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<OL> <LI> Delineate human pathogen transmission, including Campylobacter spp. and L. monocytogenes, in the poultry processing facility. <LI> Identify critical control points or validate parameters of existing control points. <LI> Study the population genetics of pathogens to determine if genetic adaptations benefit their transmission through the processing facility.
Micro-habitats will be identified in poultry processing facilities and will be examined with bacterial culture methods for the incidence and level of contamination by human pathogens. When transmission or contamination sites are uncovered they will be studied closely in an effort to further define the problem. Examination will include but not be limited to sampling of: air/aerosols, machine to carcass transmission, carcass to carcass transmission and internal organ to meat surface contamination. Molecular sub-typing systems will be tested to attempt to uncover epidemiological links. Sub-types of organisms will be studied to determine if they are specific for the poultry processing ecosystems from which they are derived.Gene expression will be examined in order to find genes that are regulated in response to environmental conditions or are growth phase specific.