Date: June 23 through June 27, 2008

Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

Instructors: Martin Wiedmann (Cornell University), Mark Carter (Silliker Labs), Kendra Nightingale (Colorado State University) and Sarita Raengpradub (Silliker Labs)

Goal of workshop series: The overall goal of the “Molecular Methods in Food Microbiology Symposium and Workshop Series” is to address and fill-in knowledge gaps regarding molecular detection and subtyping of foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms for industry professionals and graduate students being trained to work in the food industry.  In order to realize this goal, we have assembled an advisory committee to address the challenges the industry faces today with respect to molecular methods.

Advisory committee members:

• Tim Freier, Director, Global Food Safety Technologies, Cargill
• Paul Hall
• Scott hood, Senior Manager, Microbiology, General Mills
• Yuewei Hu, Microbiologist, General Mills
  
• Randy Huffman, Vice President Scientific Affairs, American Meat Institute Foundation 
• Keith Lampel, U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
• Jennifer Lee, Quaker Oats, PepsiCo 
• Mark Moorman, Senior Director, Food Safety and Chemistry, Kellogg Company 
• Theo Morille-Hinds, Associate Program Director of Global Manufacturing and Food Safety, Kraft Foods
  
• Bob Reinhard, Director Food Safety, Sara Lee Food and Beverage 
• Jenny Scott, Vice President Food Safety Programs, Grocery Manufacturers Association/Food Products Association 
• Les Smoot, Director, Nestle Quality Assurance Center
  

Sponsors: Silliker Labs

Program overview: This new workshop will exclusively cover the use of molecular genetics approaches used in food microbiology; antibody-based technologies (e.g., ELISA, etc.) will not covered.  The workshop will be offered annually with rotating topics; in 2008 the workshop will cover nucleic acid based detection methods with a focus on PCR-based detection and confirmation methods (including PCR, multiplex PCR assays, real-time PCR, and quantitative reverse transcriptase-based PCR assays), including DNA sequencing of PCR products.  Some coverage of other DNA-based detection methods (e.g., isothermal amplification) will also be provided.  Attendees will become familiar with commercial DNA-based detection methods (including data interpretation) as well as approaches to design custom PCR-based assays and protocols for foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms.  In 2009, this workshop will focus on nucleic acid-based subtyping and characterization of food associated microorganisms.

This one-week program includes a one-and-a-half-day lecture series and symposium as well as a three-day hands-on workshop (registration limited to 30 people).  The lecture series and symposium will provide the fundamental knowledge and core concepts behind molecular detection systems and the detailed understanding required to accurately interpret results from these assays.  The hands-on workshop session will allow participants to not only become familiar with performing commercial molecular detection systems, but also allow them to learn how develop and troubleshoot of custom molecular-based detection assays.