RESEARCH FOCUS
- Food safety microbiology
- Molecular identification
- antimicrobial resistance
- Pathogenicity of major foodborne pathogens including Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes
Curriculum Vitae:
Education:
- Ph.D. in Comparative Pathology. University of California, Davis
- MPVM Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine. University of California, Davis
- DVM. Sichuan Agricultural University, China
Research Interests: Our research focuses on food safety microbiology. We are interested in molecular identification, antimicrobial resistance, and pathogenicity of major foodborne pathogens, including Shiga toxin-producing Echerichia coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes.
Professional Service:
National and International committees/panels
- Chair, International Expert Committee, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), 2011-2016
- Steering Committee, Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, 2013-
- Microbiology Expert Committee, United States Pharmacopeia, 2010-2015
- Steering Group, Partnership Training Institute Network (PTIN), Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC), 2009-2013
- National Research Council (NRC) Standing Committee of the National Academies on Use of Public Health Data in FSIS Food Safety Programs, 2008-2010
- National Research Council (NRC) Committee of the National Academies for Review of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Risk-Based Approach to Public Health Attribution, 2008
- National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) of USDA, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce, 2006-2008
- National Program 108 Food Safety Postharvest – Molecular Biology and Methodology Panel/USDA Scientific Quality Review, 2005
- National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) of USDA, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce, 2004-2006
- Institute for Food Technologists (IFT) Expert Panel on Public Health Impact of Agricultural Uses of Antibiotics - Implications for the Food Industry, 2004-2005
- National Program 108 Food Safety Program/USDA Scientific Quality Review, 2001
Professional Societies
- American Society for Microbiology, 1993-
- International Association of Food Protection, 1991-
- Institute of Food Technologists, 1991-
Representative Publications (2011-2015):
Zheng, J., C. Keys, S. Zhao, R. Ahmed, J. Meng, and E. W. Brown. 2011. Simultaneous Analysis of Multiple Enzymes Sharply Increases the Accuracy of PFGE in Assigning Genetic Relationships among Homogeneous Salmonella Strains. J. Clin. Microbiol. 49:85-94.
Yan, X., Y. Peng, J. Meng, J. Ruzante, P. M. Fratamico, L. Huang, V. Juneja, And D. S. Needleman. 2011. From Ontology Selection And Semantic Web To An Integrated Information System For Food-Borne Diseases And Food Safety. Adv Exp Med Biol. 696:741-50.
Lienau, E. K., E. Strain, C. Wang, J. Zheng, A. R. Ottesen, C. E. Keys, T. S. Hammack, S. M. Musser, E. W. Brown, M. W. Allard, G. Cao, J. Meng, And R. Stones. 2011. Identification Of A Salmonellosis Outbreak By Means Of Molecular Sequencing. N Engl J Med. 364:981-2.
Xia, X., J. Meng, S. Zhao, S. Bodeis-Jones, S. A. Gaines, S. L. Ayers, And P. F. Mcdermott. 2011. Identification And Antimicrobial Resistance Of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia Coli From Retail Meats. J Food Prot. 74:38-44.
Xia, X., P. F. McDermott, S. Zhao and J. Meng. 2011. Escherichia coli from retail meats carry genes associate with uropathogenic E. coli, but are weakly invasive in human bladder cell culture. J. Appl. Microbiol. 110: 1166-1176.
Zheng, J., F. Tian, S. Cui, J. Song, E. Brown, and J. Meng. 2011. Dissecting Differential Gene Expression Response to RamA in Ciprofloxacin Selected MDR GyrA Mutant Salmonella Typhimurium. PLoS ONE 6(7): e22161. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022161
Wang, X., S. Zhao, H. Hobblto, T. Tran, K. Blickenstaff, and J. Meng. 2011. Antimicrobial resistance and molecular subtyping of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from retail meats. J Food Prot. 74:616-621
Kelman, A., Y.A. Soong, D. Shafer, N. Dupuy, W. Richbourg, K. Johnson, T. Brown, E. Kestler, J. Zheng, Y. Li and P. McDermott and J. Meng. 2011. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus from retail ground meats. J Food Prot. 74(10):1625-9.
