Summary

Foodborne pathogens are one of the most common causes of infections in the world which associated with high cost for therapy, trade disputes and economic losses. There is a vast research gap in the food safety sector in the country with lack of data. Therefore, this study is conducted to identify the prevalence and quantify the risk associated with common foodborne pathogens in ready to eat food products in the Sri Lankan market. Antibiotic resistant and multi drug resistant bacteria are an emerging global threat that has complicated the treatment of foodborne infections. Therefore, innovation into novel control solutions has become a continuous process in the health and agriculture sector. Considering the usage of bacteriophages (phages) as an alternative control method has been rekindled due to their high specificity and effectiveness in bactericidal activity even against the antibiotic resistant strains without affecting the host commensal microbiota which considered as an environmental friendly method. This will be the first report in Sri Lanka on prevalence, isolation and characterisation of bacteriophages in the country. The findings from this study will provide new insights into the controlling and prevention strategies for minimize contamination of ready to eat food with foodborne pathogens. Further, isolated phages will be attractive candidates that need future investigation and research to be used as a biocontrol agent for developing phage cocktails, controlling diseases caused by foodborne pathogens and decontamination of food processing facilities.

Objectives

1. To quantify, isolate foodborne pathogens and assess the risk associated with consuming contaminated food commodities
2. To determine the antibiotic resistant profile of isolated foodborne pathogens
3. To determine phylogentic relationship and MLST pattern among isolated foodborne pathogens
4. To isolate bacteriophages to control common foodborne pathogens in food commodities

Major Equipment Facilitated by Grant