The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has funded an NDSU research project intended to determine how foodborne pathogens attach to fresh produce. 

The research, titled "Elucidation of environmental factors that influence attachment of foodborne pathogens to biotic and abiotic surfaces," will be led by Teresa Bergholz, assistant professor of veterinary and microbiological sciences, and collaborator Birgit Pruess, associate professor of veterinary and microbiological sciences.

Sara Smith, a doctoral student studying molecular pathogenesis, also will work on the project, which will look at foodborne pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes.

The resulting data will be used to develop novel control strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of these pathogens on fresh produce.

The project is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture fund number 2015-67006-23092.

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