Volume 3, Number 4—December 1997
THEME ISSUE
Foodborne
Controlling Emerging Foodborne Microbial Hazards
Indentifying and Controlling Emerging Foodborne Pathogens: Research Need
Robert L. Buchanan
Table
Research data needed for most emerging foodborne pathogens.
| Research Area | Knowledge gaps |
|---|---|
| Detection methods | Sampling and enrichment techniques Cultivating Biochemical/taxonomic char. Antibodies for capture and differentiation Subtyping Virulence-associated char. Detecting injured or viable-but-nonculturable cells |
| Microbial ecology | Contaminated foods Reservoirs and routes of transmission Life cycles Geogr. range and seasonality Route of contamination and location of pathogen in food |
| Pathogenicity | Dis. char. and diagnosis Sequelae Host range Infectious dose Subpopulations at risk Animal models |
| Growth characteristics | Free-living vs. obligate parasite Growth requirements • Temperature • pH • Water activity • Oxygen |
| Survival characteristics | Heat resistance D-values Z-values Susceptibility to antimicrobial food additives Acid resistance Sensitivity to disinfectants or dessication Sensitivity to radiation o UV o Ionizing |
| Control | Effectivenss of food preservation Inspection systems to segregate contamination materials |
