# Preventing outbreaks of foodborne pathogenic bacteria in edible sprouts via novel resistance-conferring seed treatments

> **NIH NIH R44** · ASCRIBE BIOSCIENCE INC. · 2022 · $998,060

## Abstract

Abstract
Ascribe Bioscience is developing a novel technology to prevent foodborne outbreaks caused by the
consumption of edible sprouts. Sprouts are highly vulnerable to infection with human enteric bacterial
pathogens at the seed stage. These pathogens then grow exponentially in the warm and humid conditions used
for sprouting. Even low initial bacterial counts on seeds can result in unsafe microbial loads by the end of sprout
production and processing. Moreover, the internalization of contaminating bacteria into seed tissues
contaminates the sprout tissues from inside, rendering the application of antimicrobials largely ineffective.
Sprouts have emerged as a significant source of foodborne illness and have become a public health hazard.
Between 1996 and 2017, the U.S. experienced 58 foodborne illness outbreaks associated with sprouts,
encompassing at least 1,953 illnesses, 212 hospitalizations, and 5 deaths. According to the FDA, no single
treatment so far has been shown to eliminate pathogens on seeds or sprouts that cause foodborne
illness. Ascribe Bioscience will use a natural, microbiome-derived molecule that activates and/or prime plant
defenses at the seed stage, thereby conferring to sprouts an enhanced resistance against contamination by
disease-causing bacterial pathogens. Ascribe's proposed treatment technology has the potential to
dramatically improve the safety of edible sprouts by addressing both external and internal bacterial
contamination. In Phase I, Ascribe has established the feasibility of the technology for the prevention of outbreaks
related to human consumption of sprouts by demonstrating that treatment with our molecule can prevent
Salmonella growth during the sprouting process in alfalfa. In Phase II, we will finalize the sprout seed treatment
formulation and expand testing to a broader spectrum of sprout-pathogen systems. To support
commercialization, we will perform toxicity and residue testing for regulatory approval, and refine synthesis
methodologies to enable large-scale production of the active ingredient. The specific aims of this Phase II project
are 1) Refine treatment formulation, including optimized formulation development, determination of the minimum
effective dose and treatment duration, comparison of the effectiveness of the formulation versus the sprout
industry-standard treatments, and measuring the effects of the formulation on germination, growth and sprout
quality; 2) Test the efficacy of treatments against other illness-causing pathogens on a variety of sprout types,
and evaluate it's role in altering bacterial abilities to form biofilm; 3) Demonstrate safety via toxicology studies
and residue testing to support EPA approval; 4) Develop methods to scale the synthesis of active ingredient to
pilot scale, and 5) Investigate the ability of the molecule to provide post-harvest protection to leafy greens. The
proposed research is expected to yield commercial products that will prevent or dramatically re...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10384281
- **Project number:** 2R44AI152915-02
- **Recipient organization:** ASCRIBE BIOSCIENCE INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Murli Manohar
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $998,060
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10384281

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10384281, Preventing outbreaks of foodborne pathogenic bacteria in edible sprouts via novel resistance-conferring seed treatments (2R44AI152915-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10384281. Licensed CC0.

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