The Cooper laboratory research focuses on utilizing different -omic tools, phenotype assays, and animal models to address the genomics, pathogenesis and epidemiology of various bacterial foodborne pathogens including Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Listeria, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.
Cooper Laboratory Research Focus:
Comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenetics of various pathogenic bacteria, particularly Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Campylobacter, and Salmonella.
SNP analysis and developing other tools to improve source tracking of foodborne pathogens during outbreaks.
Studying the evolution of numerous bacterial foodborne pathogens in various agricultural environments.
Utilizing various -omics tools to identify host-specific genes, virulence genes, fitness genes and conserved genes.
Investigating the pathogenesis of Campylobacter and other foodborne pathogens.
Development and improvement of animal models for various bacteriological diseases, and innovation of effective vaccines against various bacteriological diseases.
Development of rapid and effective detection and surveillance techniques for foodborne pathogens.
Exploring the microbiomes and metagenomics of different agricultural environments, and the impact foodborne pathogens have on the communities.
Role antibiotic resistant bacteria in various environments have on human health.
