Agent Behavior
The goal of the Agent Behavior theme is to develop innovative detection, decontamination and inactivation technologies using research on the fundamental behaviors of select chemical or biological agents in food.
Agent Behavior Theme Leaders
- Peter Varelis,
- Fonterra
- Eric Johnson,
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Current Projects
Application of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Detection of Chemical and Biological Terror Agents in Food Matrices
- Ted Labuza,
- University of Minnesota
Modification of Sample Preparation to Differentiate Live, Injured and Dead Bacteria in Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay
- Teshome Yehualaeshet,
- Tuskegee University
Modular and Expandable Detection Platform for Current and Potential Food Toxins and Adulterants
- Lawrence Wackett,
- University of Minnesota
Novel Methods for Detection of Clostridium botulinum and Botulinum Neurotoxin in Complex Food Matrices
- Eric Johnson,
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
On-site Detection of Microbial Pathogens and Chemical Toxic Agents using Novel Sensors Based on Quantum Dot Modified Molecular Imprinted Polymers
- Keith Warriner
- University of Guelph
Validation of Agent Inactivation and Isolation from Food Systems
- Alvin Lee
- Institute for Food Safety and Health, Illinois Institute of Technology
Completed Projects
Bioluminescent Bacteria as Biological Sensors for Toxic Agents in Food
- Vangie Alocilja,
- Michigan State University
Bioluminescent Imaging for High Throughput Screening for Bacterial Pathogens and Toxins
- Mansel Griffiths,
- University of Guelph
Biosensors for Detection of Chemical Toxins
- Paul Takhistov,
- Rutgers University
Botulinum Neurotoxin Sensing Technologies
- Eric Johnson,
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Capture and Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT) in Complex Food Matrices using Novel Biosensor Platforms
- Eric A. Johnson,
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Chemical Inactivation of Protein Toxins on Food-Contact Surfaces
- Jack Cappozzo and Lauren Jackson,
- National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST), Illinois Institute of Technology
Concentrating Bacterial Spores from Milk and Juices using Dielectrophoresis-Based Microfluidic Capture Systems
- Suresh Pillai,
- Texas A&M University
- Ali Beskok,
- Old Dominion University
Containment and Remediation System
- Susan Harlander,
- BT Safety LLC
Detection and Removal of Select Agents from Complex Food Matrices: Phase II
- Lee-Ann Jaykus,
- North Carolina State University
Determination of Y. pseudotuberculosis Survival in Milk under Temperature Stress
- Teshome Yehualaeshet,
- Tuskegee University
Development of a Multiplex Bio-barcode DNA Biosensor for Bacillus anthracis Detection Without PCR Amplification
- Vangie Alocilja,
- Michigan State University
Development of biologically modified electrically-active magnetic nanoparticles (nano-BEAMs) for direct capture and concentration of Bacillus anthracis spores and cells in various food matrices
- Vangie Alocilja,
- Michigan State University
Development of Nontoxigenic Clostridium botulinum Toxins and Strains for Food Defense Studies
- Eric Johnson,
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Electrochemical Biosensors for B. anthracis
- Vangie Alocilja,
- Michigan State University
Evaluation of Methods for Decontamination of Food Processing Equipment and Facilities Deliberately Contaminated with Bacillus Spores
- Martin Cole,
- National Center for Food Safety and Technology–Illinois Institute of Technology
- Peter Slade,
- National Center for Food Safety and Technology–Illinois Institute of Technology
Extraction of Bacillus anthracis Spores and Ricin from Liquid Foods and its Potential Utilization for Inline Detection
- Ted Labuza,
- University of Minnesota
- Francisco Diez-Gonzalez,
- University of Minnesota
Extraction, Concentration, and Detection of Toxins in Solid Food Systems using Molecular Imprinted Polymer Films
- Keith Warriner,
- University of Guelph
Extraction and Concentration of Chemical (Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine) and biological (ricin) toxins using Molecular Imprinted Electrospun Fibers Coupled with Detection at Aptamer Modified Polymer Electrodes
- Subrayal Reddy,
- University of Surrey (UK)
- Keith Warriner,
- University of Guelph
Fate of Toxins in At-Risk Foods
- Ramona Parra,
- New Mexico State University
FASTMAN Integrated Device for Detection of Select Agents
- Vivek Kapur,
- University of Minnesota/ANDX
Heat Inactivation Kinetics of Spores in Liquid Milk
- Ted Labuza,
- University of Minnesota
- Francisco Diez-Gonzalez,
- University of Minnesota
Hydrophobic Extraction of B. anthracis Spores from Liquid Foods
- Francisco Diez-Gonzalez,
- University of Minnesota
- Ted Labuza,
- University of Minnesota
Identification and Characterization of Temperature-Dependent Virulent Genes in Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. enterocolitica
- Teshome Yehualaeshet,
- Tuskegee University
Impact of Select Agents on the Coagulation Properties of Milk Proteins
- Salam Ibrahim,
- North Carolina A&T State University
Integrating Microbial Target Capture with Flow Field Fractionation for Lab on a Chip Device for Food Matrices
- Suresh Pillai,
- Texas A&M University
Inactivation of Microbial Agents with High Concentrations of Industrial Sanitizers
- Katie Swanson,
- Ecolab Inc.
- Bruce Cords,
- Ecolab Inc.
Melamine-Cyanuric Acid Detection System for Purposely Adulterated Foods
- Lawrence Wackett,
- University of Minnesota
A Microfluidic Approach for Separation and Concentration of Bacterial Spores from Milk and Juices
- Suresh Pillai,
- Texas A&M University
- Ali Beskok,
- Old Dominion University
Plasma Technology to Decontaminate Surfaces
- Amy Wong,
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Ferencz Denes,
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
Proof-of-Concept Study for the Development of a Cell-Free GPCR-Based Biosensor for Rapid Non-Specific Detection of Chemical and Biological Toxic Agents
- Evangelyn Alocilja,
- Michigan State University
Protein Complementation Based Functional Detection Assay for Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B
- Jody Proescher,
- Johns Hopkins University
Rapid Testing for Botulinum Toxin using Egg Yolk Antibodies
- Mark Cook,
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
A Simple and Rapid Method for the Simultaneous Purification and Concentration of Nucleic Acids and Proteins from Food Matrices
Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Food Safety Threat Agents Using Multiplex PCR and PCR-Based Microarray Approaches
- Charles Young,
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
- Woubit Salah Abdela,
- Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine
A Systematic Approach for the Detection of Bioterrorism Agents in Complex Sample Matrices
- Lee-Ann Jaykus,
- North Carolina State University
Stability of BoNT in Food Matrices
- Eric A. Johnson,
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Stability of Ricin and Abrin to Conventional Food Processing Operations and Investigations on Food Contact Surface Decontamination Methods
- Peter Varelis,
- National Center for Food Safety and Technology–Illinois Institute of Technology
Thermal and Chemical Inactivation of Select Agent Toxins in Liquid Foods
- Ted Labuza,
- University of Minnesota
- Francisco Diez-Gonzalez,
- University of Minnesota
Toxin/Pathogen Inactivation and Disposal of Intentionally Contaminated Foods
- Craig Benson,
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
Use of Commercial Household Sanitizers to Inactivate Spores
- Michael Davidson,
- University of Tennessee–Knoxville
Validation of Agent Inactivation and Isolation from Food Systems
- Alvin Lee,
- National Center for Food Safety and Technology
Validation of Methods for Decontamination of Food Processing Equipment and Facilities Deliberately Contaminated with Bacillus Spores
- Alvin Lee and Robin Kalinowski,
- National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST), Illinois Institute of Technology