This $180,000 Project Grant awarded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (CFDA 10.310) will investigate Bacillus cereus, a foodborne pathogen commonly found in the natural environment and food systems. The research aims to identify and validate genetic variants in Bacillus cereus enterotoxin genes that increase the bacteria's ability to produce toxins and cause harm to human gut cells. This work will inform an exposure assessment model to better understand the food safety risks posed by different Bacillus cereus strains. The project will also investigate the role of the enterotoxin hemolysin BL in Bacillus cereus surface colonization and biofilm formation to develop strategies for mitigating the persistence of virulent strains in food processing environments. The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is the prime grantee for this three-year award running from August 2024 to August 2027.
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