These adaptations could account for the low infectious dose (10 to 100 cells) and ability to contaminate acidic foods, such as apple cider. The study aims to measure acid resistance of bacteria representing 3 major clonal groups of pathogenic E. coli and to assess the effect of incubation in food matrices on subsequent survival in a simulated gastric environment. This project is supported by USDA CSREES 2005-35201-16362.
In addition, we have several ongoing collaborations with researchers at other institutes.
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With Phil Tarr at Washington University, we are examining the distribution of several pathogenicity islands among the major lineages of STEC. It is clear from these studies that gene acquisition has played a dominant role in the emergence of different clones.
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With Elizabeth Alm at Central Michigan, we have been characterizing environmental E. coli that she has isolated from several beaches on the Great Lakes. We are comparing these environmental isolates to clinical strains using a variety of molecular methods.
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With Peter Feng at FDA, we are analyzing new STEC serotypes and atypical variants of E. coli O157:H7.
