Predictive Models for Behavior of Biothreat Agents and Toxins in Foods

Approach: Predictive models will be developed from data provided by independent FSIS-funded project investigators, as well as from independent data produced through research at the University of Tasmania. The experiments conducted by the University of Tasmania will fill data gaps, as necessary, and used to verify and validate the models. Predictive models will address the growth, survival and inactivation of Bacillus anthracis Sterne in liquid eggs; the inactivation of Clostridium botulinum toxin in liquid eggs, ham and ground beef; and the growth of Salmonella DT104 in liquid eggs. The resulting growth and inactivation models will be translated into spreadsheet interfaces for user-friendly predictions.