Final Report Summary - LISGENOMICS (Study of the Listeria monocytogenes gene expression profile in ready-to-eat foods of animal origin by the application of the omics and the bioinformatics/biostatistics disciplines) The main objective of the LisGenOmics proposal was the development of an innovative toolbox of novel methodologies for the understanding of the behavior of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in terms of its gene expression a) inoculated in ready-to-eat foods of animal origin and b) after its passage through the gastrointestinal tract. The proposal employed an interdisciplinary approach relying on converging research fields such as molecular microbiology including omics technologies, food science, food technology, food microbiology, predictive microbiology and biostatistics/bioinformatics. The LisGenOmics project was the first to combine pathogen inactivation (phenotype) with gene expression (genotype) for biomarker discovery obtaining data from in situ experiments. These results may advance the research not only in microbial risk assessment studies, but also in the understanding of the foodborne pathogens survival, stress adaptation and/or virulence expression, leading to development of strategies for enhancing their inactivation and/or practical tests for the identification of pathogens along the food chain with great impact on public health. The knowledge produced (biomarkers, models and gastrointestinal tract survival) in this project adds value. Indeed, the finding of molecular biomarkers to characterize the bacterial physiological state under specific conditions remains a key issue for food industry. The combination of molecular tools and predictive microbiology opens new roads for food formulation and preservation optimization.The selection of potential biomarkers offers new perspectives for the prediction of bacterial behavior and physiology. The increment of such data into mathematical models to predict inactivation, during industrial processes is the key to offer decision making tools for food safety and quality management.LisGenOmics significantly developed and broadened fellow’s competencies in terms of interdisciplinary expertise. This interdisciplinary knowledge certainly reinforced his academic career and he became an expert in his own field. His participation in the activities for developing scientific and complementary skills, e.g. new technologies and instruments, scientific and financial management of the project, tasks coordination, etc., definitely provided to the fellow knowledge and skills to reach a stable, long term position. Indeed after the end of the project and his return to the previous work position, the fellow applied for his election as Assistant Professor. The acquired knowledge provided recognition of the participating fellow as a person of excellence on the topic and his position was enhanced in the field of ‘Food Quality Control’. The project supplied the fellow with different combinations of competencies: knowledge, skills and attitude; very useful for his future career He created a network of academic scientists from the University of Turin. He improved his communication skills through the cooperation with researchers of different scientific background and different style of interaction due to personal and cultural aspects. He gained hands-on experience on delivering an oral presentation, improved his verbal and non-verbal skills and acquired fluency in the English language. Finally, new research proposals were stimulated with and in relation to the knowledge developed within the scope of the project which is an important task for the fellow’s career.
