# Enhancing the Capacity and Capability of Human Food and Environmental Testing Laboratory at the Texas Department of State Health Services: Microbiology Whole Genome Sequencing

> **NIH FDA U19** · TEXAS STATE DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES · 2020 · $75,000

## Abstract

Project Summary 
Discipline A Microbiology, Track 4 Whole Genome Sequencing 
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory Services Section 
(LSS) is one of the largest public health laboratories in the United States. As a member of 
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), 
GenomeTrakr Network and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
PulseNet, it is committed to improving food testing surveillance, inspection, and 
investigation in the State of Texas. 
 Detection of foodborne pathogens performed in Texas is important for the state, 
region, and nation due in part to its extensive border with Mexico where agricultural 
products enter the country; LSS identifies hundreds of foodborne bacterial pathogen 
clusters each year. By using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) the LSS Advanced 
Molecular Microbiology Group plans to sequence at least 400 Salmonella, Listeria 
monocytogenes, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and other related bacterial isolates 
from food and environmental samples. Potential sources of the isolates include the LSS 
internal food testing laboratory, the FDA National Antimicrobial Resistant Monitoring 
System (NARMS) meat program, USDA, and universities with testing and research 
laboratories. 
 The LSS an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory that adheres to standard 
regulatory testing methodologies and reporting requirements. With 5 MiSeq sequencers, 
LSS has the capability and capacity to sequence ~250-300 isolates per week. LSS currently 
submits sequences to the CDC PulseNet database for organisms including Listeria, 
Salmonella, E. coli O157 and non-O157 STEC, Shigella, Campylobacter, Vibrio 
parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio cholera. 
 The LSS is committed to its partnership with the FDA and will continue to participate 
in FERN and GenomeTrakr activities that include but are not limited to meetings, multi-lab 
validation studies, and training and mentoring to other state laboratories. With the support of 
this grant, DSHS LSS will be able to enhance its response to food testing emergencies and 
improve foodborne illness investigations to ensure the safety of human food and food 
products in Texas and the nation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10174177
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007080-01
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS STATE DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES
- **Principal Investigator:** Rachel C. Lee
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $75,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10174177

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10174177, Enhancing the Capacity and Capability of Human Food and Environmental Testing Laboratory at the Texas Department of State Health Services: Microbiology Whole Genome Sequencing (1U19FD007080-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10174177. Licensed CC0.

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