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1) Develop rapid detection and isolation methods for foodborne pathogens by immunological and genetic approach, such as identification of specific markers on the surface of pathogens through various methods and use it as the antigens to produce specific antibodies. Label these specific antibodies by different markers for pathogen identification and isolation from foods. <br/>2) Development of unique methods that are effective, practical, cost-efficient, and environment-friendly for reduction of foodborne pathogens, human pathogens, plant pathogens and microbial loads. <br/>3) Development and evaluation of various experimental models in vitro, green houses, and farm field for reduction and elimination of contamination by various pathogens. <br/>4) Evaluation of their efficacy of these developed methods in various food products, including produce, poultry, meat, beef, hides and in human application through cooperation with researchers specified in different fields for disease control and prevention. <br/>5) Commercialization of developed products through these studies and their efficacy for control of pathogens will be further tested in different fields.
Non-Technical Summary:<br/>
Contamination of meat, poultry and produce with foodborne pathogenic microorganisms can occur at many points in the food continuum, from the field through the time of consumption. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and Salmonella are major causes of foodborne disease in the United States. Cattle are the major reservoir and most outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 infections have been associated with consumption of beef, although many other foods have also been implicated. Salmonella is one of the most frequent causes of foodborne illness worldwide. Estimates in the United States suggest Salmonella causes 1.4 million cases of illness, approximately 20,000 hospitalizations, and more than 500 deaths, annually. United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service data indicate that Salmonella-positive broiler establishments increased from 11.5% in 2002 to 12.8% in 2003, 13.5% in 2004, and 16.3% in 2005. In addition, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the annual number of human cases of salmonellosis did not change significantly in 2007 compared with 2004-2006. Eating chicken is a major factor contributing to sporadic cases of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in the United States. Many of the pathogen intenvention strategies for beef, poultry and produce industries involve the use of antimicrobial chemicals in rinses or washes; however, the efficacy of most chemical intervention treatments is reduced by the presence of organic matter. We developed a more effective bactericide that can kill more than million bacteria within one minute. Studies performed at multiple institutions demonstrated it is practical, cost effective, safe to use and environment-friendly. We'll evaluate this microbicide in produce, poultry and meat processing facilities for its efficay for reduction/elimination of pathogens and provide a more secure approach for public from the contamination of foodborne pathogens.
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Approach:<br/>
For all the goals as described above, various microbiological, immunological, and genetic methods will be applied. A part of lists are:
<br/>1)Surrogate bacteria, their growth characteristics will be similar to Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes will be grown in lab and inoculated on beef, meat, plants, and poultry for model development and will be used for efficacy evaluation of developed bactericide at different growth conditions.
<br/>2)Pathogens, including Shiga-toxin producing E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes will be grown in different media, contaminated on different food samples, coupons for biofilm development for identification of factors related with bacterial characterization, tolerence to various growth conditions at different temperatures and moistures.
<br/>3)Identification of pathogens isolated from various foods and environments, these microbides will grow in different non-selective and selective media and isolated by selective approaches, including magnetic beads labeled with specific antibodies, identified and analyzed by immunological and genetic analysis for their biological specificity.
<br/>4)Field effciacy evaluation on poultry and meat processing facilities, and produce will monitor microbial population, including aerobic bacteria counts, coliforms, and pathogens before and after bactericide application at different schedules and growth conditions. The samples will bring to the lab for microbial isolation, identification and analysis.