Proyecto I+D
Project PID2023-149211OB-C31 SUSTEMSAFE
Omics and analytics to tackle foodborne pathogens present in biofilms
Of National scope. With a Public character. It has been granted under a regime of Competitive.
In collaboration with other entities. Role: Coordinator
There is an urgent need to ensure access to nutritious, safe and affordable foodstuffs for the rising global population. To accomplish this goal, the use of alternative sources of food and sustainable and innovative methods of food production and preservation should be implemented to face the climate change, under a scenario of water scarcity and soil erosion, which challenges current crops and primary production strategies. The coordinated Project SUSTEMSAFE aims to provide knowledge on the underexplored field of the microbiological safety on novel foods (micro and macroalgae), considering these matrices as sustainable sources of high valuable nutritious components. First, the occurrence of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) in algae and industrial facilities (food contact surfaces) will be comprehensively defined by conducting sampling in interested companies and their algae products. The stability of microbial communities in at-risk food and settings will be characterised by lab-scale experiments relying on advanced models (e.g. microfluidics devices, 3D human intestinal enteroid culture, gene expression). The formation and development of biofilms on industrial food contact surfaces will also be explored in algae processing plants, and in other food industry settings, because of their relevant role as a reservoir of alterative and pathogenic microorganisms in recurrent food contaminations. Their mechanical and biological proper
