Research Interests
Our research activities focus on application of molecular biological methods for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms in foods. Current research projects involve the development of nucleic acid amplification technology for the detection of human enteric viruses (human enteroviruses, hepatitis A virus, Norwalk virus) in shellfish, fresh produce, and ready-to-eat food commodities. Additional research opportunities exist for developing similar methods for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella from dairy food products, with specific focuses on bacterial concentration and refining molecular methods to facilitate the real-time detection of foodborne pathogens. Our group is also actively involved in the application of quantitative risk assessment methods for the evaluation of public health risks of foodborne pathogens.
Ph.D. Environmental Sciences and Engineering School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill(UNC-CH), 1993
Major area of study: Food and Environmental Virology
Supporting areas of study: Quantitative Risk Assessment and Epidemiology
M.S. Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 1982
Major area of study: Food Microbiology
B.S. Food Science, Purdue University, 1979
Peer-Reviewed Papers (submitted and in review)
Gonzalez-Escalona, N., B. Whitney, L. Jaykus, and A. DePaola. Comparison of direct genome restriction enzyme análisis and pulsed field gel electrophoresis for typing of Vibrio vulnificus and their correspondence with multilocus sequence typing data. Submitted.
Papfragkou,E., M. Plante, K. Mattison, S. Bidawid, K. Karthikeyan, J.M. Farber, and L. Jaykus. Rapid and sensitive detection of hepatitis A virus in representative food matrices. Submitted.
Peer-Reviewed original research articles and research review articles (published or in press)
Drake, S.L., A. DePaola, and L. Jaykus. An Overview of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Comp. Rev. Food Sci., accepted.
Gonzalez-Escalona, N., L. Jaykus, and A. DePaola. Typing of Vibrio vulnificus strains by variability in their 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions, in press.
Brinley, T.A., C. N. Stam, V.-D. Truong, P. Coronel, P. Kumar, J. Simunovic, K.P. Sandeep, G. D. Cartwright, K. R. Swartzel and L.-A. Jaykus. 2007. Feasibility of Utilizing Bio-indicators for Testing Microbial Inactivation in Sweetpotato Purees Using a Continuous Flow Microwave System. J. Food Sci., in press.
Santos, F.B., D.H. D’Souza, L. Jaykus, P.K. Ferket, and B.W. Sheldon. 2007. Genotypes, serotypes and antibiotic resistance profiles of Salmonella isolated from commercial North Carolina turkey farms. J. Food Prot. 70:1328-1333.
Cates, C.., K.M. Kosa, C.M. Moore, L. Jaykus, T.A. Ten Eyck, and P. Cowen. 2007. Listeriosis prevention for older adults: Effective messages and delivery methods. Educational Gerentology. 33:587-606.
Gonzalez-Escalona, N., L. Jaykus, and A. DePaola. 2007. Accurate identification of desired clones from 16S-23S rDNA spacer libraries using single PCR. Anal. Biochem., Anal. Biochem. 360:147-147.
Vicari A.S., A. Mohktari, R.A. Morales, L. Jaykus, H.C. Frey, B.D. Slenning, and P. Cowen. 2007. Second-order modeling of variability and uncertainty in microbial hazard characterization. J. Food Prot. 70:363-372.
Bang, W., Drake, M.A., and Jaykus, L. 2007. Recovery and detection of V. vulnificus during storage. Food Microbiol. 24:664-70.
Hegde, V., C.G. Leon-Vlarde, C.M. Stam, L. Jaykus, and J.A. Odumeru. 2007. Evaluation of BBL™ CHROMagar™ Listeria agar for the isolation and identification of Listeria monocytogenes from food and environmental samples. J. Microbiol. Meth. 68:82-87.
Drake, S.L., D. Elhanafi, W. Wang, M.A. Drake, D.P. Green, and L. Jaykus. 2006. Validation of a green fluorescent protein labeled strain of Vibrio vulnificus for use in the evaluation of post-harvest strategies for handling of raw oysters. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72:7205-7211.
Cates, S.C., K.M. Kosa, T. TenEyck, L. Jaykus, C.M. Moore, and P. Cowen. 2006. Changes in older adults’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices after receiving information on listeriosis prevention. Food Prot. Trends 26:774-785.
Cannon, J.L., E. Papafragkou, G. Park, J. Osborne, L. Jaykus., and J. Vinje. 2006. Surrogates for the study of norovirus stability and inactivation in the environment: a comparison of murine norovirus and feline calicivirus. J. Food Prot. 69:2761-2765.
Johnston, L.M., L. Jaykus, D. Moll, J. Anciso, B. Mora, and C.L. Moe. 2006. A field study of the microbiological quality of fresh produce of domestic and imported origin. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 112:83-95.
Cates, S.C., R.A. Morales, S.A. Karns, L. Jaykus, K.M. Kosa, T. TenEyck, and P. Cowen. 2006. Consumer knowledge, storage, and handling practices regarding Listeria in frankfurters and deli meats: results of a web-based survey. J. Food Prot., 69:1630-1639.
Mokhtari, A., C.M. Moore, H. Yang, L. Jaykus, R. Morales, S.C. Cates and P. Cowen. 2006. Consumer-Phase Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis Risk Assessment for Egg-Containing Food Products. Risk Anal. 26:753-768.
Isonhood, J., M.A. Drake, and L. Jaykus. 2006. Upstream sample processing facilitates PCR detection of Listeria monocytogenes in mayonnaise-based deli salads. Food Microbiol. 23:584-590.
D’Souza, D.H., A. Sair, K. Williams, E. Papafragkou, J. Jean, C. Moore, and L. Jaykus. 2006. Persistence of caliciviruses on environmental surfaces and their transfer to food. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 108:84-91.
Mokhtari, A., H.C. Frey, and L. Jaykus. 2006. Application of classification and regression trees (CART) for sensitivity analysis of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 food safety process risk model. J. Food Prot. 69:609-618.
Yang, H., A. Mohktari, L. Jaykus, R. Morales, S.C. Cates, and P. Cowen. 2006. Consumer phase risk assessment for Listeria monocytogenes in deli meats. Risk Anal., 26:89-103.