Research Interests
We are primarily interested in the
study of
virulence, adaptive physiology, ecology, molecular epidemiology and
evolution
of bacterial foodborne pathogens. Our focus is on two systems of
substantial
current concern to food safety, Listeria monocytogene s and Campylobacter
jejuni. Sources of food contamination by Listeria are
primarily
environmental (although reservoirs remain largely unknown), whereas Campylobacter
is commensal in birds, and infection commonly involves contamin ated
poultry
products.
Our objective is to employ
molecular
epidemiologic tools along with genetic, physiologic and pathogenesis
approaches
to identify and characterize lineages of special relevance to food
safety,
including the unique clonal lineages that have been implicated in
epidemics
of foodborne listeriosis. Listeria can persist in biofilms and
grow
at low temperatures, and we are investigating the molecular basis
underlying
cold and freeze tolerance, and biofilm establishment and persi stence
of
the pathogen. These processes are also being studied with Campylobacter,
which is capable of persistence (albeit not growth) in refrigerated
foods,
esp. poultry. Campylobacter is a genetically highly variable
microorganism,
present ing special opportunities and challenges to the study of the
evolution
of virulent strains, and their adaptation to different hosts, such as
poultry,
other meat animals, and humans.
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