Research Projects by Pathogen

Salmonella spp. Research

Includes U.S. and International research on Salmonella spp. such as Salmonella enterica, Salmonella enteritidis, and Salmonella typhimurium. Some research areas include: strategies to control Salmonella in pre- and post-harvest environments; prevalence and survival of Salmonella in food systems; identification of contamination and transmission routes of Salmonella on farms; characterization of Salmonella virulence factors; Salmonella dissemination in domestic environments; and rapid methods for Salmonella detection.

Includes U.S. and International research on Campylobacter spp. such as Campylobacter jejuni, and Campylobacter coli. Some research areas include: investigation of farm-level practices impacting Campylobacter prevalence in pre- and post-harvest environments; mechanisms of stress resistance in Campylobacter methods to detect and control Campylobacter; epidemiological analysis of Campylobacter in processed foods; and mechanisms of pathogenesis of Campylobacter in the host.

Includes U.S. and International research on Clostridium perfringens. Some research areas include: processing technologies to control C. perfringens in foods; mechanism of action of C. perfringens enterotoxin; predictive modeling of C. perfringens under varying temperatures in meat system; rapid genomic methods to detect C. perfringens; development of natural antimicrobials to control C. perfringens infections; and molecular characterization and microbial ecology of C. perfringens in poultry.

Includes U.S. and International research on Escherichia coli O157:H7. Some research areas include: interactions of E. coli O157:H7 with fresh produce; development of biological control agents for E. coli O157:H7; survival and transmission of E. coli O157:H7 in food crops; contamination routes of E. coli O157:H7 in domestic kitchens; evaluation of critical control points for E. coli O157:H7 contamination from farm to abattoir; mechanism of colonization of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle; and methods to detect and characterize E. coli O157:H7 in foods.

Includes U.S. and International research on Listeria monocytogenes. Some research areas include: optimization of processing technologies to eliminate L. monocytogenes in foods; mechanism of L. monocytogenes infection in host cells; methods of rapid detection in foods; biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes; control of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meat products; and risk assessment of L. monocytogenes in retail cheese.

Includes U.S. and International research on Norovirus. Some research areas include: use of multiple hurdles to inactivate Norovirus in foods; education on hand hygiene to reduce Norovirus infections in elementary school environment; detection and characterization of Norovirus in ready-to-eat foods; epidemiology and molecular analysis of Norovirus outbreaks; and rapid methods of Norovirus detection.

Includes U.S. research on Toxoplasma gondii. Some research areas include: strategies to control T. gondii in swine; pathogenesis of T. gondii infection; influence of host environment on T. gondii development; vaccine development to prevent T. gondii infection; development of risk model for T. gondii in swine; investigation of growth regulation in T. gondii; and antigenic characterization of T. gondii.