Identification of novel genetic factors contributing to the significance of Listeria monocytogenes as a foodborne pathogen

提供安全、健康的食品对人类的福祉至关重要。在加拿大，在2008年爆发了四次食源性疾病后，我们食品的安全性最近受到了质疑，其中最引人注目的是导致23名加拿大人死亡，他们食用了受单核细胞增多性李斯特菌污染的熟食肉类。在这些事件之后，一个独立的专家小组编制了Weatherill报告，详细列出了57项改善食品安全的建议。尽管这些建议正在持续实施，但单核细胞增多性李斯特菌的问题仍然存在。虽然对受污染食品的召回表明食品安全体系正在发挥作用，但它也证明了食品加工商层面的控制不力。这项研究计划的目的是确定新的机制，使单核细胞增多性李斯特菌能够长期存在于食品生产环境中，在食品中生存，并最终导致人类疾病。研究将集中在有助于抵御食物链压力(例如消毒剂、低水活度、酸等)的生存的基因的特征。此外，还将研究与冷适应、生长和生存相关的机制。从中获得的知识将提供对单核细胞增多性李斯特菌如何在食品和食品生产环境中持续存在的更好的理解，从而能够开发新的和改进的干预策略。此外，该项目还将帮助参与项目的学生解决加拿大的食品安全问题。

The provision of safe, wholesome foods is essential for the well-being of humans. In Canada, the safety of our foods was recently questioned following four major outbreaks of foodborne disease in 2008, the most notable of which resulted in the deaths of 23 Canadians who consumed deli meats contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. In the wake of these events, an independent panel of experts produced the Weatherill Report detailing 57 recommendations to improve food safety. Despite the ongoing implementation of these recommendations, issues with L. monocytogenes persist. While recalls of contaminated foods suggests the food safety system is working, it also demonstrates ineffective control at the food processor level. The objective of this research program is to identify novel mechanisms enabling L. monocytogenes to persist for long periods in food production environments, survive in food, and, ultimately, cause human disease. Research will focus on the characterisation of genes contributing to survival against food chain stresses (e.g. sanitizers, low water activity, acid, etc.). Also, mechanisms associated with cold adaptation, growth, and survival will be investigated. Knowledge gained from will provide an improved understanding of how L. monocytogenes persists in foods and food production environments, enabling the development of new and improved intervention strategies. In addition, this program will prepare participating students to address Canada's food safety issues.