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

历史上的黑人学院和大学本科课程（HBCU-UP）通过研究启动奖为历史上的黑人学院和大学的初级和中级职业教师提供支持，他们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。预计该奖项将有助于进一步提高教师的研究能力和效率，并改善家庭机构的研究和教学。该奖项授予奥尔巴尼州立大学，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O 157：H7，非伤寒沙门氏菌和单核细胞增生李斯特菌细菌的去污过程，以增加不同食品的保质期，通过利用提高静水压力/高压处理（HPP），温和的温度和天然抗菌剂。该项目的具体目标是：1）对大肠杆菌O 157：H7、非伤寒沙门氏菌和单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌在温和温度下的传统热巴氏杀菌和HPP去污工艺进行了全面的比较研究;（2）评价天然抗菌剂与HPP联合应用对大肠杆菌的协同作用。大肠杆菌O 157：H7、非伤寒沙门氏菌和L.单核细胞增多症; 3）研究E.大肠杆菌O 157：H7、非伤寒沙门氏菌和L.在不同压力应力和温度下，不锈钢和塑料表面上的单核细胞增多症随时间的变化。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）的协同效应来加强食源性病原体的去污，这将确保食品的质量和适用性。这些结果还可以帮助食品行业验证现有的食品净化过程，并提高食品成本效益。此外，奥尔巴尼州立大学的这一研究重点的发展将加强和改善现有的食品安全知识，实践和本科生的态度，以及加强STEM教育的学习经验。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得支持的评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

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.