# Enhancing Food Testing Capabilities at the WVDA through Discipline A: Microbiology Analytical Track 5: Microbiology Capability / Capacity Development

> **NIH FDA U19** · WEST VIRGINIA STATE DEPT OF AGRICULTURE · 2020 · $131,685

## Abstract

Laboratory Flexible Funding Model FY2020-2021 
West Virginia Department of Agriculture Proposal 
PAR-20-105: 
 LFFM (U19) Clinical Trials Not Allowed 
 Discipline A: Microbiology 
 Analytical Track 4: Whole Genome Sequencing 
Abstract: 
Whole genome sequencing is a laboratory procedure that determines the order of bases 
(A, T, G, and C) in the genome of an organism in one process. Small pieces of DNA 
tags, or bar codes, are added to the DNA to identify which piece of sheared DNA 
belongs to which bacteria. The bar-coded DNA from multiple bacteria are combined and 
put in the whole genome sequencer. The sequencer identifies the bases that make up 
each bacterial sequence and uses the bar code to keep track of which bases belong to 
which bacteria. Computer analysis tools can be used to compare bacterial sequences 
and identify differences. The number of differences can illustrate how closely related the 
bacteria are, and how likely it is that they are part of the same outbreak. 
Whole genome sequencing is a fast and affordable way to obtain high-level information 
about the bacteria using just one test. Adding this level of technology within the 
Microbiology laboratory at West Virginia Department of Agriculture will allow the 
department to obtain bacterial genomic data in a real-time setting and assist in faster 
outbreak detection on a global scale. 
The purpose of Discipline A: Microbiology; Analytical Track 4: Whole Genome 
Sequencing is to enhance the GenomeTrakr network within the West Virginia 
Department of Agriculture Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Division by capturing 
the current and evolving genomic diversity of non-clinical pathogens across FDA- 
relevant areas in human or animal food, environmental, and water samples. The 
sequencing data generated through this analytical track will be housed in public 
databases at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and will be 
accessed by researchers and public health officials for real time comparison and 
analysis that will positively impact foodborne illness outbreak investigations and reduce 
foodborne illnesses and death.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10170838
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007093-01
- **Recipient organization:** WEST VIRGINIA STATE DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
- **Principal Investigator:** AMIE J MINOR
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $131,685
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10170838

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10170838, Enhancing Food Testing Capabilities at the WVDA through Discipline A: Microbiology Analytical Track 5: Microbiology Capability / Capacity Development (1U19FD007093-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10170838. Licensed CC0.

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