Tuskegee University News November 24, 2014 U.S. Patent Issued to Tuskegee University Researchers for Detection of Biological Threat and Foodborne Pathogens Discovery Tuskegee University researchers in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health (CVMNAH) have a major accomplishment to be proud of this month with the issuing of the United States Patent no. 8,883,488 for the detection of food threat agents and food-borne pathogens. The researchers credited with this time-saving invention are Dr. Woubit S. Abdela, Dr. Temesgen Samuel and Dr. Teshome Yehualaeshet, all three associate professors in the Department of Pathobiology in the CVMNAH. This invention will help with the screening of food for potential contamination with foodborne pathogens and food threat agents. If food contamination is suspected with either of the twelve different organisms (bacteria - germs) then this tool can be used to find out which one is possibly present. "What is so exciting about this discovery is the reduction in time it will now take to identify contamination. Previously, the process of identifying a single bacteria contamination could sometimes take weeks or more depending on the nature of the bacteria," Abdela said. "It took us a year to find the targets (specific DNA regions of the selected twelve bacteria for the development of the kit), but the entire process including validation and publications covered a two-year period (2009-2011). We are very grateful to all who either directly or indirectly assisted in the validation of these novel tools as well as the training of students to make this exciting discovery." This discovery at Tuskegee University is also of special interest to Homeland Security because six of the bacteria identification regions used in this patent belong to potential biological threat agents and may not necessarily be considered routine food contaminants. "Congratulations to the exceptional research team at Tuskegee University for the exceptional work that has been done," said Dr. Francis (Frank) F. Busta, founding director and now director emeritus and senior science advisor for the National Center for Food Protection and Defense (NCFPD). "The NCFPD is pleased to add this accomplishment to the Homeland Security Center of Excellence success stories. The Center has funded over 50 agents' projects and very few have resulted in patents," Busta said. Busta is also a professor emeritus and a food microbiology and emeritus head of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. He has been extensively involved in food defense since shortly after 9/11 and has also worked on other FDA projects on food safety and defense. The NCFD is located at the University of Minnesota and is one of the Homeland Security Centers of Excellence that provides funds to different researchers in universities in the U.S. and Canada. As one of the minority institutes working with the NCFPD, Tuskegee University CVMNAH researchers applied for supplemental funding for the year 2009-2010 in which the award was granted for $164,000 for a year. Dr. Abdela served as the principal investigator and Dr. Samuel and Dr. Yehualaeshet served as the co-investigators. "Drs. Abdela, Samuel and Yehualaeshet are to be commended for doing the research that has led to this outstanding discovery that puts another historical notch under the Tuskegee University's list of outstanding research accomplishments and makes an impact on the world," said Dr. Ruby Perry, interim dean of the CVMNAH. "The researchers in the various areas in the college are great team players and often collaborate with one another as well as other areas across campus to complete the mission. This is an example of another job well done by the CVMNAH team." To learn more about the research being done in at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health, visit www.onemedicine.tuskegee.edu<http://www.onemedicine.tuskegee.edu> and www.tuskegee.edu<http://www.tuskegee.edu>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.