USDA-ARS, PathoGenetix to Evaluate Strain Typing System on Salmonella, E. coli
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and PathoGenetix have signed an agreement to evaluate the company’s Genome Sequence Scanning (GSS) technology for use in identifying strains of Shigatoxin-producing E. coli (STECs) and Salmonella enterica, two types of pathogens frequently implicated in foodborne illness outbreaks. The ability to quickly and accurately identify these pathogens, particularly in their most virulent forms, can have significant public health and financial impact for consumers, farmers and ranchers, and the agricultural and food industries.
Under the agreement, USDA-ARS will provide PathoGenetix with genetic information and bacterial strains of E. coli and Salmonella. USDA-ARS and PathoGenetix researchers will analyze the strains, both as isolates and in mixed cultures, using PathoGenetix’s GSS technology, currently in development for commercial use as the RESOLUTION™ Microbial Genotyping System. Results of the joint analysis will assist USDA-ARS in evaluation of the RESOLUTION System as a platform for rapidly identifying pathogenic Salmonella and E. coli in food samples.