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My main research experience and
interests are in the areas of molecular detection, genotyping, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of foodborne bacteria of public
health significance. The overall goal of my research is to use comparative genomics, proteomics and molecular biology tools
to better understand the virulence, evolution, and transmission of these pathogens from environment to foods and from foods
to human host.
The pathogenesis of foodborne bacteria is a very complicated interaction between bacteria, environments
and host species. Foodborne pathogens provide ideal models for studying infectious diseases, in particular, the survival of
bacterial cells in diverse environmental niches, as well as the emergence and evolution of new virulence characteristics related
to the ability of bacteria to infect and colonize in human hosts.
My research is focused on foodborne bacterial
pathogens that commonly cause human infectious diseases, including (i) Listeria monocytogenes, a Gram-positive bacterium that
can contaminate a wide variety of foods and cause a rare, but severe (fatality rate ~25%) human disease among high-risk populations;
and (ii) Escherichia coli O157:H7, a Gram-negative bacterium which is a recently emerged enterohaemorrhagic pathogen and has
caused numerous human infections both in the U.S. (~75,000 cases per year) and worldwide. A significant theme in my present
and future research is the use of an interdisciplinary approach that employs genetics, bioinformatics, molecular biology,
and DNA microarrays.
Study of foodborne pathogens has broad applications in: (i) rapid detection in foods and
environments; (ii) diagnosis of infectious diseases; (iii) tracking and control of pathogen contamination; (iv) development
of effective vaccines; (v)understanding bacterial evolution, virulence, pathogenesis; and (vi) development of educational
programs to increase public awareness of microbial food safety.
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