Current Research Projects

L.R. Beuchat's Projects

Subsurface contamination and internalization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in pre-harvest lettuce (5/1/08-4/30/08)
Funding Agency: FreshExpress ($246,526)
Doyle, M.P. (Principal Investigator), L.R. Beuchat, M.C. Erickson, G. Zhang, and L. Ma

Alliance for Food Protection (9/1/05-8/31/08)
Funding Agency: USDA Special Grant ($146,306)
Beuchat, L.R. (Principal Investigator) and Y.R. Ortega

Evaluation of electrolyzed oxidizing water as a sanitizer for fresh and fresh-cut produce and food contact surfaces (9/1/05-8/31/08)
Funding Agency: State of Georgia's Traditional Industries Program for Food Processing ($85,576)
Hung, Y.C. (Principal Investigator) and L.R. Beuchat

M.P. Doyle's Projects

A systems approach to minimize Escherichia coli O157:H7 food safety hazards associated with fresh- and fresh-cut leafy greens (8/1/07-7/14/08)
Funding Agency: USDA-NIFSI ($2,500,000)
Doyle, M.P. (Principal Investigator), M.C. Erickson, G. Boyhan, J-C. Diaz-Perez, S. Phatak, X. Jiang, E. Todd, E. Ryser, P. Slade, C. Stewart, M. Cole, M.L. Tortorello, B. Marks, C. Nnoka, T. Ten Eyck, M. Taylor, M. Riley, Z. Yan, W. Zhang, Y. Song, S. Jeong, B. Niemira, J. Luchansky, V. Juneja, G. Zurera-Cosano, and F. Rodriguez

Efficacy of antimicrobial agents to reduce transfer of E. coli O157:H7 on lettuce pieces (11/15/07-6/30/08)
Funding Agency: EcoLab ($37,526)
Doyle, M. P. (Principal Investigator)

Thermal inactivation of Salmonella in peanut butter (6/1/07-5/31/10)
Funding Agency: ConAgra Foods ($245,000)
Doyle, M. P. (Principal Investigator), Li Ma, and G. Zhang

Detecting and controlling foodborne pathogens (7/1/07-6/30/08)
Funding Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ($99,999)
Doyle, M. P. (Principal Investigator), Li Ma, and G. Zhang

Defining parameters to eliminate pathogens in composted animal manures for application to produce fields (11/1/07-10/31/10)
Funding Agency: USDA-NRI ($391,304)
Erickson, M.C. (Principal Investigator), X. Jiang, and M.P. Doyle

Microbiological safety of composting process as animal manure treatment (10/1/04-9/30/08)
Funding Agency: USDA ($600,000)
Doyle, M. P. (Principal Investigator), X. Jiang, D. M. Granberry, G. Zehnder, and G. Boyhan

Use of packaging film oxygen permeability to allow aerobic spoilage organisms to grow and spoil the product before toxin is produced by Clostridium botulinum in fresh fish packaged under modified atmospheres (9/28/04-3/27/09)
Funding Agency: FDA ($340,430)
Doyle, M. P. (Principal Investigator), M. C. Erickson, and L. Ma

From egg to carcass: Tracking the entry of poultry foodborne pathogens into the food chain (9/1/05-8/31/08)
Funding Agency: USDA-NRI ($890,000)
Maurer, J.J. (Principal Investigator), D.J. Cole, C. L. Hofacre, and M.P. Doyle

M.C. Erickson's Projects

Design to Dissemination: Development of Materials and Repository for Integrative Veterinary Food Safety Education (10/1/06-9/30/09)
Funding Agency: Subcontract from University of Wisconsin and USDA Higher Education Challenge Grants Program ($104,457)
Erickson, M.C. (Principal Investigator), Y.O. Ortega, M.D. Lee, and C.L. Hofacre

J. Frank's Projects

Molecular basis for the development of sanitizer tolerance in Listeria monocytogenes (10/1/05-9/30/08)
Funding Agency: USDA-National Alliance for Food Safety and Security ($220,0000)
Frank, J. (Principal Investigator), C. Minion, R. Phebus, R. Meinersmann, and M. Berrang

M.A. Harrison's Projects

Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on fresh and fresh-cut iceberg lettuce and spinach in the presence of normal background microflora (5/1/07-4/30/08)
Funding Agency: FreshExpress ($136,908)
Harrison, M.A. (Principal Investigator), W. Hurst, and B. Kerr

C.L. Hofacre's Projects

Biological testing of low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in domestic avian species and on farm biosecurity risks associated with the spread of avian influenza (10/1/06-9/30/08)
Funding Agency: SEPRL and USDA-ARS ($410,000)
Jackwood, M. (Principal Investigator), C.L. Hofacre, and D. Cole

M.D. Lee's Projects

J.J. Maurer's Projects

Reducing Salmonella prevalence in the processing plant by breaking vertical transmission through vaccination of affected broiler-breeder flocks (10/1/05-9/30/07)
Funding Agency: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association ($64,576)
Hofacre, C.L. (Principal Investigator) and J.J. Maurer

Y.R. Ortega's Projects

Survival, growth, and decontamination of Enterobacter sakazakii and parasites in infant cereal and on fruits and vegetables (9/1/05-8/31/07)
Funding Agency: USDA-CSREES ($146,306)
Beuchat, L.R. (Principal Investigator) and Y.O. Ortega

M.A. Smith's Projects

Refinement of Listeria monocytogenes low dose data from pregnant guinea pigs for human risk assessment (3/1/06-2/28/08)
Funding Agency: American Meat Institute Foundation ($150,000)
Smith, M.A. (Principal Investigator)

Animal models to assess Enterobacter sakazakii (12/15/04-12/14/08)
Funding Agency: International Life Science Institute ($144,267)
Smith, M.A. (Principal Investigator)

K.A. Voss's Projects

Chemical and toxicological evaluation of fumonisin B₁ in extruded corn grits (9/16/05-8/13/08)
Funding Agency: USDA-NRI ($27,500)
Ryu, D. (Principal Investigator), L.M. Bullerman, M.A. Hanna, and K.A. Voss

Gordon Research Conference on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins (7/15/07-7/14/08)
Funding Agency: USDA CSREES ($10,000)
Voss, K.A. (Principal Investigator), K.S. Rein and R.W. Dickey

Fate of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol during the production of wheat products (3/14/05-12/31/08)
Funding Agency: USDA-ARS and Grocery Manufacturers Association Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement ($24,000)
Voss, K.A. (Principal Investigator) and J. Barach