Development of Integrated Functional Genomics-Based Approaches for Bacillus Cereus Exposure Assessment

Major goal of this project is to develop a Bacillus cereus group exposure assessment tool. This goal will be achieved through following specific objectives:Obj. 1: Characterize food-associated and clinical B. cereus group isolates using whole genome sequencing data and comprehensive bioinformatics analyses.Obj. 2: Perform tissue culture assays to assess expression of toxins and other virulence characteristics in B. cereus group isolates representing different phylogenetic clades and virulence gene profiles.Obj. 3: Assess growth capabilities, as well as toxin expression and other virulence characteristics of diverse B. cereus group strains, using different food-relevant environmental conditions.Obj. 4: Integrate genomic and phenotypic data into a virulence characterization and exposure assessment tool, and assess human exposure to B. cereus by consumption of food contaminated with different B. cereus group genotypes.