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This research project will characterise, by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and analyse 1000 campylobacter isolates from Food Standards Agency retail poultry surveys (CLASSP study, Welsh/NI chicken survey, 2001 chicken survey).
<p>The approaches and research plan are as follows:<ul>
<li>characterisation of isolates using MLST and antigen sequencing
<li>isolate database established and linked to the existing campylobacter profiles database that covers C. jejuni and C. coli. Additional databases for flaA and major outer protein membrane (MOMP) loci will be developed within existing campylobacter database structure
<li>integration of isolate database with other relevant data on the pubMLST website.
<li>population genetic and epidemiological analysis
</ul>
MLST is a high resolution and unambiguous approach to characterisation of isolates that allows comparison between different studies and analysis by a variety of quantitative techniques.
<p>The molecular characterisation of a representative sample of retail poultry meat isolates will provide a resource which by analysis in association with other collections of isolates will enable the following to be evaluated: <ul>
<li>whether poultry campylobacter isolates obtained at point of sale are the same as those isolated from live poultry
<li>the proportion of human disease isolates that are similar to poultry isolates and the proportion that are more similar to other possible sources
<li>the relationship of poultry isolates to those from other host and environmental sites
</ul>
<p>A database of isolates will be established for this project and linked to the existing campylobacter MLST profiles database available on the internet.
<p>Find more about this project and other FSA food safety-related projects at the <a href="http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/" target="_blank">Food Standards Agency Research webpage</a>.