The grant will fund research to explore the genetic and phenotypic variations within Salmonella Dublin (S.Dublin). The aim is to understand more about how the bacteria moves from cattle to humans and what that means for food safety and public health.

The study will be led by Dr Prerna Vohra from the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh and Dr Gemma Langridge from the Quadram Institute on the Norwich Research Park.

The research will use cutting-edge genome sequencing and phenotyping techniques to investigate the genetic factors that contribute to the invasive nature of S. Dublin in both cattle and humans.

S. Dublin is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a significant threat to both animal and human health. It is particularly concerning due to its high invasiveness and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The research aims to provide insights that will aid the development of effective surveillance, control programmes and potential vaccines. The project is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and aligns with BBSRC’s strategic priorities to combat zoonoses and improve food safety. The total funding awarded was £1,159,625.

Dr Prerna Vohra, Lecturer in Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, said: “This grant will be instrumental in improving global One Health by enhancing our understanding of the virulence mechanisms of Salmonella Dublin. This will ultimately contribute to better surveillance, control measures and the development of innovative interventions to protect both animal and human health.”

Dr Gemma Langridge, research group leader at the Quadram Institute, said: “Salmonella Dublin is a growing public health concern and it is difficult to eliminate from cattle herds. There are an increasing number of incidents related to human consumption of raw milk in the UK. Outbreaks due to raw milk and cheese have been reported in Europe and AMR is increasingly being reported in cattle and humans, and there are currently no effective vaccines against S. Dublin.”