2006 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Salmonella can be found in fecal samples from swine on up to 75% of farms in the U.S. The presence of Salmonella on swine farms has both food safety and environmental concerns. The consumption of pork from swine previously infected with Salmonella is a food safety risk, whereas manure from Salmonella-infected pigs may be considered a hazardous waste with a risk for dissemination of the pathogen into the environment. A greater understanding of the length of Salmonella survival in manure is warranted to minimize the risk of pathogen contamination of the environment when swine manure is utilized as a soil amendment. Additionally, knowledge concerning the mechanisms employed by Salmonella for colonization of the swine gastrointestinal tract and survival in manure is lacking. Specific objectives for this project include:. 1)determine the persistence of Salmonella in swine manure as affected by dietary treatment, and. 2)identify Salmonella genes important for colonization of the swine gastrointestinal tract and persistence in manure. This program is part of the National Program 108, Food Safety. This research contributes to Component 1.1 (Preharvest Food Safety Animals); specifically addressing Problem Statements 1.1.3 (Ecology, Host Pathogen and Chemical Residue Relationships) and 1.1.4 (Intervention Strategies). Information revealed from this research will be utilized by producers, scientists and government agencies. 2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) This Annual Report encompasses the first six months of the Project Plan due approval of the new plan in February 2006. Milestones for the first 12 months of the project continue to be addressed with Milestones being listed from 2006 through 2010. Year 1 (FY 2006) Design and completion of animal trials for manure collection followed by Salmonella challenge. Identification of genes induced in the presence of the quorum sensing signal. Year 2 (FY 2007) Perform microbial community assessment based on dietary treatment. Perform Salmonella swine challenge experiments using selected diets. Construct gene knockouts and test in vitro for effects. Year 3 (FY 2008) Publish manuscript on Salmonella persistence in manure. Analyze animal experiment data from challenge experiment. Publish quorum sensing manuscript. Perform animal experiment with quorum sensing mutants. Screen signature-tagged mutants in swine manure. Year 4 (FY 2009) Publish Salmonella swine challenge manuscript. Analyze animal experiment which used quorum sensing mutants. Identify signature-tagged transposon mutants and determine environmental sensitivity. Year 5 (FY 2010) Publish manuscript describing colonization of quorum sensing mutants. Publish signature-tagged mutant data. 4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. None. 4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. None. 4c.List significant activities that support special target populations. None. 4d.Progress report. None. 5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. None, project just beginning. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Transferred a phage purification protocol to another scientist. Transferred a manuscript to another scientist. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Bearson, S. M., Bearson, B. L., Rasmussen, M. A. 2006. Genetic analysis of the survival of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium within rumen protozoa. In: Proceedings in the 13S Interational Symposium Salmonells and Salmonellosis, May 4-14, 2006, St. Malo, France. pp. 279-282. Review Publications Bearson, S.M., Bearson, B.L., Rasmussen, M.A. 2006. Identification of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium genes important for survival in the swine gastric environment. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 72(4):2829-2836.