in market-aged broiler chickens.1c) To determine the efficacy of therapeutic supplementation of phytochemical nanoemulsions in drinking water to reduce colonization of S. Enteritidis and C. jejuni in market-aged broiler chickens.2)Test the effect of phytochemical treatments on gut microbiome, pathogen virulence and host response in broiler chickens.2a) Test the effect of phytochemical nanoemulsion administration on cecal microbiome in market age broiler chickens.2b) Determine the effect of phytochemical nanoemulsion treatments on host response using transcriptome analysis.2c) Investigate the effect of phytochemical nanoemulsions on virulence attributes and colonization potential of Salmonella Enteritidis and C. jejuni using whole cell proteomics.2d) Investigate the effect of phytochemical nanoemulsions on volatile fatty acid profile in cecal contents of broiler chickens.3)Determine the quality, shelf-life and consumer acceptability of chicken meat obtained from broilers administered phytochemical nanoemulsion treatments.4)Conduct a cost/benefit analysis on the application of phytochemical for controlling S. Enteritidis and C. jejuni in broiler chickens.