Yang, B., M. Xi, X. Wang, S. Cui, T. Yue, H. Hao, Y. Wang, Y. Cui, W.Q. Alali, J. Meng, I. Walls, D.M. Lo Fo Wong, M.P. Doyle. 2011. Prevalence of Salmonella on Raw Poultry at Retail Markets in China. J Food Prot. 74:1724-1728.
Xia, X., Y. Luo, Y. Yang, K. Schneider, and J. Meng. 2012. Effects of Tomato Variety, Temperature Differential and Post-stem Removal Time on Internalization of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Thompson into Tomatoes. J Food Prot. 75:297-303.
Rump, L.V., S. Bodies-Jones, J. Abbott, S. Zhao, J. Kase, S. Lorenz, M. Fischer, E. Brown, and J. Meng. 2012. Genetic characterization of Escherichia coli O104 isolates from different sources in the United States. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78: 1709–1717.
Wang, X., J. Meng, J. Zhang, T. Zhou, Y. Zhang, B. Yang, M. Xi, and X. Xia. 2012. Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from powdered infant formula milk and infant rice cereal in China. Intl. J. Food Microbiol. 153:142-147.
Yang, B., M. Xi, S. Cui, X. Zhang, J. Shen, M. Sheng, and D. Qu, and J. Meng. 2012. Mutations in Gyrase and Topoisomerase Genes Associated with Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Salmonella serovars from Retail Meats. Food Res Intl.45:935-939.
Wang, X., J. Meng, T. Zhou, Y. Zhang, B. Yang, M. Xi, J. Sheng, S. Zhi, and X. Xia. 2012. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Genotypic Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus from Food and Food Animals. Foodborne Pathogens & Dis. 9: 95-101.
Rump, L.V., J. Meng, E. A. Strain, G. Cao, M.W. Allard, and N. Gonzalez-Escalona. 2012. Complete DNA sequence analysis of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli plasmid pO157_2 in ß-glucuronidase-positive E. coli O157:H7 reveals a novel evolutionary path. J. Bacteriol. 194:3457-63.
Yang, B., Y. Shi, X. Xia, M. Xi, X. Wang, B. Yi, and J. Meng. 2012. Inactivation of foodborne pathogens in raw milk using high hydrostatic pressure. Food Control. 28: 273–278
Ju, W, J. Shen, Y. Li, M.A. Toro, S. Zhao, S. Ayers, M.B. Najjar, and J. Meng. 2012. Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in retail ground beef and pork in Washington DC area. Food Microbiol. 32:371-377.
Cao, G., S. Zhao, E. Strain, Y. Luo, R. Timme, C. Wang, E. Brown, J. Meng, and M. Allard. 2012. Draft Genome Sequences of Eight Salmonella enterica Serotype Newport Strains from Diverse Hosts and Locations. J. Bacteriol. 194:5146.
Ju, W., G. Cao, L. Rump, E. Strain, Y. Luo, R. Timme, M. Allard, S. Zhao, E. Brown, and J. Meng. 2012. Phylogenetic analysis of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli by whole genome sequencing. J. Clin. Microbiol. 50: 4123-4127.
Wang X., X. Tao, X. Xia, B. Yang, M. Xi, J. Meng, J. Zhang, and B. Xu. 2013. Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in retail raw chicken in China. Food Control. 29:103-106.
Hu, Y., J. Meng, C. Shi, K. Hervin, P. M. Fratamico, X. Shi. 2013. Characterization and Comparative Analysis of a second thermonuclease from Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiological Research. 168:174-182.
Zhang J, Cao G, Xu X, Jin H, Yang X, Allard M, Brown E, Meng J. 2013. Draft Genome Sequences of Three Salmonella enterica Serotype Agona Strains from China. Genome Announc. 1(1).
Shen, J., L. Rump, Y. Zhang, Y. Li, X. Wang, and J. Meng. 2013. Molecular subtyping and virulence gene analysis of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from food. Food Microbiol. 35:58-64.
Ju, W., J. Shen, M. Toro, S. Zhao, and J. Meng. 2013. Distribution of Pathogenicity Islands OI-122, OI-43/48, OI-57 and High Pathogenicity Island (HPI) in Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 79:3406-3412.
