Dry-heat resistant Salmonella enterica isolated from a wastewater treatment plant. Salmonella enterica

Enteric pathogens, particularly Salmonella, are capable of long-term survival in the dry state. Our study demonstrated that genes increasing the resistance of Salmonella to wet heat also decrease resistance to dry heat. Mechanisms of dry heat resistance thus differ from wet heat resistance, which has implications for decontamination of dry foods and food contact surfaces. The sequencings of dry-heat resistant and sensitive Salmonella isolates allowed us to determine the genes that are involved in the dry-heat stress response. This project elucidated the mechanisms of dry heat resistance in Salmonella, and improved current pathogen intervention technologies for dry foods.