Project Number: 1935-42000-060-03
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Feb 01, 2007
End Date: Jan 31, 2010

Objective:
The objective of this project is to form a multidisciplinary network of international research groups working on Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7, other Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and other pathogenic strains with the ultimate aim of reducing the burden of illness caused by these pathogens. Key issues that will be addressed in this project include: (1) methods for detection and molecular characterization of E. coli O157 and other pathogenic E. coli; (2) epidemiology and transmission; (3) pathogenicity, virulence, and emerging pathogenic E. coli; (4) ecology of E. coli and other pathogenic strains; and (5) control and management.

Approach:
Although most E. coli strains are harmless commensal organisms, there are also pathogenic strains, which cause disease in humans and animals. There is little doubt that additional pathogenic E. coli groups will evolve and be recognized in the future. The research/surveillance community must be proactive in recognizing and sharing information on emergent strains so that they can be recognized in a timely manner. The Microbial Food Safety Research Unit at the USDA, ARS will participate on a project to investigate E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogenic E. coli, which was submitted to the European Commission, 6th Framework Programme on Research, Technological Development and Demonstration and was recently funded. ARS will collaborate on this project by sharing information and expertise on the development of recovery/sampling methods, application of molecular subtyping methods, and validation of interventions. These efforts compliment ongoing research on CRIS 1935-42000-060-00D, Molecular characterization of pathogens and their responses to environmental factors and CRIS 1935-41420-012-00D, Validation of the effect of interventions and processes on persistence of pathogens on foods.