Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, 3/15/11

USDA announced a $2.5 million research grant award to Michigan State University to reduce “shedding” --- the release of E. coli from the digestive tract --- of shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) from cattle.
The project, led by Dr. Shannon Manning, will study shedding from cattle and develop strategies to reduce the shedding, with the intent of decreasing the number of illnesses caused by STEC.

“Understanding how the bacteria contaminate water and food supplies will help prevent thousands of illnesses and improve the safety of the nation’s food,” Roger Beachy, director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, said in a news release.

Beachy said Manning and her team will examine the host as well as genetic, microbial and environmental factors associated with STEC shedding, including:

• bacterial genotypes and epidemiological factors important for shedding in multiple herds;
• the composition, diversity and function of the microbial communities within the digestive tract and ruminal fluids of carriers and non-carriers;
• the bovine immune response to infection; and
• inhibitory compounds from 'non-shedding’ animals.

The research team expects to develop new ideas for direct-fed anti-microbials, vaccines, therapies and other control strategies that can reduce the frequency and level of STEC shedding.

The grant was awarded through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which was established under the 2008 farm bill.

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