VUP participated (mainly) in WP2 – Investigation of neglected indigenous routes of transmission of foodborne pathogens.

Participation in the PROMISE project was a step of implementation of state-of-the-art research techniques to food safety in Slovakia. For more than 20 years, our group studies certain practical aspects of food-borne pathogens, working on rapid DNA-based detection methods and on microbiological hygiene in food industry. Here we were given an opportunity to improve our methodological competence and to enter new fields of effective application of molecular approaches. Members of the research group were Tomas Kuchta, Eva Kaclikova, Jana Minarovicova and Janka Korenova. Tomas Kuchta was a local co-ordinator, dealing mostly with scientific and theoretical aspects of the research. Eva Kaclikova did most planning of experiments, dealing with microbiological and practical problems. Jana Minarovicova and Janka Korenova did most of the experimental and laboratory work in microbiology and molecular biology laboratories, the former dealing also with administrative tasks. An extensive experience was taking 423 samples from food-processing SMEs, including surface swabs, material samples and finished products. Although Listeria monocytogenes was not isolated so frequently as scientists would like, the food producers could be happy to learn that efforts and changes at entering the EU in 2004 were quite useful. Participation in the project was a special benefit to Janka Korenova, who spent a month at UVM Vienna learning molecular sub-species typing techniques.