Research Initiation Award: Enhancing the Decontamination Process of Food Borne Pathogens to Increase the Shelf Life of Food

通过研究启动奖的历史黑人学院和大学本科课程(HBCU-UP)为历史黑人学院和大学的初级和职业生涯中期教师提供支持，这些教师正在建立新的研究项目或重新定向和重建现有的研究项目。预计该奖项有助于进一步提高教师的研究能力和有效性，并改善所在机构的研究和教学。这项授予奥尔巴尼州立大学的奖项支持教师和本科生的研究经验，因为他们寻求改善大肠杆菌O157：H7、非伤寒沙门氏菌和单核细胞增生性李斯特菌的净化过程，通过利用高静水压力/高压处理(HPP)、温和的温度和天然抗菌剂来延长不同食品的保质期。这个项目的具体目标是：1)进行一项全面的研究，比较传统的基于热的巴氏杀菌和HPP去污工艺对大肠杆菌O157：H7、非伤寒沙门氏菌和单核细胞增生性李斯特菌的温和温度的净化过程；2)评价天然抗菌剂与HPP联合作用对O157：H7、非伤寒沙门氏菌和单核细胞增多性乳杆菌的协同灭活作用；3)研究不同压力和温度下，O157：H7、非伤寒沙门氏菌和单核细胞增多性乳杆菌在不锈钢和塑料表面的生物被膜形成情况。该项目预计将利用低于600 mpa的压力与其他环境因素(如温和的温度和抗菌剂)的协同作用来加强食源性病原体的净化，以确保食品的质量和分配的适宜性。这些结果还可以帮助食品行业验证现有的食品去污过程，并提高食品成本效益。此外，奥尔巴尼州立大学这一研究重点的发展将加强和改进本科生现有的食品安全知识、实践和态度，并增强STEM教育学习经验。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Research Initiation Awards provide support for junior and mid-career faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities who are building new research programs or redirecting and rebuilding existing research programs. It is expected that the award helps to further the faculty member's research capability and effectiveness and improve research and teaching at the home institution. This award to Albany State University supports faculty and undergraduate research experiences as they seek to improve the decontamination process of Escherichia coli O157:H7, non-typhoidal Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes bacteria to increase the shelf life of different foods by utilizing elevated hydrostatic pressure/high pressure processing (HPP), mild temperature, and natural antimicrobials.The specific objectives of this project are to: 1) conduct a comprehensive study to compare traditional heat-based pasteurization and HPP decontamination process of Escherichia coli O157:H7, non-typhoidal Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes with mild temperature; 2) evaluate the synergistic effect of natural antimicrobials combined with HPP to inactivate E. coli O157:H7, non-typhoidal Salmonella and L. monocytogenes; and 3) investigate biofilm formation of E. coli O157:H7, non-typhoidal Salmonella and L. monocytogenes over time on stainless steel and plastic surfaces at different pressure stress and temperatures. This project is expected to enhance foodborne pathogen decontamination using the synergistic effect of less than 600mpa pressure combined with other environmental factors such as mild temperatures and antimicrobials that will assure the quality and fitness of food for distribution. These results can also help food industries to validate existing food decontamination processes and improve food cost effectiveness. Additionally, the development of this research focus at Albany State University will strengthen and improve the existing food safety knowledge, practice, and attitudes of undergraduate students, as well as enhance the STEM education learning experience.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.