AN OMICS AND MICROSCOPIC ASSESSMENT PERTAINING TO THE COLLECTIVE DYNAMICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MULTISPECIES BIOFILMS THAT FACILITATE SANITIZER TOLERANCE AND FOODBORNE PATHOGEN DISPERSAL.

Our long-term goal is to develop effective intervention strategies to control the colonization of food-borne pathogens in biofilms harbored in the hot spots within the food processing facility and curb accidental contamination of food with pathogens.Objectives:Compare and characterize diversity, stability and resilience of food pathogen and drain mixed-species biofilm in response to commonly used meat processing sanitizersExamine whether spatial organization and location of food-pathogen within the multispecies biofilm impacts sanitizer toleranceEvaluate the biophysical factors that govern biofilm detachment and dispersal, natively in the food processing facility Design sustainable materials for drainage systems with microscale surface patterns that can prevent upstream motility and dispersal of pathogens to food.