Zhang J, Cao G, Xu X, Jin H, Zhang Q, Chen J, Yang X, Pan H, Zhang X, Allard M, Brown E, Meng J. 2013.Whole-Genome Sequences of Four Salmonella enterica Serotype Newport Strains from Humans. Genome Announc. 1(3).
Kroft BS, Brown EW, Meng J, Gonzalez-Escalona N. 2013. Draft Genome Sequences of Two Salmonella Strains from the SARA Collection, SARA64 (Muenchen) and SARA33 (Heidelberg), Provide Insight into Their Antibiotic Resistance. Genome Announc. 1(5).
Wang J, Wu H, Song M, Li F, Zhu J, Xi M, Wang X, Xia X, Meng J, Yang B, Cui S. 2013. Prevalence and quantitative detection of salmonella in retail raw chicken in shaanxi, china. J Food Prot. 76(11):1958-62
Cao G, Ju W, Rump L, Zhao S, Zou L, Wang C, Strain E, Luo Y, Timme R, Allard M, Brown E, Meng J. 2013. Genome Sequences of Two Emerging Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains. Genome Announc 1.
Cao G, Meng J, Strain E, Stones R, Pettengill J, Zhao S, McDermott P, Brown E, Allard M. 2013. Phylogenetics and differentiation of Salmonella Newport lineages by whole genome sequencing. PLoS One 8:e55687.
Hoffmann M, Muruvanda T, Allard MW, Korlach J, Roberts RJ, Timme R, Payne J, McDermott PF, Evans P, Meng J, Brown EW, Zhao S. 2013. Complete Genome Sequence of a Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium var. 5- Strain Isolated from Chicken Breast. Genome Announc 1.
Shen J, Wang F, Li F, Housley R, Carolan H, Yasuda I, Burrows E, Binet R, Sampath R, Zhang J, Allard MW, Meng J. 2013. Rapid identification and differentiation of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli using polymerase chain reaction coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Foodborne Pathog Dis 10:737-743.
Son I, Zheng J, Keys CE, Zhao S, Meng J, Brown EW. 2013. Analysis of pulsed field gel electrophoresis profiles using multiple enzymes for predicting potential source reservoirs for strains of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from humans. Infect Genet Evol 16:226-233.
Toro M, Najjar MB, Ju W, Brown E, Zhao S, Meng J. 2013. Molecular serogrouping of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli using suspension array. Foodborne Pathog Dis 10:478-480.
Zou L, Meng J, McDermott PF, Wang F, Yang Q, Cao G, Hoffmann M, Zhao S. 2014. Presence of disinfectant resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from retail meats in the USA. J Antimicrob Chemother 69:2644-2649.
Zhang Z, Meng X, Wang Y, Xia X, Wang X, Xi M, Meng J, Shi X, Wang D, Yang B. 2014. Presence of qnr, aac (6′)-Ib, qep A, oqx AB, and Mutations in Gyrase and Topoisomerase in Nalidixic Acid–Resistant Salmonella Isolates Recovered from Retail Chicken Carcasses. Foodborne pathogens and disease 11:698-705.
Zhang J, Wang F, Jin H, Hu J, Yuan Z, Shi W, Yang X, Meng J, Xu X. 2014. Laboratory monitoring of bacterial gastroenteric pathogens Salmonella and Shigella in Shanghai, China 2006–2012. Epidemiology and infection:1-8.
Zhang J, Jin H, Hu J, Yuan Z, Shi W, Yang X, Xu X, Meng J. 2014. Antimicrobial resistance of Shigella spp. from humans in Shanghai, China, 2004–2011. Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease 78:282-286.
Zhang J, Jin H, Hu J, Yuan Z, Shi W, Ran L, Zhao S, Yang X, Meng J, Xu X. 2014. Serovars and antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidal Salmonella from human patients in Shanghai, China, 2006–2010. Epidemiology and infection 142:826-832.
Yi S, Xie J, Liu N, Li P, Xu X, Li H, Sun J, Wang J, Liang B, Yang C. 2014. Emergence and prevalence of non-H2S-producing Salmonella enterica serovar Senftenberg isolates belonging to a novel sequence type 1751 in China. Journal of clinical microbiology:JCM. 00377-00314.
