Persistence and Movement of Verotoxin Producing Escherichia Coli O157:H7 in Soil

A BMA report has indicated that there are presently about 1 million cases of food poisoning annually. Recent years have also seen a dramatic increase in the number of cases of life- threatening infections by pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7. The transmission routes and factors controlling pathogen persistence and movement in the environment remains largely unknown. <P>
The multidisciplinary project will provide key scientific evidence to predictively assess the survival and dispersal of microbial pathogens derived from organic wastes (animal wastes and sewage sludge) within the environment. Detection techniques will include quantitative fluorogenic PCR, lux marking and selective plating. The project will deliver reliable information on the importance of waste type, soil type and environmental conditions on the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7.