The University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with the Quadram Institute, has been awarded funding to investigate a dangerous bacterial strain of Salmonella often found in cattle. 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.Salmonella Dublin (S.Dublin) poses a significant threat to both animal and human health. It is particularly concerning due to its high invasiveness and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The project aims to provide insights that will aid the development of effective surveillance, control programmes and potential vaccines. The study, 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, will explore the genetic and phenotypic variations within Salmonella Dublin (S.Dublin). It 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.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. 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 Prerna Vohra Lecturer in Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh Salmonella Dublin is a growing public health concern and 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. Dr Gemma Langridge Research group leader, Quadram Institute Publication date 12 Feb, 2025
