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January 27, 2012 - Prentice Brownbag Series - Spring 2012 - #1 - Dr. Jim Thomas
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Jim ThomasAgricultural BiotechnologyUniversity of Lethbridge
1. Identification of traits specific to a pathogen or contaminate
: allows use of specific antibodies or enzyme reactions to identify a contaminate
2. Use of selective media for growth of bacterial pathogens
: inclusion of Cefixime (cephalosporin antibiotic) in Sorbitol-MacConkeygrowth medium for bacteria allows selection for growth of E. coli O157:H7
3. Molecular characterization: allows use of unique genesequences (e.g., toxin genes) to identify some bacteriaand viruses
Epidemiology
: find the source of the problem
Much of our food is processed through central facilities
• recalls are costly
• For most bacterial pathogens need 10, 000 to 100,000 to infect
• E. coli O157:H7 is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli that was 1st
identified in a human with bloody diarrhea in 1975
• identified as a food-borne pathogen in 1982
• only takes 1 to 10 to infect
• cutbacks in personnel• cutbacks in money• access to organisms• access to information• negative lobby• how will the information
be used (bioterrorism)