The goal of this project is to enhance the ability to analyze for microbiological threat agents utilizing FERN and other methods to improve laboratory capacities for food defense assignments and outbreak response. As a Tier 1 Select Agent registered facility with both Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) and Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories, our highly experienced staff is capable of performing more than 500 analyses per month for biothreat agents and toxins. The Wadsworth Center plays an active role in food testing in NYS. Our laboratory is involved with food outbreak investigations, routine food surveillance, and a resource for confirmatory testing for other state and federal agencies involved in the regulation of food. We perform identification and characterization on organisms isolated from human specimens as well as associated implicated food sources using methods such as classical microbiological methods, in-house developed rtPCR, DNA sequencing, molecular strain and serotyping, and DNA fingerprinting. In addition to the FERN and LRN, the Wadsworth Center also participates in the Emerging Infectious Program funded by the CDC which includes FoodNet, PulseNet, and the National Resistance Monitoring System. The Wadsworth Center works very closely with the NYS DOH Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Bureau of Food Protection as well as other state and federal partners including Department of Agriculture and Markets and the FDA and USDA to assist in providing expertise in the isolation and identification of select agent microbes and toxins in food products and a timely, coordinated response to food related outbreaks. Staff in the Biodefense Laboratory have attended FERN sponsored trainings as well as developed and delivered several trainings as subject matter experts. The most recent training that was led by members of our laboratory was a MALDI-TOF MS applications course for biothreat agents and toxins. The MALDI-TOF MS methods are being adopted by many state and federal agricultural and public health laboratories. Our laboratory is currently assisting other state and federal agencies validate and implement these new methods in their laboratories as well as participate in a monthly Clostridium botulinum harmonization conference call with members of the FDA, USDA, and CDC where we are the only public health laboratory member. The expertise of our laboratorians has allowed for the development and validation of multiple new methods that are currently being used to screen food commodities for high risk pathogens and toxins. The expected outcome of this project is to ensure that FDA distributed food commodities are safe to consume for the general public and to provide enhanced capabiity and capacity for FERN. Additionally, it is expected that the food supply will be safe from intentional contamination during large gatherings and events, such as political conventions, inaugurations, and the Super Bowl.
