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The overall goal of this proposed project is to (i) develop an understanding of the interactions between the foodborne pathogen L. monocytogenes and bacteriophages infecting this bacterium and the importance of these interactions on pathogens transmission; and to (ii) isolate, catalogue, and characterize phages that infect L. monocytogenes in order to identify phages that can be used to control and eliminate this pathogen in foods and food environments.<P>
Milestones associated with this project include (i) development of a collection of at least 30 - 40 well characterized listeriaphages, (ii) longitudinal data on L. monocytogenes and listeriaphage populations on farms and in processing plants, and (iii) data on ability of listeriaphages to reduce L. monocytogenes loads in silage and on raw and smoked fish. <P>
Outputs of this project include surveys of phage diversity in farm and processing plants environments as well as a phage collection that will be available for sharing with other researchers and qualified parties.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a microorganism (bacterium) that causes a severe human foodborne disease; it has been estimated that 500 deaths due to foodborne LM infections occur annually in the US. LM also causes severe negative economic consequences for NY State food processors as foods that are found to be contaminated with LM require (expensive) recalls, in addition to representing a public health problems. LM can also cause a severe disease in farm ruminants. Infections with LM in ruminants can cause abortions, deaths of newborn or young animals, as well as brain infections (?circling disease?). As LM is common in many environments it can easily contaminate animal feeds and human foods. Animal disease predominantly occurs when LM is found at high levels in silage. Animal deaths rates on farms with LM infections can be as high as 10%. LM found on dairy farms can also contaminate raw milk, facilitating transmission of LM through dairy-based foods to humans. Farms currently have no economical procedures for LM elimination in silage, which cause major concerns if on-going outbreaks are linked to contaminated silage. A better understanding of the LM ecology as well as novel LM control methods are thus needed to address this animal health and food safety issue. Recent research has shown that ?bacteriophages? (i.e., viruses that kill bacteria, such as LM) play an important role in the ecology of bacteria that cause human and animal disease. For example, high levels of bacteriophages present in a given environment will kill their target bacteria thus possibly reducing the chance of infection and transmission. In addition, bacteriophages can be used to eliminate and control bacteria such as LM (e.g., by applying purified bacteriophages to areas that contain or may contain LM); this treatment is permitted in ?organic? food production and can be used in lieu of certain sanitizers that are not considered ?organic?. The goal if this project thus is to (i) conduct applied research to understand the contributions of bacteriophages to the ecology and transmission of LM in both dairy farms and processing plants and to (ii) develop bacteriophage-based approaches to control and eliminate LM throughout the food chain, focusing on dairy farms and processing plants. This project will benefit agricultural producers, food processors, as well as consumers by improving our ability to reduce foodborne illness caused by LM. This project will be conducted in collaboration with extension personnel with expertise in smoked seafood processing and veterinarians working with dairy farms. The smoked seafood industry was chosen as it represents an important food industry in New York, which has experienced considerable challenges with LM control, including a number of recalls due to LM contamination. The project will involve field studies on LM contamination and bacteriophage presence on farms and in food processing plants combined with the development bacteriophage applications (which will use the bacteriophages isolated in this project) to eliminate and control LM on farms (including in silage) and in food processing plants. <P>APPROACH: Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a microorganism (bacterium) that causes a severe human foodborne disease; it has been estimated that 500 deaths due to foodborne LM infections occur annually in the US. LM also causes severe negative economic consequences for NY State food processors as foods that are found to be contaminated with LM require (expensive) recalls, in addition to representing a public health problems. LM can also cause a severe disease in farm ruminants. Infections with LM in ruminants can cause abortions, deaths of newborn or young animals, as well as brain infections ("circling disease"). As LM is common in many environments it can easily contaminate animal feeds and human foods. Animal disease predominantly occurs when LM is found at high levels in silage. Animal deaths rates on farms with LM infections can be as high as 10%. LM found on dairy farms can also contaminate raw milk, facilitating transmission of LM through dairy-based foods to humans. Farms currently have no economical procedures for LM elimination in silage, which cause major concerns if on-going outbreaks are linked to contaminated silage. A better understanding of the LM ecology as well as novel LM control methods are thus needed to address this animal health and food safety issue. Recent research has shown that "bacteriophages" (i.e., viruses that kill bacteria, such as LM) play an important role in the ecology of bacteria that cause human and animal disease. For example, high levels of bacteriophages present in a given environment will kill their target bacteria thus possibly reducing the chance of infection and transmission. In addition, bacteriophages can be used to eliminate and control bacteria such as LM (e.g., by applying purified bacteriophages to areas that contain or may contain LM); this treatment is permitted in "organic" food production and can be used in lieu of certain sanitizers that are not considered "organic". The goal if this project thus is to (i) conduct applied research to understand the contributions of bacteriophages to the ecology and transmission of LM in both dairy farms and processing plants and to (ii) develop bacteriophage-based approaches to control and eliminate LM throughout the food chain, focusing on dairy farms and processing plants. This project will benefit agricultural producers, food processors, as well as consumers by improving our ability to reduce foodborne illness caused by LM. This project will be conducted in collaboration with extension personnel with expertise in smoked seafood processing and veterinarians working with dairy farms. The smoked seafood industry was chosen as it represents an important food industry in New York, which has experienced considerable challenges with LM control, including a number of recalls due to LM contamination. The project will involve field studies on LM contamination and bacteriophage presence on farms and in food processing plants combined with the development bacteriophage applications (which will use the bacteriophages isolated in this project) to eliminate and control LM on farms (including in silage) and in food processing plants.