Characterize foodborne pathogens using molecular and omics technologies to further understand antimicrobial resistance and virulence of pathogens along the farm-to-fork continuum.Molecular methods will be used to track strains of bacteria involved in outbreaks of foodborne disease. Understanding and assessing the risk of foodborne pathogens will allow FDA to manage the emergence of these pathogens in the food supply.These studies will provide data to Centers such as CVM and CFSAN that can be used in risk assessment models to better define the dissemination of significant foodborne pathogens throughout the food chain.The plasmids sequenced in this study demonstrated some similarities to previously sequenced plasmids isolated from enteric organisms, however in each case there were unique regions contributing to plasmid diversity. Such diversity could potentially lead to favorable benefits to the bacteria occupying different ecological niches. Our ongoing work is focusing on the role of these plasmids in Salmonella virulence and determining what factors influence the dissemination of plasmids among enteric bacteria. Studies to understand the evolution and dissemination of plasmids are important to limit the future spread of increased virulence and antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and other enteric pathogens. main1. Acquire additional bacterial isolates from sources along the farm-to-fork continuum (animal, food, and human clinical)4/30/2010Completed4/30/2010main2. Genotype bacterial isolates and evaluate for antimicrobial susceptibility and presence of resistance determinants5/31/2010Completed5/31/2010main3. Optimize methods to evaluate the ability of antimicrobial resistance transfer among bacterial pathogens6/30/2010Completed6/30/2010main4. Finish plasmid replicon typing on Salmonella Heidelberg strains7/31/2010Completed7/31/2010main5. Identify bacterial isolates for plasmid sequencing studies8/31/2010Completed8/31/2010main6. Complete draft manuscript on human clinical Salmonella isolates9/30/2010Completed9/30/2010main7. Final manuscript on human clininal Salmonella isolates submitted to the Journal of Clinical Microbiology4/1/2011Completed12/15/2010main8. Complete antimicrobial resistance transfer and virulence studies12/31/2011<i>(5/31/2012)</i>Completed5/31/2012main9. Complete the peer review (NCTR and other FDA researchers) of draft technical report, manuscript, and/or publication3/31/2012Completed4/26/2012main10. Obtain NCTR Center Director approval on the draft technical report, manuscript, and/or publication via the document tracking system5/31/2012Completed4/26/2012main11. Submit final manuscript on human clinical Salmonella antimicrobial resistance transfer and virulence studies to a scientific journal5/31/2012<i>(9/30/2012)</i>Completed12/4/2012omics technologiestechnologies that can generate a multitude of measurements on an omics sample, such as a genome or proteomeCVMCenter for Veterinary MedicineCFSANCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutritionhttp://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/track/ucm203296.htmFDA-TRACK NCTR Dashboardhttp://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/track/ucm252974.htmFDA-TRACK Research Glossary਍††਍਍਍਍਍਍਍