MOLECULAR PATHOBIOLOGY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF EGG-CONTAMINATING SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS

1. Investigate why Salmonella enteritidis strains vary in their ability to contaminate eggs and why it is the only serotype to routinely contaminate eggs. 2. Identify appropriate molecular targets that can be used to conduct epidemiological monitoring. 3. Continue to improve challenge models for use in birds in order to design better vaccines and to evaluate their ability to protect chickens from SE infection and internal contamination of eggs.