Project Summary Microbiology, Track 4: Whole Genome Sequencing The NMSU Food Safety Laboratory (FSL) will work towards achieving FERN objectives by ensuring that trained staff will participate in FERN activities including sequencing bacterial isolates, participating in proficiency tests, and performing other analyses as requested. The NMSU FSL proposes to sequence a mixture of 400 or more pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and other foodborne related pathogens and share the results (and metadata) in real-time to the National Center for Biotechnology Information national database for enteric pathogen genomes that can be accessed by researchers and public health officials for real time comparison and analysis. We anticipate that the majority of the isolates will be Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter spp. as we have developed a working relationship with Oregon State University and to obtain isolates for sequencing. Current environmental monitoring activities as a part of NMDA Specialty Crop research activities at the NMSU FSL are also generating Listeria and Salmonella isolates that we will sequence. The NMSU FSL is committed to the GenomeTrakr efforts to create a stronger international rapid surveillance network for clustering of pathogen isolates associated foods that can be effectively used for identifying the sources of disease causing organisms to further FDA’s mission of protecting the public health.