TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSIS OF CAMPYLOBACTER JENUNI AND CAMPYLOBACTER COLI SURVIVAL UNDER AEROBIC CONDITIONS

The major ultimate goal of this project is to help develop new interventions to reduce Campylobacter contamination and survival in retail meats by understanding and exploring ways to decrease the aerotolerancy of this important microaerophilic foodborne bacterial pathogen. In order to achieve this major goal, this project proposal has one specific objective which is to use RNA sequencing technology (RNA-Seq) to study the transcriptomes of three Campylobacter jejuni and three Campylobacter coli strain with variable aerotolerancy levels during their survival at 42°C under aerobic conditions. This next generation sequencing technology will enable us to identify potential genes involved in the aerotolerancy of this important foodborne bacterial pathogen. Identifying those genes will enable us to identify possible pathways this foodborne pathogen might be using to survive under aerobic conditions on retail meats, which will help in suggesting possible intervention strategies to reduce the prevalence of Campylobacter in retail meats and hence reduce its health risk to the consumers.