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<p>Based on our central hypothesis that biofilms produced from SH are more resistant than other field strains of Salmonella our objectives are:</p><p><ol><li> Characterize biofilm formation of multiple field strains of Salmonella isolated from live production and processing.</li><li> Determine the sensitivity of biofilms to commonly used disinfectants, bacteriophages and bacterocins under processing plant conditions.</li><li> In collaboration with Huaijun Zhou in UC Davis Animal Science Department, use RNA-seq to identify differences in gene expression in biofilm forming Salmonella following a challenge with commonly used disinfectants.</li><li> Communicate information to commercial poultry companies.</li></ol></p>
<p>Phase I: In collaboration with a broiler company, utilize their 'library' of Salmonella field strains to determine the ability of these field strains to form biofilms. This will be done using the Innovotech MBECTM assay kit which measures biofilm growth on polystyrene pegs4.</p><p> Phase II: Expose biofilm to common disinfectants under processing plant conditions in order to determine the sensitivity of each field strain of Salmonella to disinfectants used in a processing plant including PAA, aCH, and Cecure® and Salmonella specific bacteriophage and bacterocins. This will also be done via the Innovotech MBECTM assay kit4. Specifically, once the biofilm is formed on the polystyrene peg, the peg can be exposed to the disinfectant for times and temperatures consistent with a processing plant environment. Sensitivity can be determined via a standard spectrophotometric assay. </p><p>Phase III: RNA-seq Next Generation Sequencing will be performed in collaboration with Dr. Huaijun Zhou;s lab of the biofilms exposed and unexposed to the disinfectant in order to better understand how the living biofilms are surviving the disinfectant challenge. This will help identify what resistance genes are expressed when the biofilms are challenged with disinfectants.</p>