Research Focus
The Abdelhamid Lab uses cutting-edge research techniques for discovery of new microbes with desirable benefits in human health, food production, and mitigation of foodborne pathogens. On a different line of research, the lab studies persistence, virulence, and biofilms of foodborne pathogens and how these outcomes impact their ability to cause foodborne illness.
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Areas of Interest
Microbial Omics for food safety and human health
This research stream focuses on the detailed characterization of the microbiome in fermented, unprocessed or minimally processed foods. We aim to elucidate the functional and compositional dynamics of these microbial communities to construct synthetic communities that enhance food production and positively impact gut health. Our objective is to understand the (meta)genomic, phylogenetic, and functional properties of food microbiota within the food system and during their interactions in the host.
Virulence and adaptive responses of foodborne pathogens
Our research investigates how various food matrices influence the virulence and survival strategies of pathogens like Salmonella. Previous studies have shown that pathogens adapt differently, with some becoming more virulent in specific food products. This line of inquiry is crucial for developing targeted food processing strategies that mitigate pathogen virulence and enhance food safety. With the utility of transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches, integrated with microbial risk assessments, exploring these pathogen-food interactions is key to unlocking new frontiers in food microbiology.
Microbial biofilms
This area focuses on the development and metabolic assessment of bacterial biofilms to identify potential biomarkers and discover antibiofilm agents. Our research employs several approaches, including metabolomics, to elucidate which metabolic pathways and metabolites can alter biofilm formation capabilities, offering new strategies to combat biofilm-associated risks on (in)animate surfaces.