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<ol> <li>Evaluate transport trailers as source of E. coli 0157:H7 in cattle,
<li>Evaluate the ability of 6 cultures of L. acidophilus to stimulate the immune system in swine,
<li>Develop biosensors to detect Escherichia coli 0157:H7 in foods,
<li>Type strains of Listeria monocytogenes based on DNA macroarrays and virulence expression,
<li>Compare the inhibitory action toward E. coli 0157:H7 and Salmonella Enteritidis of oil and aqueous extract of 2 varieties of field grown oregano,
<li>Develop lock and key diagnostic tool that allows tracing of the origin (vegetative cell) of a bioterrorism agent (toxin) using Staphylococcus aureus as a model,
<li>Determine if abnormal prions can be fractionated from animal by products using novel processing approaches such as protein solubilization,
<li>Evaluate antimicrobial spectrum toward food borne pathogens of novel antimicrobial peptides produced by the chicken.</ol>
The nation's food supply is subject to various forms of contamination, either through natural sources or through intentional actions. This project is to provide information useful to protecting the safety and security of the food supply from farm to table.
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Transport trailers arriving at the OSU Willard Sparks center to pick up cattle will be sampled and tested for the presence to E. coli 0157:H7 and/or Salmonella. Six strains of L. acidophilus of swine origin will be fed to young pigs then the animals will be challenged with lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella. The levels to immunoglobulins will then be monitored to see if the probiotics increase the immune response. Dielectrophoresis and surface Raman scattering will be used to develop biological sensors specific for E. coli 0157:H7. The DNA from strains of L. monocytogenes will be recovered from which macroarrays will be prepared. These will be used along with the virulence factors present to develop a typing system for tracing the organism in foods. Oregano will be extracted with water and with organic solvents and the extracts tested for antimicrobial activity against E. coli 0157:H7 and S. Enteritidis in foods. Using microarray analyses we will type a variety of isolates of S. aureus to determine if a pattern can be used to trace their origin for use in forensics investigations. Enterotoxins produced also will be analyzed by amino acid analyses to determine if association exists between the enterotoxin and the microarray. Protein solubilization techniques will be used to extract abnormal prions form sheep brain in efforts to develop processes to remove such prions form animal by-products. Antibacterial peptides produced by the chicken as a defense mechanism against infections will be tested for the ability to inhibit food borne pathogens. The objectives of this project should result in discoveries that will enhance the safety of the food supply.