Transcriptomic analyses of Salmonella Infantis from Brazil under survival conditions related to human health and food safety

• Grant number: 23/11427-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
• Grantee: Felipe Pinheiro Vilela
• Supervisor: Daniel Beiting
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Pennsylvania, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/07365-0 - Genomic, transcriptomic and phenotypic evaluation of virulence aspects of Salmonella Infantis strains isolated from diverse sources in Brazil, BP.DR

Abstract

Salmonellosis caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars is a major foodborne disease occurring worldwide. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) is a zoonotic, foodborne, ubiquitous and non-typhoid serovar, capable of infecting multiple animal reservoirs besides humans. It has been reported among the most commonly isolated non-typhoid Salmonella serovars in many countries, including Brazil, among clinical and non-clinical sources. However, despite the clinical burden of this serovar and the importance of its occurrence in the food-producing field, there is a lack of studies based on transcriptome analyses that aim to elucidate the gene expression background of this serovar under challenging survival conditions. Therefore, the aims of this project are to perform the transcriptome sequencing of one S. Infantis strain whose survival will be evaluated through the following survivability assays: acidic pH (2.6), oxidative stress (15mM H2O2) and increased osmolarity (NaCl 4%). In addition, the differential gene expression of the S. Infantis transcriptome under the abovementioned conditions will be analyzed by bioinformatics. Our intention is to perform the analyses under the supervision of Dr. Daniel P. Beiting at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The results to be obtained will not only contribute for a better characterization of the circulating S. Infantis strains in Brazil, but will also help to elucidate possible unique differential gene expression under relevant stressful conditions that may favor the survival of this serovar of great zoonotic and foodborne importance worldwide. (AU)