Infectious Diseases Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory

                                      (IDMEL)

Our mission is to explore how foodborne and nosocomial microbes can affect animal and human health. As a team of scientists, we seek to unravel the epidemiology and molecular mechanisms of foodborne and nosocomial pathogens, with emphasis on antimicrobial resistance, to improve health and well being of humans and animals. 

Foodborne and Nosocomial Pathogen Epidemiology

We seek to understand the risk factors associated with persistence and dissemination of foodborne and nosocomial bacterial pathogens, particularly Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Staphylococcus , Acinetobacter and Clostridium difficile. Our main focus is the use of antimicrobials and biocides in various clinical and production settings and their association with proliferation and dissemination of multi-drug resistant and in some cases hypervirulent strains.

Molecular Epidemiology and Diversity of Foodborne and Nosocomial Pathogens

We seek to understand the molecular mechanisms and genotypic diversity of the highly important zoonotic and nosocomial bacterial pathogenic forms such as MDR Salmonella, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Quinolone resistant Campylobacter, virulent Yersinia, Hypervirulent Clostridium difficile and MDR Acinetobacter . Our goal is to unravel the role of food animal reservoirs, understand associated production/ management risk factors and determine clonality of strains from various settings using cutting-edge molecular epidemiologic approaches.