Biological and genetic basis of epidemiological competitions between Salmonella Enteritidis and S. Infantis

Majority of human non-typhoidal salmonellosis is still being caused by S. Enteritidis (SE), but S. Infantis (SI) is the major cause of broiler-associated human infections. However the prevalence of SI in humans is far less high than expected based on its high prevalence in broilers. This could indicate its presently lower infectivity for human, which however could turn to be a more serious global public health concern by the acquisition of new virulence/antibiotic resistance properties.

The overall goal of the proposed research is to explore biological, epidemiological and genetic differences between SE and SI in order to understand factors influencing their differing prevalence in broilers and in humans in Hungary.

We aim to reveal diversity of resistance/virulence properties, and to study the exchanges of multiresistance/virulence plasmids between Salmonella and E. coli in influencing persistence and environmental survival in vivo/in vitro or on flock levels “in toto”.

The most interesting point is the understanding of the epidemiologic and molecular interactions between SE and SI, which could also be supported by modeling horizontal gene transfers between these serovars and E. coli in the mammalian and avian intestine.

Our expected results could open a new perspective in the epidemiology of SI, and we could hope to solidify our position between the cutting edge research competitors working under the “One Health” concept.