Whole genome sequencing of E. coli and Salmonella from animals to improve health insights
Official title: Whole genome sequencing of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica isolates screened from companion and food animals with potential public and animal health importance
Funded at Kansas State University · NIH-11528834 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will sequence 200 bacterial isolates from companion and food animals to better understand strains linked to human and animal health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhattan, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $151,750 |
| NIH project number | 1U18FD008900-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11528834 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk of foodborne illness or with livestock exposure who may benefit from improved understanding of harmful bacterial strains and resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not exposed to these specific bacterial pathogens or without interest in genomic data for surveillance may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will take 100 E. coli and 100 Salmonella isolates from archived collections and perform whole genome sequencing. It builds on existing molecular assays for STEC and ETEC and adds EPEC markers to screen E. coli isolates for relevant virulence traits. Serotype and antimicrobial resistance profiles are already known for most Salmonella samples, guiding the sequencing priorities. The goal is to identify strains with higher relevance to human health and resistance patterns to inform public health and veterinary decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help track dangerous strains and guide interventions to reduce foodborne illness in people and animals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has established actionable molecular assays for detecting key E. coli pathotypes and Salmonella serotypes, with sequencing providing deeper insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Kansas State University
Manhattan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bai, Jianfa — Kansas State University
- Study coordinator: Bai, Jianfa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.