Yang B, Zhao H, Cui S, Wang Y, Xia X, Xi M, Wang X, Meng J, Ge W. 2014. Prevalence and characterization of Salmonella enterica in dried milk-related infant foods in Shaanxi, China. Journal of dairy science 97:6754-6760.
Yang B, Wang Q, Cui S, Wang Y, Shi C, Xia X, Xi M, Wang X, Shi X, Wang D. 2014. Characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Salmonella strains isolated from retail foods in Shaanxi and Henan Province, China. Food Microbiology 42:14-18.
Yang B, Cui Y, Shi C, Wang J, Xia X, Xi M, Wang X, Meng J, Alali WQ, Walls I. 2014. Counts, Serotypes, and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella Isolates on Retail Raw Poultry in the People's Republic of China. Journal of Food Protection. 77:894-902.
Xing X, Li G, Zhang W, Wang X, Xia X, Yang B, Meng J. 2014. Prevalence, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, and Enterotoxin Gene Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates in Ready-to-Eat Foods in Shaanxi, People's Republic of China. Journal of Food Protection. 77:331-334.
Wang X, Li G, Xia X, Yang B, Xi M, Meng J. 2014. Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Molecular Typing of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Retail Foods in Shaanxi, China. Foodborne pathogens and disease 11:281-286.
Wang F, Yang Q, Qu Y, Meng J, Ge B. 2014. Evaluation of a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Suite for the Rapid, Reliable, and Robust Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Produce. Applied and environmental microbiology 80:2516-2525.
Toro M, Cao G, Ju W, Allard M, Barrangou R, Zhao S, Brown E, Meng J. 2014. Association of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) Elements with Specific Serotypes and Virulence Potential of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Applied and environmental microbiology 80:1411-1420.
Rump LV, Gonzalez-Escalona N, Ju W, Wang F, Cao G, Meng S, Meng J. 2014. Genomic diversity and virulence characterization of historical Escherichia coli O157 strains isolated from clinical and environmental sources. Appl Environ Microbiol. 81(2):569-77
Pan H, Zhang J, Kuang D, Yang X, Ju W, Huang Z, Guo J, Li Y, Zhang P, Shi W. 2014. Molecular analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from diarrheal patients. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease.
Kuang D, Zhang J, Meng J, Yang X, Jin H, Shi W, Luo K, Tao Y, Pan H, Xu X. 2014. Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Molecular Typing of Salmonella Agona Isolated from Humans and Other Sources. Foodborne pathogens and disease 11:844-849.
Ju W, Rump L, Toro M, Shen J, Cao G, Zhao S, Meng J. 2014. Pathogenicity Islands in Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli O26, O103, and O111 Isolates from Humans and Animals. Foodborne pathogens and disease 11:342-345.
Hoffmann M, Zhao S, Pettengill J, Luo Y, Monday SR, Abbott J, Ayers SL, Cinar HN, Muruvanda T, Li C, Allard MW, Whichard J, Meng J, Brown EW, McDermott PF. 2014. Comparative genomic analysis and virulence differences in closely related salmonella enterica serotype heidelberg isolates from humans, retail meats, and animals. Genome Biol Evol 6:1046-1068.
Hoffmann M, Muruvanda T, Pirone C, Korlach J, Timme R, Payne J, Evans P, Meng J, Brown EW, Allard MW. 2014. First fully closed genome sequence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Cubana associated with a food-borne outbreak. Genome announcements 2:e01112-01114.
Hoffmann M, Muruvanda T, Allard MW, Korlach J, Roberts RJ, Timme R, Payne J, McDermott PF, Evans P, Meng J, Brown EW, Zhao S. 2014. Complete Genome Sequence of a Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium var. 5- Strain Isolated from Chicken Breast. Genome Announc 2.
Fratamico P, DebRoy C, Yan X, Needleman D, Li R, Wang W, Losada L, Brinkac L, Radune D, Toro M. 2014. DNA Sequence and Analysis of the O-antigen Gene Clusters of Escherichia coli Serogroups O62, O68, O131, O140, O142, and O163 and Serogroup-Specific PCR Assays. Journal of biomolecular techniques: JBT 25:S17.
