Date of Award

5-2025

Language

English

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biological Science

Advisor/Committee Chair

Cheryl P. Andam

Major

Biology

Committee Member

Thomas Begley

Abstract

The Gram-negative Salmonella enterica (family Enterobacteriaceae) is a common foodborne pathogen mainly isolated from foods of animal origin. Salmonella can be transmitted to humans, causing diverse symptoms, from self-limiting gastrointestinal diseases to more fatal typhoid fever. The young, elderly, and Individuals with weakened immune systems are especially at risk from salmonellosis. Salmonella is a concern to public health and the food industry throughout the world, and its severity depends largely on its serotype, a classification based on the unique combination of surface antigens. In this study, I aimed to elucidate the population structure and antimicrobial resistance determinants of S. enterica serotype Braenderup. I analyzed 186 complete genome sequences obtained from diagnosed patients with salmonellosis across the New York State. The data has been provided by the Wadsworth Center of the New York Department of Health, where it was carried out genome assembly, sequence quality check, annotation, pangenome analysis, antimicrobial resistance detection, and phylogenetic tree reconstruction, and statistical analysis using R Studio. This study shows the predominant Sequence Type for the isolates obtained from S. enterica ser. Braenderup was ST 22, found in 179 isolates, and a trend in antimicrobial resistance genes, where the main classes found were multidrug resistance and Resistance-Nodulation-Division RND efflux pump genes, as well as 26 core AMR genes, which indicate a consistent trend within the serotype. There were also 31 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) found and classified into 5 different main classes. Moreover, 121 core virulence genes were found, where the main category for the genes was effector delivery system, and only 74 isolates contained mobile genetic elements, which increase the pathogenicity of the group and show a limited horizontal gene transfer within the serotype. These results are essential to understanding the genetic basis for S. enterica to cause disease and resist antimicrobial treatments, which will inform appropriate and effective public health strategies.

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