# Using novel pre-harvest, resistance-conferring treatments to prevent foodborne pathogenic outbreaks in produce

> **NIH NIH R41** · ASCRIBE BIOSCIENCE INC. · 2022 · $299,999

## Abstract

Abstract -
Ascribe Bioscience is developing a novel technology to prevent foodborne outbreaks and recalls caused
by the consumption of fresh or minimally processed fruits and vegetables. Product recalls and outbreaks
of foodborne illness associated with fresh produce are on the rise in the U.S. In 2015, two outbreaks of E.
coli O26 linked with fresh tomato salsa were responsible for 60 illnesses and 22 hospitalizations. In 2011, a
multistate outbreak of Listeria linked to whole cantaloupes led to 143 hospitalizations and 33 deaths. Another
cantaloupe-linked outbreak caused by Salmonella caused 261 cases across 24 states, with 94 hospitalizations
and 3 deaths. Since most fresh produce is consumed raw, with no processing step to eliminate or minimize
pathogens, they remain a major source of contamination. Fresh produce can become contaminated with
pathogens at any steps of food production—during harvesting, or at various post-harvest stages including
processing, transport, and storage. Continued increase of farm-to-fork distances further amplifies the risk of
product contamination with pathogens, creating a significant—but largely preventable—public health burden.
Chlorine-based treatments have commonly being used to disinfect fresh and minimally processed fruits and
vegetables, but they have limited effectiveness due to inaccessibility to internal tissues where pathogens can
flourish unaffected. To prevents outbreaks of foodborne associated with fresh produce, Ascribe is developing a
treatment technology based on a natural molecule that activates plant defenses that persists over time, offering
reliable, long-term protection against a broad range of bacterial pathogens. Ascribe’s proposed treatment
technology has the potential to dramatically improve the safety of raw produce by addressing both external
and internal bacterial contamination. In response to seed, foliar spray, or root-drench application, plants deploy
an array of defense responses, which result in enhanced resistance against a broad spectrum of agriculturally
important plant pathogens. In this project, Ascribe will establish the feasibility of the technology for the prevention
of recalls and outbreaks related to human consumption of fresh or minimally processed fruits and vegetables.
The specific aims of this Phase I project are 1) Develop formulations for produce designed for application by soil
drench and spraying, and determine their effects on germination, growth, and quality; 2) Test the efficacy of
these formulations against human enteric pathogens Salmonella enterica in tomato and Listeria monocytogenes
in broccoli; 3) Test the effect of these treatments on the shelf life of tomato and broccoli. These aims will position
Ascribe to further develop this technology in Phase II, in which Ascribe will refine the formulations, test efficacy
against additional pathogens, expand to other types of fruits and vegetables, and perform toxicology studies to
support regulatory approval. If...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10546010
- **Project number:** 1R41AI170268-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** ASCRIBE BIOSCIENCE INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Murli Manohar
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $299,999
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-25 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10546010

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10546010, Using novel pre-harvest, resistance-conferring treatments to prevent foodborne pathogenic outbreaks in produce (1R41AI170268-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10546010. Licensed CC0.

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