Quantitative ecology of pathogens

Foodborne pathogens are ubiquitous and can persist and grow in a variety of ecological niches, including soil, raw-food materials, production environment, processed foods and ultimately the host. Their ability to reach a host and cause disease largely depends on their capacity to withstand stress, remain metabolically robust, and compete successfully with other microorganisms. However a high variability exists among all pathogenic strains and even individual cells when it comes to these characteristics. That complicates the prediction and controlling of pathogen transmission along the food chain. We aim to create mechanistic foundations for predictions of microbial behaviour to better control pathogens and predict food safety risks. 

Our main goals

Taken together, our work in this research theme has three main goals: 

•    Explore adaptation mechanisms of pathogens in food and in food environments, as well as in other relevant niches like soil.
•    Understand and quantify heterogeneous microbial behaviour from single-cell level to ecosystem level.
•    Predicting bacterial behaviour based on physiological status, genomic background, taking into account their heterogeneous behaviour.

Our approach

We apply a quantitative approach from genome to ecosystem level to link information of the different levels to find biomarkers for robustness and heterogeneous behaviour. We will use these predictive determinants to better understand and predict why individual cells behave differently, and how pathogens remain robust in an ecosystem. 

Understanding and predicting adaptive traits of successful pathogens is vital to reveal the mechanisms behind bacterial dynamics in connecting environments. This knowledge can then be used to design better ways to interfere with these dynamics, and may yield tools to intelligently evaluate current and new interventions to reduce food safety risks.