Cao G, Allard M, Strain E, Stones R, Zhao S, Brown E, Meng J. 2014. Genetic Diversity of Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands SPI-5 and SPI-6 in Salmonella Newport. Foodborne pathogens and disease 11:798-807.
Zhang J, Yang X, Kuang D, Shi X, Xiao W, Zhang J, Gu Z, Xu X, Meng J. 2015. Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars in retail aquaculture products. Int J Food Microbiol 210:47-52.
Yang X, Kuang D, Meng J, Pan H, Shen J, Zhang J, Shi W, Chen Q, Shi X, Xu X, Zhang J. 2015. Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Typing of Salmonella Stanley Isolated from Humans, Foods, and Environment. Foodborne Pathog Dis 12:945-949.
Yang Q, Wang F, Jones KL, Meng J, Prinyawiwatkul W, Ge B. 2015. Evaluation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for the rapid, reliable, and robust detection of Salmonella in produce. Food Microbiol 46:485-493.
Toro M, Rump LV, Cao G, Meng J, Brown EW, Gonzalez-Escalona N. 2015. Simultaneous Presence of Insertion Sequence Excision Enhancer and Insertion Sequence IS629 Correlates with Increased Diversity and Virulence in Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. J Clin Microbiol 53:3466-3473.
Toro M, Cao G, Rump L, Nagaraja TG, Meng J, Gonzalez-Escalona N. 2015. Genome Sequences of 64 Non-O157:H7 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains. Genome Announc 3.
Shen J, Rump L, Ju W, Shao J, Zhao S, Brown E, Meng J. 2015. Virulence characterization of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates from food, humans and animals. Food Microbiol 50:20-27.
Rump LV, Gonzalez-Escalona N, Ju W, Wang F, Cao G, Meng S, Meng J. 2015. Genomic diversity and virulence profiles of historical Escherichia coli O157 strains isolated from clinical and environmental sources. Appl Environ Microbiol 81:569-577.
Pan H, Zhang J, Kuang D, Yang X, Ju W, Huang Z, Guo J, Li Y, Zhang P, Shi W, Jin H, Shi X, Xu X, Meng J. 2015. Molecular analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from diarrheal patients. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 81:126-131.
Liu Y, Yan X, DebRoy C, Fratamico PM, Needleman DS, Li RW, Wang W, Losada L, Brinkac L, Radune D, Toro M, Hegde N, Meng J. 2015. Escherichia coli O-Antigen Gene Clusters of Serogroups O62, O68, O131, O140, O142, and O163: DNA Sequences and Similarity between O62 and O68, and PCR-Based Serogrouping. Biosensors (Basel) 5:51-68.
Li G, Wu C, Wang X, Meng J. 2015. Prevalence and characterization of methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus ST398 isolates from retail foods. Int J Food Microbiol 196:94-97.
Kuang D, Xu X, Meng J, Yang X, Jin H, Shi W, Pan H, Liao M, Su X, Shi X, Zhang J. 2015. Antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence gene profiles and molecular subtypes of Salmonella Newport isolated from humans and other sources. Infect Genet Evol 36:294-299.
Hoffmann M, Luo Y, Monday SR, Gonzalez-Escalona N, Ottesen AR, Muruvanda T, Wang C, Kastanis G, Keys C, Janies D, Senturk IF, Catalyurek UV, Wang H, Hammack TS, Wolfgang WJ, Schoonmaker-Bopp D, Chu A, Myers R, Haendiges J, Evans PS, Meng J, Strain EA, Allard MW, Brown EW. 2015. Tracing Origins of the Salmonella Bareilly Strain Causing a Food-borne Outbreak in the United States. J Infect Dis.
Hao D, Xing X, Li G, Wang X, Zhang M, Zhang W, Xia X, Meng J. 2015. Prevalence, toxin gene profiles, and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from quick-frozen dumplings. J Food Prot 78:218-223.
Cao G, Allard MW, Hoffmann M, Monday SR, Muruvanda T, Luo Y, Payne J, Rump L, Meng K, Zhao S, McDermott PF, Brown EW, Meng J. 2015. Complete Sequences of Six IncA/C Plasmids of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serotype Newport. Genome Announc 3.
